Watch out! Pests might be playing hide and seek on your plants right now. Find out their secret hiding place they don't want you to know about. Spider mites, thrips, aphids, scale, mealybugs and more are after this one thing. And where it is, is where you'll find them hiding...
Candy for pests
Plants have two main types of sap. The sap that goes from the roots upwards is mainly responsible for carrying water and dissolved minerals to the rest of the plant. That's called xylem sap (said ‘zai-luhm’). It flows from roots to the upside of leaves and contains low nutrient content.
BUT it's the other main type of sap that the bad bugs LOVE. It’s like lollies for pests. After photosynthesis, the sap becomes extra-nutritious to pests. Called phloem sap (said 'flow-em'), it's now primarily made up of sugars (mainly sucrose), and other nutrients.
Lifting leaves saves plant lives
Phloem sap is found in the lower side of leaf veins UNDERNEATH leaves. Phloem sap is more concentrated in flower buds and new growth also. You guessed it. That's where you'll find sap-sucking pests playing hide and seek - or more accurately, hide and suck!
The underside of leaves also offers other benefits beyond a buffet. Being harder to spot under leaves helps pests hide from people and other predators as well as extra protection from the elements like rain.
That's why a clever habit to get into is to LIFT LEAVES when you water to make a quick check for sap-sucking pests. Take a close look at buds and new growth too.
Keep learning...
If you do find a sap-sucking pest hiding out, here are a couple of free guides to help...
