If your house is anything like mine, a new shelf, bookcase, or end table means a new potted plant will spontaneously appear on top of it in the very near future.
House plants are a timeless and cost-effective way to liven up any room’s decor. They are excellent at bringing a little bit of nature inside, but sometimes a little bit too much nature ends up coming indoors.
Bugs seem to love your plants almost as much as you do, and they can be difficult to deal with. There are plenty of chemical bug repellents that are very effective, but these can be toxic to pets and curious children.
So how can we prevent unwanted creepy-crawlies from making a home or meal out of our favorite houseplants without resorting to potentially dangerous chemicals?
We delved into plant enthusiast social media groups, read dozens of articles, scoured scholarly archives, and sought out advice from our grandmas to bring you several natural alternatives to chemical pesticides.
Before we get into the weeds, let’s start with some precautionary words: Not all plants are created equal. Some may be more sensitive to these techniques than others, and you should test any of these solutions that you choose to adopt on a small section of the plant just in case they don’t react well to the treatment.
The best way to keep bugs from eating your plants is to prevent them from accessing them. Here are a couple ways you can block insects from moving in:
Sticky traps, the personal choice of spiders everywhere, are an inexpensive and non-toxic way to mitigate the risk of infestation.
These simple traps come in various designs that can either be hung or placed strategically in the vicinity of your plants to form a protective barrier. If you’re concerned about flying bugs like fungus gnats, white-flies, or aphids, give these a try.
Many varieties of bugs don’t actually take up residence in the foliage of your plant and would rather build their nest in the rich soil of your planter. Placing a barrier over the soil can be a very effective preventative measure.
Things like sand soil or mixing cinnamon into the top layer are good options, but the most time-tested soil mix-in uses microscopic fossilized sea critters.
While that might sound exotic and expensive, diatomaceous earth is a relatively inexpensive powder that is used in grain silos all over the world to accomplish exactly the task we’ve set out to do. The tiny food-grade particles shred the protective coatings of many insects leaving them unable to stay hydrated.
It won’t harm you, your children, or your pets so don’t hesitate to lightly dust your plants and soil with it to keep insects out. Just remember that you’ll need to reapply it to the soil after watering.
While not a permanent solution, sometimes simply moving the plant can buy you some extra time to prepare your next line of attack. Moving the plant further indoors or placing it on an elevated plant stand immediately upon detecting ants can confuse their navigation when they go to get their friends.
If you need somewhere new to put your plant, take a look at our selection of Sunnydaze Planters and Stands
Synthetic pesticides are super effective at killing bugs and preventing further infestation, but the chemical compounds that make them tick might not be something you want to have prolonged exposure to, especially inside your home.
This isn’t a new problem and people have been searching for a natural solution to prevent bugs from ruining their plants for generations.
You can find dozens of results for these recipes with a quick search, but which one should you try? Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular options from around the web and compare them to what researchers at the University of Abu Dhabi discovered while testing them.
Diluting a liquid soap into a simple spray is probably the simplest solution in this list.
A tablespoon or two in a big spray bottle will give you a good shot at taking care of bugs. As a bonus, your spray bottle can still be used for general household cleaning.
Orange, mint, clove, and lavender oils smell nice and can be a decent repellent, but they probably won’t eliminate an existing infestation. Of these, lavender oil was marginally more effective when dealing with ants.
If you’re looking for a convenient and pleasant-smelling preventative measure, it won’t hurt to give these a try.
Garlic, onion, and cottonseed oils might not be olfactory rock stars, but they have shown to be fairly effective at keeping insects and spiders at bay. They do degrade on the plant fairly quickly so unless you’re also looking to keep vampires out it may be best to skip these ones.
This smelly substance taken from the seeds of neem trees is far more efficient than the other treatments in this list in terms of killing and repelling certain insects. It’s not a one-size-fits all solution, but spiders, ants, and certain varieties of flying bug will avoid this substance like their lives depend on it.
Having houseplants is a great way to add life and greenery to your home But unfortunately, bugs and pests can be an annoying downside Spider mites, aphids, fungus gnats, and mealybugs are some of the most common houseplant pests. When they infest the soil, leaves, or stems, they damage your plants and diminish their health and appearance.
Luckily, there are many effective natural remedies to get rid of houseplant bugs without using harsh chemicals. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to keep pests away and have thriving houseplants.
Identifying Common Houseplant Bugs
The first step is learning to identify the bugs attacking your plants. Being able to recognize the type of pest will help you use the best control methods. Here are some of the most common houseplant bugs:
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Aphids – Tiny soft-bodied insects that come in colors like green black, yellow, or white. They feed on plant sap and leave sticky residue.
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Mealybugs – White cottony bugs about 1/8 inch long that feed on sap. They leave sticky honeydew on plants.
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Spider Mites – Tiny red or black bugs almost too small to see. They form webs and leave stippling damage on leaves.
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Fungus Gnats – Tiny black flying insects and larvae in soil that feed on plant roots and leaves
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Thrips – Slender yellow or black bugs under 1/4 inch long that feed on leaves and buds.
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Scale – Immobile brown bumps that attach to stems and leaves to feed on sap.
12 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Houseplant Bugs
Once you’ve identified the type of bugs on your houseplants, it’s time to get rid of them. Here are 12 effective natural remedies:
1. Neem Oil
Neem oil is extracted from the neem tree and contains azadirachtin that insects find repulsive. It’s safe for people, pets, and plants and helps control a wide variety of common houseplant pests like aphids, whiteflies, and fungus gnats.
Mix 1-2 teaspoons of neem oil with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Then spray all areas of the plant, including the stems, undersides of leaves, and topsoil. For best results, apply weekly for a few weeks.
2. Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap is a natural control made with potassium salts of fatty acids that disrupts bugs’ cell membranes. It’s effective against soft-bodied insects like aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and spider mites.
Use 1-2 tablespoons of insecticidal soap per quart of water and spray plants, making sure to coat stems, undersides of leaves, and soil. Apply every 5-7 days until pests are gone.
3. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder made from crushed fossils of diatoms, a type of algae. The sharp particles dehydrate and kill soft-bodied insects like aphids and thrips.
Dust a thin layer of food-grade DE on the topsoil of potted plants. Reapply after watering. You can also mix 1 teaspoon per gallon of water and spray plants.
4. Rubbing Alcohol
For mealybugs and scale, use a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol to rub them off stems and leaves. Be careful not to damage plants and avoid getting alcohol in the soil.
5. Sticky Traps
Sticky traps like yellow cards or tape can help monitor and control houseplant pests like fungus gnats, whiteflies, aphids, and thrips. Traps attract bugs which then get stuck to the adhesive.
Place traps just above soil level or among affected leaves. Change them out weekly until populations decrease.
6. Prune Heavily Infested Parts
Remove any heavily infested leaves, stems, or branches with clean pruning shears or scissors. Discard them in a sealed bag. This helps get rid of bugs and prevent them spreading.
7. Repot in Fresh Soil
If pests like fungus gnats are in the soil, repot the plant in fresh sterile potting mix. Rinse the roots first to dislodge larvae. This gives you a clean start without bugs in the soil.
8. Change Watering Practices
Fungus gnats and other pests thrive in damp conditions. Allow soil to dry out more between waterings to discourage them. Wait until the top few inches are dry before watering again.
9. Use Hydrogen Peroxide
A mild 3% hydrogen peroxide solution can help control fungus gnat larvae in soil. Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 4 parts water and use it to water plants. Repeat every few weeks if needed.
10. Remove Weeds
Weeds around potted plants can shelter pests like aphids and mealybugs. Remove any weeds growing in or around pots. This eliminates hiding places and food sources for bugs.
11. Use a Fan
Run a small fan near infested plants to keep air circulating. This disrupts flying pests like fungus gnats and whiteflies so they’re less likely to take hold.
12. Introduce Beneficial Insects
Release beneficial predators like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps to feed on and control pests. They occur naturally outdoors and you can buy them from garden stores. Follow package instructions.
Prevent Houseplant Bugs
Prevention is the first line of defense against houseplant pests. Here are some tips:
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Quarantine new plants away from others for a few weeks to check for bugs.
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Disinfect pots before reusing to kill eggs and larvae.
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Allow soil to dry adequately between waterings.
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Provide adequate sunlight and avoid overcrowding plants.
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Remove and discard heavily infested plants.
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Clean plants regularly by spraying water or insecticidal soap.
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Avoid bringing outdoor plants inside without checking for pests first.
When to Call a Professional
For severe houseplant bug infestations that don’t respond to natural remedies, contacting a pest control professional may be warranted. They have access to stronger treatments that can eliminate large-scale infestations. Fumigation or heat treatments are sometimes used for bugs in soil.
The Bottom Line
Bugs don’t have to spell doom for your houseplants. With vigilance and using these natural tips, you can control most indoor plant pests without harming your plants or health. Sticking to gentle but effective remedies like horticultural oils, insecticidal soap, and beneficial insects will get rid of bugs and keep your houseplants thriving.
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How to Naturally Kill Gnats & Bugs on House Plants
FAQ
What is the best homemade bug spray for plants indoor?
- Mix a half teaspoon of liquid dish soap and a teaspoon of neem oil in a liter of water. Pour solution into a plant mister.
- To use, spray the undersides of leaves and stems where pests and fungal diseases like to hide. Cotton gloves can help to rub the solution thoroughly.
What kills bugs but not plants?
There is no universal pesticide, but there are many home remedies, like a soapy dish detergent spray, that work well without impacting the plants, soil, or beneficial insects. This type of spot cleaning works well for soft-bodies insects like aphids, thrips, and whiteflies.