FIRST AID FOR PLANT PROBLEMS

Bonaire has a tropical climate with plenty of sunshine, warmth, and intermittent dry spells. This makes your garden beautiful, but also susceptible to diseases and pests. This applies not only to outdoor plants, but also to houseplants that are often placed in bright sunlight, or in rooms with fluctuating humidity, fluctuating temperatures (air conditioning on and off), or drafts. Early detection and quick action are key to keeping your plants healthy. Here you'll find an overview of common problems with both garden and houseplants, along with practical solutions.

APHIDS

Symptoms:

  • Curly leaves
  • Sticky discharge
  • Colonies on young shoots

Biological control:

  • Rinse well with water
  • Neem oil
  • Garlic extract or water with dish soap
  • Natural enemies (ladybugs)

Chemical control:

  • Insecticides for heavy infestation; ask an employee for advice

LEAFMINERS

Symptoms:

  • White or light green winding corridors in the leaf
  • Leaves distort or curl
  • Delayed growth in young plants
  • Infection mainly visible in young leaves

Biological control:

  • Remove and dispose of affected leaves
  • Apply neem oil or insect soap (repeat regularly)
  • Stimulate natural enemies, such as parasitic wasps
  • Using yellow sticky traps to monitor adult insects

Chemical control:

  • Insecticides for heavy infestation; ask an employee for advice
  • Multiple treatments required for severe infestation

CATERPILLARS AND LEAF EATERS

Symptoms:

  • Holes in leaves
  • Eaten edges

Biological control:

  • Manually remove
  • Plant sage or chives nearby
  • Attracting birds

Chemical control:

  • Insecticides for heavy infestation; ask an employee for advice

TEAR LICE

Symptoms:

  • Hard brown bumps on stems
  • Sticky honeydew
  • Weak growth

Biological control:

  • Remove manually with cloth and alcohol
  • Insectenzeep of neemolie
  • Natural enemies (ladybugs)

Chemical control:

  • Insecticides for heavy infestation; ask an employee for advice

MOLD

Symptoms:

  • White or gray powder layer
  • Dark spots on leaves
  • Rotten stems or flowers

Biological control:

  • Remove affected parts
  • Create better air circulation
  • Keep leaves dry when watering
  • Use of biological fungicides based on sulfur, neem oil or garlic extract

Chemical control:

  • Pesticide for severe infestation; ask an employee for advice

SNAILS

Symptoms:

  • Slime trails
  • Irregular feeding damage

Biological control:

  • Place barriers such as copper borders or shells
  • Manually remove
  • Iron phosphate granules

Chemical control:

  • Snail pellets (use sparingly to protect pets and wildlife)


SPIDER MITES

Symptoms:

  • Fine webs
  • Yellow dots on leaves
  • Bladval

Biological control:

  • Mist regularly with water
  • Remove affected leaves
  • Using predatory mites
  • Insectenzeep of neemolie

Chemical control:

  • Insecticides for heavy infestation; ask an employee for advice

TRIPS

Symptoms:

  • Silvery stripes
  • Deformed flowers
  • Small jumping insects

Biological control:

  • Blue sticky traps
  • Manually remove
  • Insect soap
  • Roofwantsen

Chemical control:

  • Insecticides for heavy infestation; ask an employee for advice

WOLLUIS

Symptoms:

  • White, cottony tufts on stems, leaf axils and root collar
  • Sticky honeydew on leaves and potting soil
  • Yellowing leaves and retarded growth
  • Sometimes ants around the plant (attracted by honeydew)

Biological control:

  • Dab with a cotton swab and alcohol
  • Insect soap, dishwashing liquid, methylated spirits or neem oil (repeat weekly)
  • Rinse the plant with lukewarm water
  • Using natural enemies such as ladybirds and parasitic wasps (for outdoor plants)

Chemical control:

  • Insecticides for heavy infestation; ask an employee for advice
  • Multiple treatments required due to eggs

ROOT ROT

Symptoms:

  • Limp plant despite water
  • Brown, soft roots
  • Poor growth

Biological control:

  • Stop overwatering
  • Improve drainage
  • Repotting a plant in airy potting soil
  • Remove affected roots

Chemical control:

  • In severe cases, root-protecting fungicides
  • Always combine with better drainage


WHITEFLY

Symptoms:

  • Clouds of white insects when touched
  • Yellow leaves
  • Sticky leaf

Biological control:

  • Yellow sticky traps
  • Neem oil
  • Ichneumon wasps

Chemical control:

  • Malathion or other insecticides in case of heavy infestation; ask an employee for advice
  • Alternate with biological methods to prevent resistance

SAFE USE

When using chemical pesticides and insecticides:

  • Always follow the label
  • Wear protective gloves
  • Do not spray in wind or full sun
  • Spray in a targeted manner to save beneficial insects
  • Avoid application to flowering plants (pollinator protection)
  • Keep your distance from pets and water sources
  • Always combine with preventive measures


Chemicals are effective, but they should not be used as a first step. Prevention and biological control remain the foundation for sustainable garden management on Bonaire.