Seeds Or Pests On Petunias? - Knowledgebase Question

Glendale, CA
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Question by pigletxx
September 3, 2004
I have wave petunias and impatiens in containers. I have found very tiny hard, round, dark brown balls on the leaves and flowers and especially on the ground next to the petunias container. I thought at first they were pests, but they did not move or open. Is it possible the balls are seeds from spent flowers?


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Answer from NGA
September 3, 2004
What you're finding might very well be seeds; look for opened seed pods still attached to the stems of the plants. These will be either brown or tan and still attached to the stems where flowers once were. Seeds of petunias and about the size of a grain of salt and a dark brown. Another possiblity is frass (bug poop). If the leaves of your plants have holes eaten in them, the caterpillars feeding on them may have left some excrement. Inspect your plants very closely for signs of insect pests to rule out the possibility of frass.

Best wishes with your garden!

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