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Treating Insect Damage on Petunias: Organic Solutions for Holes and Pods

Holes in petunia flowers and dry pods indicate insects—likely flea beetles, whiteflies, or aphids. The safest, cheapest control is insecticidal soap: buy ready-made or mix 1 tsp lemon liquid dish soap (non-concentrated) per gallon of water. It destroys insect digestion.

Botanical alternatives: pyrethrum and rotenone (plant extracts), available at garden centers or from Gardens Alive / Planet Natural.

Annuals: Globe Willow Bark Cracking and Weeping Willow Borer Holes; White Bumps on Mexican Petunia Stems: Scale or Whitefly? Oil Treatment Works; Petunia and Geranium Problems: Worms, Fertilizer Burn, and Root Girdling; Petunias Dying in One Bed: Phytophthora Root Rot — Soilborne and Host-Specific; Petunias Dying Suddenly? Crown Rot from Sprinkler Overwatering; Rescuing Waterlogged Container Petunias: Drainage, Root Aeration, and Recovery; Petunias vs. Surfinias: Trailing vs. Upright Types; Black Dots on High-Rise Petunias: Caterpillars or Flea Beetles?; Why Petunias Feel Sticky: Nature's Insect Defense; Roses: Insect Treatment and Prevention

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