Natural Insecticide for Ornamental Plants
Ornamental plants add beauty to any landscape, but maintaining their health and beauty can be challenging, especially when faced with pests. These insects feed on the plants' nutrients and can spread harmful diseases, damaging your plant's quality.
Environmental Plant Management recognizes the struggle growers face in protecting their plants from these threats. That’s why we created Protection Plus™, a professional insecticide that controls insects that infect ornamental plants.
Choosing Protection Plus™ natural insecticide for ornamental plants gives growers an effective way to protect their plants, ensuring they stay healthy and vibrant throughout the growing season.
Efficacy testing proves
Protection Plus insecticide spray kills:
98% russet mites, 89% spider mites, 98% aphids, 90% thrips & 99% whiteflies (as documented in lab tests)
Common Pests Affecting Ornamental Plants
Ornamental trees and plants are often targeted by pests that can damage their quality and can be challenging to manage. Some of the most common ones include aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.
Aphids: These tiny, soft-bodied insects can be green, black, or brown and are often found in clusters on stems and the undersides of leaves. Signs of an infestation include curled leaves, stunted growth, and the presence of a sticky substance called honeydew.
- Egg Stage: Aphids lay their eggs in specific locations, typically glued to the undersides of leaves or in clusters on stems. The number of eggs produced can range from dozens to hundreds, depending on the species and environmental conditions. Optimal conditions for hatching include warm temperatures and high humidity, which accelerate the development of the eggs into nymphs.
- Growth Period: The time it takes for aphids to mature from nymphs to adults can be as short as seven to eight days under favorable conditions. During this growth period, they can reproduce rapidly, leading to a significant increase in infestation levels.
- Mature Insects: Adult aphids have a relatively short lifespan but can reproduce asexually, contributing to the rapid spread of the infestation. Their role in spreading diseases among plants is crucial, as they can transmit viruses in just a few minutes of feeding.
Whiteflies: Small, winged insects with white bodies, whiteflies tend to gather on the undersides of leaves. Their presence is often detected through yellowing leaves or by noticing the insects flying around when disturbed.
- Egg Stage: Whiteflies lay their eggs primarily on the undersides of leaves. A female can produce hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, usually in circular patterns. The optimal conditions for hatching include warm temperatures, typically around 70 to 85°F (21 to 29°C), where eggs hatch in approximately 5 to 7 days.
- Growth Period: The growth period of whiteflies consists of five distinct stages, including egg, four larval instars, and adult. This entire cycle takes about 40 days, depending on temperature and environmental conditions. The initial stages of development can significantly impact infestation levels, as the larvae feed on plant sap and can rapidly increase their population if not controlled.
- Mature Insects: Adult whiteflies have a lifespan of around two to four weeks. They play a crucial role in spreading infestations, as they can quickly fly to nearby plants to lay eggs. This mobility, combined with their ability to reproduce rapidly, makes them a persistent threat to plant health.
Spider Mites: Barely visible to the naked eye, spider mites leave behind fine webbing on leaves. Their presence is typically indicated by speckled, yellowing leaves and bronzing.
- Egg Stage: Spider mites lay their eggs attached to fine silk webbing on the host plant. A single adult female can produce several hundred eggs during her lifespan. Under optimal conditions, which typically hover around 80ºF, the eggs hatch in approximately three days.
- Growth Period: The growth period from egg to adult for spider mites varies greatly, taking between five to twenty days depending on environmental conditions. The development cycle includes several stages: egg, larva, two nymphal stages (protonymph and deutonymph), and finally, the adult stage. The ability to mature quickly allows spider mites to establish substantial infestations in a short period, often leading to multiple overlapping generations within a year.
- Mature Insects: Adult spider mites have a lifespan of about two to four weeks. During this time, they play a crucial role in spreading infestations as they continue to lay hundreds of eggs. Their rapid reproduction and feeding habits contribute significantly to the damage they inflict on plants.
How These Pests Harm Ornamental Plants
Aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites all harm plants by feeding on their sap, which weakens the plant. As they extract nutrients, they compromise the plant's ability to grow and produce healthy foliage. This leads to slower growth and makes the plant more vulnerable to other environmental stresses.
In addition to depleting essential nutrients, these pests often spread plant diseases, further threatening the health of ornamental plants. When unchecked, infestations can lead to extensive damage, potentially causing leaf drop, discoloration, and the overall decline of the plant's health and appearance.
Protection Plus -
No Oil, No Residue
- Earth-friendly: natural, food-based ingredients
- Lower cost: Eliminates excessive treatments and the need for product rotation
- Guaranteed pure: Quarterly testing to be free of over 400 forbidden ingredients to ensure our products are safe and natural for tough hemp and cannabis testing requirements
- Free of all Proposition 65 ingredients
- Residue-free, non-oil based formula doesn’t clog pores or hamper plant growth
- Industry high kill rates
Why Choose a Natural Solution for Your Ornamental Plants
When managing insects on ornamental plants, understanding the different types of insecticides is important. That way, you can select the right products to treat your plants with and keep them vibrant.
While chemical insecticides are effective in managing pests at first, they come with significant drawbacks. Their use can harm the plants they aim to protect and negatively affect the environment. Furthermore, these insecticides typically leave residues that block leaf stomata, reducing the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, and can encourage resistance among pests.
Unlike these systemic insecticides, Protection Plus™ offers a safer natural alternative by having a water-based, non-systemic formulation. It carries no environmental risks or issues with resistance because it dries up quickly upon contact, leaving no residues on plants or in the growing media. The solution also features a unique mode of action that effectively eliminates pests by suffocating them while dissolving their exoskeletons.
By staying away from chemical insecticides and opting for natural solutions that are suitable for use in any environment, such as Protection Plus™, you can protect your ornamental plants effectively and promote sustainable practices for the long term.
Protection Plus – The Ultimate Insecticide for Ornamental Plants
Demonstrating reliable pest control capabilities, Protection Plus™ has established itself as the best insecticide for ornamental plants. With its notable effectiveness, safety, and straightforward application, it effectively targets and eliminates plant pests at every life stage, keeping your plants healthy and thriving.
Formulated with natural ingredients and rigorously tested for formulation quality control, the solution is free of over 400 forbidden ingredients, including those listed in Proposition 65. This makes it a safe choice for managing pests in ornamentals without causing harm to the plants themselves, humans, pets, and the environment.
Its exceptional versatility is evident in its multiple application options—whether applied as a foliar spray, soil drench, or dip. Protection Plus™ easily integrates into any plant care routine, making pest control easier for small-scale home gardens and large-scale commercial uses.
Due to its efficacy and residue-free formulation, it doesn’t encourage pesticide resistance, which reduces the need for excessive treatments or product rotations. It allows for a more sustainable approach to pest control, making it a low-cost solution.
Beyond pest management, Protection Plus™ actively supports the health and resilience of plants. With consistent low-dose applications, it helps effectively minimize biofilm accumulation on plant roots. This facilitates better nutrient absorption and contributes to the long-lasting vigor and vitality of the plants.
Using Protection Plus for Optimal Results
To achieve the best results with Protection Plus™, proper application techniques are essential for ensuring comprehensive coverage of both plants and soil surfaces. Begin by verifying that water and air temperatures are within optimal ranges—ideally around 82°F indoors or between 50°F and 90°F outdoors.
For foliar applications, it’s advisable to spray when transpiration levels are at their lowest. Early morning, two hours after lights out, or late afternoon are ideal times, as they help avoid direct sunlight. Be sure to evenly mist the leaves and stems for complete saturation, paying special attention to the undersides of leaves where pests frequently hide.
When using the soil drenching method, first water the plants to runoff and wait an hour to ensure they are fully hydrated. Then, apply Protection Plus™ around the root zone using a watering can or pump-up sprayer, ensuring the solution penetrates the soil to a depth of approximately ½ inch.
Keep in mind that no liquid should be sprayed on a bud or bloom of flowering plants. However, if pest infestations threaten the plant's health, Protection Plus™ can be utilized. Use the minimal amount necessary to achieve effective results and minimize potential imperfections to bud hairs. Look into our YouTube playlist, Blossom Chronicles, to see how Environmental Plant Management explores the effects, or lack thereof, of using Protection Plus™ on blooms.
Furthermore, consult the Protection Plus™ SOP guide for comprehensive instructions that detail approaches for aggressive treatment, moderate treatment, and maintenance.
- Aggressive Application: For severe pest infestations in ornamental plants, an aggressive strategy using Protection Plus™ is essential. Begin by applying the product three times on the first day, allowing each application to dry before the next. Continue with single daily applications on days two, three, and four. After taking a break on days five and six, apply the treatment again on day seven. This cycle should be repeated every three days until the infestation is under control.
- Moderate Application: When managing moderate infestations, use Protection Plus™ by applying it once on the first day. Follow up with additional applications on days four and seven. Continue this treatment schedule, applying every three days as needed to keep the tropical plant pest population under control.
- Maintenance Treatment: For preventative measures, apply Protection Plus™ weekly and closely monitor your plants for any signs of pest activity.
What Makes Protection Plus Different
There are several types of natural insecticides, including neem oil and pyrethrins. Neem oil usually smothers and suffocates pests. Meanwhile, pyrethrins induce immediate pest paralysis but require synergists to prevent recovery.
Unfortunately, similar to traditional chemical insecticides, these products can lead to pesticide resistance, requiring ongoing rotations to maintain pest control.
In contrast, Protection Plus™ combines food-grade components with citric acid as the primary active ingredient. Complemented by water, yeast, soap, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate, this blend offers a non-toxic, oil-free solution for eliminating ornamental plant pests without leaving harmful residues.
Safe for all types of plants, Protection Plus™ is the ideal solution for growers seeking effective pest control without compromising plant health.
Mode of Action
Protection Plus™ sets itself apart from other natural insecticides by employing a unique mode of action that goes beyond merely suffocating or paralyzing pests. Instead, it actively dissolves the exoskeletons of ornamental plant pests upon contact, causing their bodies to collapse and suffocate.
This innovative action enables effective pest control within a remarkably short timeframe, with treated pests typically dying within 3 seconds to 24 hours, depending on the thickness of their exoskeletons.
Because Protection Plus™ acts as a contact eliminator without residual effect, the pests, along with their larvae and eggs, must be fully exposed to the spray in order to die. If an adult pest encounters the spray but does not die right away, it may still have the opportunity to lay eggs prior to its eventual demise.
Any eggs that were not directly in contact with the solution will remain unharmed. For thorough pest eradication, consistent application is key to addressing newly laid eggs, ensuring that the solution comes into direct contact with pests at any life stage to take effect.
Fungicide for Ornamental Plants – Protection Plus’s Dual Action
Ornamental plants often face challenges from pests and fungal infections, which can worsen each other’s effects. Common pests, including aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites, not only damage the plants but also create openings for secondary fungal infections. As these pests feed on the plant's sap, they weaken the plant's defenses, making it more susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew.
Protection Plus™ delivers a dual-action solution that effectively targets both pest issues and fungal infections. Utilizing this product enables you to efficiently manage various ornamental challenges, fostering a healthier environment for your plants.
How Fungal Issues Affect Ornamental Plants
Fungal diseases like powdery mildew and sooty mold can seriously impact the health of ornamental plants.
Powdery mildew, recognizable by its white, powdery coating, thrives in warm, dry conditions and can quickly spread if untreated. Sooty mold, which often develops due to honeydew secreted by pests like aphids, blocks sunlight and inhibits photosynthesis, stunting plant growth.
These fungal infections weaken plants, causing stunted growth and discoloration in leaves, flowers, and stems. As the disease progresses, it can further deteriorate plant health, ultimately leading to plant death if left unchecked.
Use Protection Plus™ as a fungicide for ornamental plants, leveraging its citric acid formula to target and destroy the fungus. Ensure all affected areas, including the undersides of leaves, are thoroughly sprayed. The citric acid disrupts the fungal spores, allowing the mildew to be removed and your plants to recover. Consistent use will help maintain a fungus-free, healthy growing environment.
Contact Us for A Healthier Option for Delicate Ornamental Plants
For more information on Protection Plus™ or to get expert guidance on managing ornamental plant infestations, contact us today!
Our knowledgeable team is prepared to offer expert guidance, help you find a distributor, and guide you through our Commercial Grower Purchasing Program.
With Environmental Plant Management, you can count on effective insect control solutions that safeguard your plants and ensure a thriving, pest-free environment.