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Controlling Thrips on African Violets: Chemical and Organic Options

A "Sonja" purple violet has small beige bugs (thrips) eating leaves and blooms. One bloom stalk fell over. Gardener wants natural and chemical solutions and clarification on bleach leaf treatment.

Thrip Management

Remove flowers: Thrips feed on pollen — preventing blooms starves them.
Bleach leaf propagation: Dip healthy leaves in 20% bleach solution for a few seconds, then root in fresh soil to save the variety.
Chemical: Marathon granules (systemic, hard to find) or Kelthane (liquid, easier to get). Follow labels; keep plant from blooming 1–2 months.
Organic: Not detailed, but isolation and sanitation are key.

Act quickly — thrips spread fast.

Violets: African Violet Decline from the Base: Diagnosing Root Rot or Fungal Disease; Yellowing African Violet Leaves: Natural Aging or Cultural Issue?; African Violet Decline After Repotting: Avoiding Root Rot and Transplant Shock; Mass African Violet Decline After Repotting: Fungal Infection or Cultural Shock?; Mealybugs on African Violets: Identification and Safe Treatment; Minimum Temperature Tolerance for African Violets; Helping African Violets Adapt After a Move to Lower Light; African Violets Not Blooming Under Fluorescent Lights; Do Self-Watering Devices Work for African Violets?; Natural Pest Control: Organic Methods That Actually Work

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