Earwigs and Dahlias.

[Chantenay]

I half heard a tip on GQT to do with petroleum jelly, earwigs and dahlias. Does anyone know what you are meant to do please? I have tried the straw in a plant pot, but have not caught a single one, so any tips would be useful please.

[Chantenay]

[saddad]

I think you grease the flower stems and they get stuck!
One of our plot holders grows exhibition Dahlias... he throws out any with even a munched petal... heartbreaking really!
;D

[Tee Gee]

The petroleum jelly is applied at bud formation time otherwise it is not much good.

To explain; when the bud is very tiny the petals are actually all formed, meaning if an earwig takes a nibble at a bud it actually damages numerous petals.

The ensuing damage is not usually noticed until the calyx has opened to expose the petals. Then you see what might be best termed as 'earwig origami' i.e depending upon the amount of nibbling done, the number of petals damaged can be extensive.

So the best time to apply the jelly is when the bud/s are just appearing, later is a bit of a waste of time i.e. a bite into a big bud does very little damage.

To apply the jelly place a ring of it at least 25mm (1") wide around the stem just under where the bud has formed and hopefully any earwigs venturing close to the bud will get stuck in the jelly.

I hope that gives you a better understanding of what to do and what the intention is.

[Chantenay]

Thank you so much - that's the sort of detail I needed. I shall buy a huge tub of jelly tomorrow.