Aphids
Aphids can be found on almost every plant. There are only a few plants that avoid these sap-sucking insects. The green, black or yellow creatures sit exclusively on the soft parts of the oleander, ie mainly on the inflorescences and the young shoots. They damage the plant not only by sucking off the sap, but also by their excretory secretion, the so-called honeydew, which is high in sugar. These sweet excretions in turn attract ants, but also mainly serve as the basis of food for soot thaw fungi.
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What helps against aphids
Against aphids, showering the oleander with a sharp jet of water helps. Water mixed with a few splashes of detergent also works very well. If the infestation is severe, we recommend using a suitable insecticide.
Spider mites
Like aphids, spider mites are not particularly picky about food crops. The tiny animals are particularly fond of oleanders, which is why spider mite infestation is very common on these shrubs. As a rule, the infestation is already very strong when the signs are already visible with the naked eye: Then you can see fine, cobweb-like webs on the plant, and the leaves in particular turn silvery. Spider mites only appear when the weather is warm and dry.
What helps against spider mites
High humidity helps very well against spider mites, which is why the oleander should not only be moistened with water from time to time with the help of a spray bottle, not only if the infestation has already taken place, but also for prevention. Rapeseed oil-based remedies available in specialist shops are also very effective, whereby you should primarily treat the underside of the leaves and repeat the procedure every few days.
Scale and mealybugs
The brown or black scale insects are also quite common on oleanders. These are also sap-sucking insects that excrete a sticky-sweet secretion. These excretions in turn attract both ants and sooty mildew. An infestation with mealybugs, on the other hand, is quite rare, but not unlikely. These plant lice can be recognized by the white, fluffy shields.
What helps against scale insects and mealybugs
Plant lice are quite stubborn, but they can be removed with soft soap (€ 59.99 at Amazon *). However, mechanical removal is very tedious, especially with larger oleanders. If the infestation is severe, in many cases only a strong pruning will help.
Tips
Prevent pest infestation by spraying the oleander regularly and thus ensuring increased humidity.
