I have 6 beautiful Calliope Geraniums. They are no longer beautiful because they have Budworm, which I have never heard of. I'm in Springfield MA 01129 and I am not sure what to do about this. Do these plants have to be discarded or can I overwinter them? I have read that Neem Oil may help. Any other suggestions? I would love to rescue these plants.

Diane R.

Some info on control and life cycle here:

https://ag.umass.edu/greenhous...

http://extension.colostate.edu...

If you're overwintering in the pots they are in currently, you may want to change the potting mix in case any are pupating in it. Don't put the old mix back in the garden or compost pile. If they are currently growing in the ground then pot them up for winter in fresh potting mix. Some people winter geraniums bareroot also, or as cuttings.

Having said this, if they are outdoors in the garden currently then the pest may winter over in the garden soil unless it gets cold enough there (check out the links above for details on survival temperature).

Sooby, thank you for that info. They are in containers and I am going to put them in new pots and get rid of the soil. I have overwintered bare root before, so I may try that again. It gets below zero here in Mass. There is so little info on budworm, but I did read they are moving Northeast....I guess they have arrived.

Thanks sooby for sharing that information with us here.