We used conserve last year and solved the problem. Conserve is safer than some other chemicals so might be safe to use around your pond. Do some research to determine if it is safe enough or not.

Patrick

Here is a link that might be useful: conserve details

You can use soil-applied imidacloprid (e.g., Bayer Tree and Shrub Insect Control) if that would not leach into the pool. But with any imidacloprid product, it's very important to alternate it with some other, unrelated material (like conserve), to reduce the likelihood that the thrips will build resistance.

Thank you Malcolm and Patrick for replying. I will check into Conserve and get started right away. I don't want a repeat of last year with the ugly bushes of small curled up leaves and brown buds. The cold weather we had in January must have been good for my roses because right now they are looking pretty good.

Malcolm & Patrick, what do these chemicals do to soil organisms and earthworms. I understand that Chili thrips are lethal and have to be dealt with, but I just want to know what I'm doing to my soil-friends and how I can mitigate the necessary damage. The thought of pouring something in the soil gives me the shakes. Can you reassure and/or comfort me with the facts?

Shirley, I do hope you beat them and your roses are wonderful - and safe - this year.

Thanks.

Imidacloprid is highly toxic to earthworms, and would probably kill all of them in the treated zone. On the other hand, as soon as the chemical clears the area (a few weeks max), more would move in from the surrounding soil. Not sure about conserve.

Of course the obvious "green" method for controlling chili thrips is to grow only resistant varieties. 'Mrs. B. R. Cant' is virtually thrips-proof. Bermuda's 'Smith's Parish' and 'Trinity' are quite acceptable in the presence of thrips. And 'Tausendschoen' is fine. Unfortunately, most of the other roses we generally consider resistant to other pests and diseases tend not to be resistant in this case.

I have a Mrs. B. R. Cant that is new in a pot so I'm glad that rose will be safe. Last year, even some of my roses that I had in pots were also affected. I didn't notice my Cramoisi superior (Sp) having any problems, but it's in the back of the house, far away from the front where my other roses mostly are.

Normally I never spray anything so I'm not sure what I will do this year. Oh well, guess I'll just hope for the best.

Shirley

With any plant disease, there is a danger that your neighbors are going to be oblivious to the presence of the disease in their garden. This will not only destroy part of their garden slowly, but will lead to horrific increase in the disease pressure on your garden.

With any disease, oblivious disregard is a problem.

With Chili Thrips, the number of plants that host the thrips is breath taking, in a bad way.

There are a lot of good websites out there, and even if you and your roses don't grow in Florida, it's worth your time to learn more about this problem.

Hmmm, I'm almost positive last spring Mrs B R Cant had regular thrips. Her blooms balled, and I'm sure (failing memory!) I looked in the buds and found thrips. Malcolm, are you only referring above to Chili thrips in reference to resistant roses? If so, I have at least one that won't get them.

Sherry

Sherry, Yes indeed! Chili thrips are a whole different animal from flower thrips, and the two can't be compared. I was referring only to chili thrips.
Malcolm