Geranium leaves are beautiful, but what happens when they start to develop holes in them? This is a problem that many people experience. Luckily, there are solutions for this! In this blog post, we will talk about the reasons why your geranium might be getting holes in its leaves and ways that you can fix it.
Why Are There Holes In My Geranium Leaves?
The most likely reason for holes in your geranium leaves is pests. There’s a leaf-tunneling pest called Liriomyza melanogaster that loves to chow down on plant tissue, which can ruin both appearances and health if left unchecked!
These pests spread quickly, so spotting one is a sign that there are more to come. If you find holes in your geranium leaves, make sure to look closely for any signs of bug life! They will often hide under the leaves and only become active during the hours of darkness.
The other potential cause of geranium holes is a disease, especially fungal infections. If your geranium leaves are covered in black spots, this might be a sign of disease and you should take care to get rid of it before the infection spreads!
How To Stop Holes in Geranium Leaves?
The best way to stop holes in your geranium leaves is to take care of the problem before it becomes too big. If you have pests, get rid of them by using an appropriate pesticide. Follow the instructions on the label carefully!
My favorite method of getting rid of bugs is with the use of neem oil (Amazon link). This is a natural pesticide that comes from the neem tree. It is effective against a wide variety of pests and can be used on both indoor and outdoor plants.
Simply spray the neem oil onto the leaves of your plant and it will start to work immediately! You can also buy neem oil in a ready-made form that is easy to use.
If you think your geranium might have a fungal infection, try spraying it with a fungicide. This will help to get rid of the disease and stop it from spreading. Fungicides are available at most garden stores and come in both liquid and powder form. Again, neem oil is a great option because it is both a pesticide and a fungicide.
How To Keep a Geranium Healthy?
To prevent any holes from appearing in the future, it’s important that you provide your geranium with the right care.
Location: Make sure your geranium is in a location that gets plenty of sunlight and has good airflow around it to prevent the disease from developing
Watering: Water your geranium only when the soil is dry. If you overwater it, this can cause root rot and lead to problems with the leaves
Temperature and humidity: Make sure that your geranium is in a location where the temperature doesn’t drop below 50 degrees and keep it away from any vents or fans
Soil: Use good quality potting soil that is well-draining. You can also add some compost to the soil to help it retain moisture
Conclusion
To conclude, geraniums are beautiful plants that can be used indoors or outdoors. However, holes in geranium leaves are a problem that many people struggle with because of pests and disease!
Fortunately, there are ways to stop the damage from spreading by using pesticides and fungicides. The best way to keep your geranium healthy is simply by providing it with good care. Follow the tips in this blog post and your geranium will be beautiful and healthy all season long.
Tim is an avid gardener from the UK. He was the founder of PlantCarer.com from 2021 to Sep 2023. He sold PlantCarer.com to Aaron. He has since started his own business called Seed To Supper, which provides new gardeners all the materials you need in a box (pots, seeds, compost and instructions) to grow your own delicious and nutritious vegetables and herbs from start to finish – no garden required.
I read your advice with interest, as I am having never-seen problems with my geraniums. They are in pots on a sunny veranda in Sydney, Australia. Suddenly the leaves began to get holes in them. I knew a creature was eating the leaves because hundreds of little spots of black dung were appearing on the veranda below the pots. But, as hard as I looked, I couldn’t find the culprit. The leaves go brown and curl lover before falling off. The problem has spread to nearby pots of flowering and climbing plants. I applied a plant oil to the leaves, hoping to kill whatever the problem was. This had a mild affect for just a couple of weeks, but nothing startling. Any advice would be appreciated? Thank you! Karyn
It sounds like you’re dealing with a pest issue on your geraniums. Try using neem oil or introducing ladybugs as natural predators for aphids. Regularly inspect your plants and ensure they’re getting proper care. Hope this helps!