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Gardening

Black fly on Fatsia plant

(5 Posts)
jeanie99 Tue 04-Jun-19 00:33:23

What is happening this year?

I have two large Fatsia plants which I grow in tubs, both have black fly on them this year. What is happening I have never known this before, they are generally disease free and resilient to most pests.
My plumb tree seems to have the same problem.

Anyone else with the same problem, I am reluctant to spray the Victoria Plum tree.

kittylester Tue 04-Jun-19 06:14:39

We get black flies on our fatsia most years and they get eaten by ants.

NanTheWiser Tue 04-Jun-19 12:08:35

Kittylester, ants don't eat blackfly, they "farm" them for their sugary secretions, and have been known to move them from plant to plant.
There does seem to be a lot of blackflies around this year, I have several plants affected. You could just spray them with a solution of washing up liquid in water, which gives some control, and is harmless.

kittylester Wed 05-Jun-19 22:09:30

Well, whatever they are doing, the black fly disappear off my fatsia.

craftyone Sun 09-Jun-19 13:23:42

ants, like nan said. The pot will be full of ants, they are the root cause and should be dealt with. They are past masters at farming black and green fly