Having houseplants can bring great joy and coziness to your home But they can also attract some unwelcome guests – bugs! While a few bugs here and there are usually harmless, an infestation can quickly damage and even kill your beloved plants So it’s important to act fast when you spot bugs on your houseplants.
The good news is there are several effective methods to get rid of most common houseplant pests and keep them from coming back. With some diligence and perseverance, you can have a bug-free indoor jungle in no time!
Identify the Culprits
The first step is identifying which bugs have invaded your plants. Different pests call for different treatment methods. Here are some of the most common houseplant bugs to watch out for
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Aphids – These tiny, soft-bodied insects come in a variety of colors like green, black, or white. They suck sap from plants and spread quickly. Telltale signs are sticky honeydew and distorted growth on plant leaves and stems.
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Mealybugs – Mealybugs are soft-bodied like aphids but have a distinctive white waxy coating. They look like tiny white dots moving slowly on plants and also leave behind sticky honeydew droppings.
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Fungus Gnats – Adult fungus gnats resemble small mosquitoes and their larvae live in soil. They don’t harm plants directly but can spread fungal diseases. You’ll notice them flying around soil when watered.
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Spider Mites – Too small to see with the naked eye, spider mites suck juices from plant leaves, causing stippling damage. Webbing on plants is a clear sign of their presence.
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Thrips – Slender yellow or dark bugs that rasp plant tissues and drink expelled plant juices. Leaves appear silvery with dark fecal spots.
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Scale Insects – Immobile scale bugs attach themselves to plants and feed on sap. They appear as bumps on stems and leaves that can’t be rubbed off.
Once you’ve identified the pests, it’s time to take action!
Non-Chemical Pest Control Methods
For mild infestations, there are some effective non-chemical ways to get rid of plant bugs and prevent their return:
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Remove heavily infested parts – Clip off badly damaged leaves, stems, or branches. Seal them in a plastic bag before throwing away to prevent spread.
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Wash plants – Use a steady stream of water to wash bugs off of plant leaves and stems. Repeat every few days until they are gone.
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Use soapy water – Mix a few drops of dish soap into water and spray plants. The soap smothers soft-bodied insects like aphids. Rinse after 30 minutes.
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Apply neem oil – Neem oil naturally repels many plant pests. Mix it with water and spray leaves. Can be used up to once a week.
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Quarantine plants – Isolate any infested plants away from your other houseplants until the bugs are completely gone.
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Use sticky traps – Yellow or blue sticky traps near infested plants capture adult fungus gnats.
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Remove top inch of soil – This eliminates most fungus gnat larvae in the soil. Replace with fresh sterile potting mix.
Chemical Pesticides
For severe houseplant pest infestations, chemical pesticides are stronger and more effective options:
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Insecticidal soap – Potassium salts of fatty acids kill soft-bodied insects on contact. Spray plants and repeat after 5-7 days.
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Horticultural oil – Suffocates insects and mite eggs. Mix with water and thoroughly coat plant leaves every 7-14 days.
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Botanical insecticides – Natural pesticides containing pyrethrins derived from chrysanthemums are available. Follow label directions.
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Systemic pesticides – Taken up by plant roots and make plant tissues toxic to feeding bugs. Imidacloprid is commonly used. Use with caution.
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Insect growth regulators – Disrupt lifecycle by preventing molting and maturity. Azadirachtin derived from neem trees is a popular option.
Always carefully read and follow all label directions when using chemical pesticides! Start with lower concentrations and test on a few leaves first to avoid plant damage.
Prevention is Key!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to houseplant bugs. Here are some tips to help keep pests away in the first place:
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Inspect new plants very closely before bringing home. Quarantine for a few weeks.
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Remove dust and regularly wipe plant leaves to discourage mites.
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Allow soil to dry out some between waterings to reduce fungus gnats.
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Provide good ventilation and air circulation for plants.
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Apply a layer of sand or small rocks on top of potting mix to block gnats.
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Use sterile soil and cleaned pots when repotting plants.
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Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap monthly as a preventative.
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Keep plants healthy and avoid over or under-watering which stresses them.
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Remove fallen leaves, stems, and flower petals which can harbor pests.
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Limit ant access to plants. They spread aphids and mealybugs.
With vigilance and using these chemical and non-chemical control methods, you can keep your houseplants pest-free and flourishing. Don’t be afraid to take action at the first signs of bugs. The sooner you respond, the better chance your plants have of bouncing back unharmed from the invasion!
Early detection is key to managing pests
Finding pests before they become a problem is the best way to keep insects at bay.
- Thoroughly examine all plant parts and containers before bringing them home from the store or indoors for the winter.
- You may need to use a magnifying lens as some pests are very small.
- Inspect tops and undersides of leaves for insects, webbing, holes and eggs.
- Examine discolored leaves as this may be evidence of a pest problem.
- A ten-power hand magnifying lens is helpful when looking for pests. There are also magnifier apps for smartphones.
- Examine discolored leaves as this may be evidence of a pest problem.
- Watch for honeydew, a shiny, sticky substance made by aphids, mealybugs and scale insects found on the upper surface of leaves, and on tabletops and other items around and under the plant.
- Check plant containers for signs of pests along edges, rims, and crevices and on the bottom of pots and saucers. Remove if found.
- Isolate newly acquired plants for one to two weeks to allow any possible pest problems to become visible.
- Check for pests when you water, fertilize or clean plants.
- Some insects like springtails and fungus gnats will move due to the water, making it easier to detect them.
- Use yellow or blue sticky traps to detect flying insects like whiteflies, fungus gnats, winged aphids and thrips.
Grow plants in the best possible conditions
- Select plants with growing requirements that match the indoor environment (humidity, light, temperature).
- Plants cannot fight off pests when they are struggling to grow in too little light, overly wet or dry soil, too hot or too cold air temperatures, etc.
- Know how much water your plant needs.
- Water the soil at the base of the plant, not the leaves.
- Be sure the plants pot drains well.
- Avoid letting plants stand in water.
- Over-watering and poor drainage can cause root rot and encourage fungus gnats as well as other pest issues.
How to Get Rid of Bugs in Houseplants (4 Easy Steps)
FAQ
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