While houseplant pests are inevitable, they can be managed with a little diligence and know-how.
Here, experts share how to identify and kill bugs in houseplants to keepyour greenery collectionlooking good as new.
How bugs get into houseplants.
Pests have a knack for seeking out tasty plants, even those that are situated indoors.
Stressed plants that are not getting proper care also tend tosend out signals1that attract pests.
It’s almost unavoidable,“Roos Kocken, a houseplant expert and sustainability advocate, tells mbg.
How to get rid of bugs in houseplant soil.
Option 2: Spray a gentle insecticide.
Insecticidal soaps can be very effective at killing soft-bodied insects like aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs.
Consider one of the options below ormake your own natural pesticide using this how-to guide.
Option 4: Try rubbing alcohol.
Option 5: Call on beneficial insects.
It may seem counterintuitive, but you’re free to also treat a bug problem by bringing inmorebugs.
Once you get over the initialickfactor, Kocken says that working with beneficial insects can actually be really comforting.
Can bugs eventually kill my houseplants?
“Mealies, spider mites, and scales are sap suckers and can eventually kill off individual leaves.
Severe infestations can impact an entire plant,” Doane explains.
“Fungus gnat larvae attack the roots of the plant and can stunt growth overall.
The adult flies are more of a nuisance than anything else.”
Camilleri and Kaplan add that pests are also quick to spread to nearby plants.
