Do you want to know if your houseplant has pests or not, and ways to treat them? If yes, it is easy to identify and treat them by yourself. The identification and treatment of houseplants is important for any house gardener. Household plants bring nature indoors, but they can also bring unwanted visitors like pests, which leads to stunted growth of plants, discoloured leaves and even kills the plant if left unchecked for long. The successful management of the crops depends on the early detection of pests and the proper combination of natural and sometimes chemical treatments. Let’s discuss in detail how plant parents can protect their green indoor environment through early detection and treatment in this blog.
Identifying common household pests
The pests are not visible clearly and require deep inspection for their detection. The pests that are most common and their identification:
Spider mites: These are extremely tiny pests that cause yellow or brown patches on the leaves. They are most commonly found in dry conditions, and if left for more time, they can create silk-like webbing between stems and leaves.
Mealy bugs: They left the cotton as clumps on the joints of the leaves and along stems. They cause the stunted growth of the plant.
Whiteflies: These are tiny winged insects that fly around when disturbed, and they are often gathered on the underside of the leaves.
Fungus gnats: These are the mosquito-like flies that hover around the soil surface. They make a very annoying sound, and their larvae live in damp soil and feed on plant roots.
How to treat common houseplant pests
Upon detection of the pests, the treatment should be done immediately to prevent plant decay. There are different treatment plans for different types of pests. Let’s know about the treatment of pests we mentioned above:
Treating spider mites: For this, immediately rinse the plant with water to knock out mites and webs. Increase the humidity as mites hate moisture, and apply a disinfectant spray of neem oil every few days.
Treating mealy bugs: Dip a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol and directly dab on the cottony insects to dissolve them. Spray with neem oil or use insecticidal soap.
Treatment for whiteflies: Reflective mulches can repel whiteflies from vegetable gardens.
Treating fungus gnats: for treating this, allow the top one to two inches of soil to dry out, as larvae properly develop only in wet conditions. You should place the yellow sticky traps near the soil to catch adults. You can use mosquito bits to kill larvae.
Conclusion
Managing houseplant pests is a continuous process of keeping careful watch for any possible danger or difficulties in the plant and taking immediate action for its treatment.
Pests can be frustrating, but there’s no need to worry, as most infections, when detected early, can be prevented through various natural and chemical methods. Bayton Horticulture Centre provides you with the proper pest control solutions for your garden, designed and formulated under the professional advice of our expert Mr. Pardeep. The persistent work and care for your new plants and protecting them from pests by the use of pest control solutions allows you to maintain a healthy indoor garden rather than a ground for insects.
FAQs
- Why do my pests keep coming back?
You are likely missing the larvae or eggs. Pests create a complete lifecycle, which is why it becomes important to repeat the treatment after every seven to ten days to break the cycle.
- How do I know if the plant is too far gone?
If you see that most of the leaves of the plant are destroyed or damaged it is often a better option to discard the plant to prevent the infection from spreading to the healthy plants.
- Are mealybugs harmful to pets?
No, mealybugs are not harmful to pets or humans, but they are extremely harmful to the plant’s health. Early detection of pests can save your plants from damage.
