Marianne's Response
Malformed daylilies
I love daylilies and have several varieties growing at different locations in the yard. The year before last the blossoms were malformed, with some not even opening. Last year it had spread to the other gardens. I hate to give up on them. Is there something I can do to save them? If they are discarded is the ground safe for other types of perennials?
Posted by needshelp on March 26, 2015
Marianne's Response
Sounds like thrips, an insect that arrives in the spring and feeds on the petals. Daylilies are resistant to most other insects and diseases. You can try to control them this spring by setting out yellow sticky traps about four weeks after the last frost when the thrips would be arriving. Once you see the tiny thrips stuck in the traps start spraying the daylily buds with soapy water or an insecticidal soap every 3 days to keep the thrips from burrowing into the flower buds. Destroy any deformed buds as soon as you notice them. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
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