I have seen these guys before, but never enough to really worry about. I would spray with water and forget about it. I am seeing what I think is a major infestation, some plants more than others. I think maybe because the up and down temperatures have made some plants more susceptible. Guess I need to find some spray

For several years a while back, I was frustrated by misshapen buds and flowers, which after reading/researching, I finally deduced were caused by thrips. Although I have never actually seen a thrip. It was frustrating because, by the time the problem was apparent, the buds/blooms were already disfigured for the season.

I found a (nonorganic) spray called Bonide on Amazon and now I spray once early on (like now) and again in June. I actually mix this in a 2 gal sprayer along with liquid kelp and mild fertilizer(and Coco Wet to help it stick to the leaves) so I can get it all done at once, since the spraying takes quite a long time with all the dls I have.

Since I started this regime, the disfigurement has ceased.

I'd rather not have to order online, but could not find a foliar spray systemic anywhere in local stores. All places like Home Depot had were systemic crystals you put around the plant, which then dissolve and leach down into the soil and eventually taken up by the roots. But I was concerned this might also kill beneficial insects/worms in the soil, so I wanted foliar spray which would go right onto the leaves and be absorbed within the plant and get down to its roots that way.

The Bonide is about $16 per quart which covers my large gardens easily for a season.

Thanks, I will give that a try. I read complaints about these pests, but I have never had enough to cause any problem. This looks like it will be enough to need treatment though and want to get rid of them before blooms form..

What do they look like? I have seen a couple aphids but nothing bad.

alilyfan said:I have seen these guys before, but never enough to really worry about. I would spray with water and forget about it. I am seeing what I think is a major infestation, some plants more than others. I think maybe because the up and down temperatures have made some plants more susceptible. Guess I need to find some spray

Are they definitely thrips? They're usually pretty difficult to see and sneaky with it. A water spray likely wouldn't be a deterrent for thrips either so I'm wondering if it could be something else.