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houseplant are a great way to work the corking outdoors in and enhance your home . However , with great verdure come outstanding responsibility — and this clock time we are talking about pest control . Here are a few of the most common houseplant pests and how to repair them should you discover an infestation .
See also : Houseplant Care : 12 Tips for Healthy Indoor Plants
COMMON HOUSEPLANT BUGS
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APHIDS
aphid are small pear tree - shaped plague and can be a variety of colors , let in fleeceable , yellow , brown , pitch-black , or even pinkish .
Aphids will typically be found feast on the undersides of leaves or raw growth . These tomfool - draw pests will stimulate foliage to yellow and deform . The presence of aphids can also be ascertain by shiny or sticky expanse on leaves .
Aphid control involve hired man - wiping , water crop-dusting , or using swabs dipped in 70 % intoxicant to remove the pest from the plant . discourse may require multiple try and insecticidal soap spray may help reduce the identification number of times aphids will reappear .
show to treat aphid .
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FUNGUS GNATS
Fungus gnats are often mistaken as mosquitoes as they flee around the home . However , these imperfect aeronaut are easier to spat - away than most other flying bugs .
Fungus gnat are typically not a menace to the wellness of houseplants but are sure annoying to have in the domicile . However , their larvae feed off of decaying organic matter and can be found in moist stain . Uncommon , but possible heavy infestations can negatively sham your plant as larvae can feed on the works ’s root system .
Controlling fungus gnats can be as wide-eyed and changing your potting mixture . Dense overwatered grease is the arrant breeding primer coat and using a well - draining potting mix can discourage grownup fungus gnats from setting up shop and even kill the larva .
show to treat and prevent fungus gnats .
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LEAF MINERS
Leafminers are rarely see themselves , as their presence is determined by irregular trails or splotch observe on leaves . Leafminers are not a specific bug , but the larva of a potpourri of insects and provender between the upper and lower surfaces of foliage . away from being visually unappealing , the damage have by leafminers are not as serious as other blighter .
Leafminer control involves removing damaged leaf that expose leafminer damage . Insecticidal sprays may also be used to deter the plague from being abel to enter the folio .
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MEALYBUGS
mealy bug are small white , almost fluffy looking pests that can be determine on the lower surface of flora but can be found all over the industrial plant when heavy infested . Some mealy bugs are also found in the grease , feast on root systems . These cotton fiber - looking pests feed on sap and their wrong can cause stunt or deformed growth .
Controlling mealybug can be as simple-minded as hand - wiping them away with cotton swabs dipped in 70 % alcoholic beverage and sprayed with insecticidal soap . However , heavily infested plants may be better off throw away .
pick up mealybugs .
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SCALE
graduated table are either delicate or heavy eubstance ( armored ) pests . Scale appear to be flat bout or oblong growths usually found on stems and undersides of leave . These legless busts are usually identifiable by their coloured place in the center of their lighter colored organic structure . These plague , like most , feed off plants for their sap .
scale leaf control is most effective in the other stages of an plague and can be scraped off with your fingernail . They can also be get the better of using insecticide admit neem and canola oil oil .
Learn scale .
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SPIDER MITES
One of the most dreaded pest are wanderer speck . These pests are extremely small and unmanageable to be seen with the naked centre , but their comportment is commonly identified by the silky webs they leave among leaves and stanch .
These bantam invading pests can cause a mass of damage , very quick result in faded colourize among the leafage . plant notorious for suffering from spider mite infestations includealocasias , laurel wreath , and English ivy .
wanderer touch control is intensive compared to other pests . An infested plant life should be thoroughly sprayed to free the bug and demolish their webs . Insecticidal soap , neem fossil oil , or insecticides containing sulfur are a popular option in treating infested plant . Completely disembarrass the plant of wanderer mite normally take several consecutive weeks of discourse .
instruct spider mites .
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THRIPS
Thrips are fast - go little , long , and thin pest with fringed wings . They are often find on the tops of leaves , feeding off sap . Thrip damage is detectable as foliage can fade , brown , or die off completely .
Controlling thrips involve rinse off the plant and then spray it with insecticidal goop . Many plant parents will use nebulizer with Spinosad as an dynamic ingredient . However , Spinosad kills both beneficial and harmful pestilence . So , if you turn ladybug , implore mantis , or any other good pest , Spinosad should not be used .
Learn to control thrips .
HELP WITH PEST PREVENTION
Pest bar is often thought of as hebdomadary applications of natural and/or chemic pesterer deterrents . However , the most canonical gradation is often overlooked : potting mix . Well - draining potting mixture are a great soil option for overall plant wellness .
A secondary line of defense that can be sum to help deter pest is pebble ground cover . pebble should only be used with well - draining potting mixing , as they are known to entrap moisture when used with dense dirt .
