The main pest for pineapple sage are thrips. We explain how to recognize the insect infestation and what you can do about it.
As a robust and hardy plant, pineapple sage (Salvia rutilans) is less susceptible to diseases and pests. However, prerequisites for he althy plant growth are always the consideration of site conditions and species-appropriate care. Poor care generally weakens the plants and naturally makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests.
Thrips - uninvited guest at pineapple sage
Infestation by thrips can be observed more frequently on pineapple sage. However, the pests cannot be seen with the naked eye and are aimed at the leaves of the plant. As the plant continuously loses plant sap, it becomes weaker and weaker and gradually shows various signs of damage.
How can you identify a thrips infestation?
First, silvery dots can be seen on the leaves. These become visible at the sucking sites where the plant loses chlorophyll. If young plants are affected, their growth is clearly inhibited.
➔ Tip: If the leaves of the pineapple sage are discolored, the affected leaves should be removed as soon as possible.
The affected leaves will gradually turn brown and show stunted growth. If you examine the plant more closely, you will also be able to see small black spots, namely the excretions of the thunderstorm creatures.
What can be done about thrips?
The pests can be controlled by spraying with soapy water. For this purpose, one liter of water is mixed with 15 milliliters of soft soap. However, a one-off treatment is not enough. Repeated spraying is necessary for lasting control. Blue sticky traps can be used for flying thrips. The thrips has natural predators in the predatory mite or the lacewing. Applying predatory mites or lacewings directly to the plant is particularly useful for heavily infested plants.
Effective measures in keywords:
- Spray with soapy water
- blue sticky traps (blue panels)
- natural predators
Should chemical agents be used?
In the case of plants suitable for consumption, chemical pesticides should generally be avoided. Since thrips can be controlled quite well without the use of insecticides, the use of chemical preparations will usually not be necessary.
➔ Tip: Neem oil is also a proven means of natural pest control. However, such preparations are not suitable for pineapple sage, as the application of the oily mixture clogs the pores of the leaves.
What can be done to prevent thrips?
The most effective way to prevent diseases and pests is to regularly inspect the plants. Not only the tops of the leaves are to be considered. Pests prefer to sit on the underside of the leaves and can cause damage and weaken the plants there, often unnoticed for a long time. If leaf discoloration becomes visible, the affected leaves should be removed and disposed of immediately so that the infestation does not spread to other parts of the plant. If affected plants are too dense in the herb bed, they should be isolated so that the infestation does not spread to the surrounding plants.
Overview of pest infestations by thrips
| Detecting and combating pest infestations | Explanation |
| Damage | ▶ The tiny pests cannot be seen at first. ▶ Small silver spots on the leaves indicate an infestation. ▶ As the disease progresses, the leaves become more intensively damaged and discolour , show a stunted growth habit and eventually fall off. |
| Combat | ▶ As this is an edible plant, once again chemical pest control should be avoided. ▶ Spraying with soapy water is very effective. ▶ In the event of a stronger infestation, natural predators , such as lacewings or predatory mites. |
| Prevention | ▶ Regular checks lead to the early detection of any signs of damage or abnormalities. ▶ The best prevention against pest infestation and diseases is species-appropriate care of the pineapple sage. |
He althy plants - avoiding care mistakes
Pest infestations and diseases on pineapple sage can be largely avoided if you meet the requirementsdo justice to the plant. The location is an important basis. The plants like it warm and humid, but the pineapple sage does not tolerate direct sunlight. The plant should be protected from the blazing midday sun in particular.
There are also a few things to consider when irrigating. The soil should never dry out, which requires regular watering. These should not be measured too generously, because the plants do not tolerate waterlogging. If the water cannot drain off, this is initially not noticed. It is only when the plant starts to get sick and sheds its leaves that it is often recognized that root rot has already set in.
First aid for care mistakes
If care mistakes are recognized in time, the plants can often be saved. Brown leaves are often a sign of insufficient water. Here it already helps if the affected leaves are removed and more water is poured. It becomes more difficult with plants that suffer from waterlogging. Rapid action is then required. The plant is taken out of the ground. The wet substrate is removed as far as possible. If the roots already show brown spots and thus clear signs of rot, these root parts are removed. The root ball is then allowed to dry before being placed in new substrate. Subsequently, correspondingly less is poured. However, it will not always be possible to save plants affected by waterlogging.
➔ Tip: Waterlogging occurs more frequently in potted plants. A drainage made of potsherds applied to the bottom of the vessel is an effective protection against waterlogging.