They suck sap, causing leaves to crinkle and darken. Systemic granules can also be sprinkled into the soil of the plant to reduce and prevent infestations. I’ve got leaves dying and dropping off at the base of my English ivy’s. Houseplants are susceptible to attack by many insects and mite pests. Any advice before I lose them all? Plants add color, life and beauty to any environment and improve the quality of your indoor air by filtering out common pollutants. Pay particular attention to the underside of leaves where spider mites and other pests like to make their homes. Your email address will not be published. Turn the plant upside down and dip the foliage portion into a bucket of clean room-temperature water. Spray sturdier plants with lukewarm water from a squirt bottle. Spray large plants in a shower. Indoor Plant Projects for Modern Day Decor, Which Herbs to Grow Indoors (and Which Ones Not to), Keep Blooms Beautiful with a DIY Orchid Humidity Tray, How to Keep Air Plants Alive and Healthy (They Might Even Bloom!). The joy of bringing home a new houseplant is a wonderful experience, but when a pest infestation occurs, that love can quickly turn to despair. Is there something I can apply to stop this process? Healthy plants will be able to ward off pests and disease much better than weak plants. Any of these insects can kill your plants if untreated. When you move the plant indoors, isolate it from other plants to avoid allowing pests to spread. Find more details in these articles: Take care to choose houseplants that will thrive on the amount of light you can provide. A satchel of dried catnip helps in deterring ants that invade the home, as well. Several insecticides are available to control houseplant pests. Keep the plant in isolation for about six weeks; make visual inspections to ensure pests are gone. Ways to help keep bugs from infesting your plants include: Catnip called Six Hills Giant is a … Regularly remove dead leaves and flowers. Jan 10, 2020 | Houseplant Beginners, Houseplant Care, Houseplant Pests, Houseplant Troubleshooting, Houseplant Watering This post shows what root rot looks like (in pictures), what to do if your plant has it step-by-step, and how to prevent it from happening to your plants. Handpick large pests such as earwigs, caterpillars, slugs and millipedes. Some even clean the air, according to Colorado State University Extension. Biological controls exist for aphids, caterpillars, mealy bugs, soft scale insects, red spider mites, thrips, vine weevil larvae, and whiteflies. ), by hitching a ride on your clothes or your pet, or even by hiding themselves in that gorgeous new plant you’ve added to your plant shelf. 10. Catnip helps to deter ants, weevils, aphids, flea beetles, Japanese beetles and squash bugs. Handpicking. Scale insects: swollen, waxy-brown discs, usually static, under which female scale insects produce their young. 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If you start to see signs of damage like wilted leaves, spots, or weakened growth on an otherwise happy plant, check for unwanted insects. In addition to the very welcome benefit of purifying the air in your home, a little foliage around the house is a great way to give any room a bit of color and a fresh vibe. Thrips: these tiny, dark brown, fly-like insects jump from one plant to another. Here are a few tips for keeping your plants insect-free. Mealybugs are very hard to get rid of. They chew all parts of plants. Be careful not to break the plant if it's delicate or newly growing. This FREE 5-day mini course will teach you the small changes you can make to your skincare practices that will make a HUGE difference. Learn More. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And parabens. Ask your garden center for advice. These pests feed on the leaves, stems, or roots of your plants. To catch houseplant pests before they turn into a problem, you need to know the early warnings. 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