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4 O'Clocks NEVER killed my Jap Beetles

15 years ago

... and for that matter, they didn't even EAT the four oclocks. I've had JB for exactly two months. It is winding down down, but everyday I've had to go out with the soapy buckets and drop literally hundreds - although now I am down to about 30 or so and I think soon I will have none. (Thank goodness!)

littleone - it worked for you - did I miss something? I remember you posted that they are poisonous to the JBeetles, but it didn't happen for me.

Carrie

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Comments (3)

lblack61
15 years ago
Carrie,
It has worked for me in the past, but this year, the 4 O'Clocks got a late start for some reason and the JPs have been out at least a month before my 4oclocks showed any buds. So they've been chowing down on other things.

Usually, they chomp a little on a 4Oclock leaf and I spot them keeled over and skeletized on the leaf they were munching on.

I haven't even done the soapy water this year. Too tired. Just letting them have their way. Lucky them. But they'd better watch out for me next year. I acquired a yellow tea rose bush real cheap that I'm also rooting additional cuttings of. When I get all those rose bushes in the ground, I'm going to fight for them like a mother hen.

Linda
carrie630
Original Author
15 years ago
okay - now here's my four oclock story....

My four oclocks were blooming really early because this year, I planned them so that they would be off and ready to go to "kill" the beetles. Linda, I watched them, they would go right past the whole row of four oclocks and not even stop! The flowers weren't opened, but the old buds from the day before were still there and from what I understand it is the foliage that they like anyway.

So, how come? :0/ Are my four oclocks just NOT good enough for these beetles?? Fussy little guys :0)

Carrie
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littleonefb
15 years ago
Carrie,

I don't know if you did anything wrong. I've had a few this year and they've been enjoying themselves on the 4 o'clocks.

I'm not able to get out in the gardens as much as I would like or for as long as I would like, as I'm just 4 weeks post op from spinal surgery.
But, my daughter was checking for me today and she poked a couple of JP that where on some leaves on the 4 0'clocks and they just fell off on the ground.

Being the crazy 25 year old HS science teacher that she is, she thought it was the "coolest thing" and came in the house to get a jar to collect them in so she could use them in a biology class in the fall.

One key thing to do is to either plant them very close to your roses or grow them in 10, 12 or 16 inch pots and then just move them around the yard to be right near your plants that the JP go after.

I have some in pots beside a rose bush, my malvas and my hibiscus and for some reason the JP have decided that they like one particular morning glory vine and have been nasty about it. So I have one right beside that MG vine.

My daughter had a good time collecting dead JP for her class off that 4 o'clock plant.

The other JP loving plants, according to my daughter have no damage to them.

Fran

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