Any help appreciated! Never had a problem with it until I recently moved to the Inner West (sydney). Plant was outside for a few days when I noticed a few holes in some leaves. I bought it inside and something has gone to town on it, leaving behind I assume to be droppings.
I love this plant. Had it for close to 20 years 😫. It was my late mum’s and I don’t want to lose it. Last pic was taken only a month ago.
by MyLittleShadowStitch
2 Comments
Sit down with the plant and look it over very carefully. There is almost certainly a hard to spot green caterpillar hiding somewhere.
I find it can help to have the plant on something like the corner of a bench or table, with you sitting lower, so you can easily see under the leaves and along the stems.
Run your fingers over and around all the stems from base to leaf tip. You’ll find it. Hoik it off and hopefully the plant will recover.
Definitely caterpillars. Usually tiny green ones that blend in.
Buy dipel and spray the plant thoroughly. You can get it from Bunnings. It’s a bacteria that ONLY effects caterpillars (safe for humans including kids, pets, beneficial insects, birds etc). It’ll sort them out and keep them away.
The plant will recover and sprout new leaves eventually, you’ll just need to baby it for a while and ensure its fed/watered 🙂