Sticky leaves
May indicate sap-feeding insects such as aphids, scale or whitefly. Look above and below the affected leaf.
PLANT HEALTH
Healthy greenhouse plants begin with prevention.
Warm, sheltered conditions help plants grow, but they can also help pests reproduce quickly. A short, regular inspection is more effective than waiting for serious damage.
Inspect new plants before they join the greenhouse
Check leaf undersides, growing tips, stems, flowers and the compost surface. Keep new plants separate long enough to spot developing problems. Remove weak or clearly infested plants rather than risking an established collection.
Common warning signs
Fine webbing or stippling
Can indicate red spider mite, often serious in hot, dry conditions.
Silvering and black specks
Can be associated with thrips feeding and deposits. Inspect flowers and tight growing points.
Grey furry growth
Often associated with botrytis on damaged or dying material in humid, poorly ventilated conditions.
Use the least disruptive effective response
Identify the problem before treating. Remove badly affected material, adjust the environment, consider biological controls and use plant-protection products only where authorised and exactly as labelled. Some treatments can harm pollinators or biological-control insects.
Keep records
Note the plant, symptoms, date, temperature and action taken. Photographs make it easier to see whether a problem is spreading and will support the community advice section we build with your image library.
Explore the plant directory and monthly growing calendar.
What’s happening in your greenhouse?
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Keep growing your knowledge.
Explore useful books with reading levels, practical notes and links back to our growing guides.
Browse advanced growing books ↗
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