Does this sound familiar? You found the perfect plant for just the right spot in your home. You water your plant correctly. Give it the ideal amount of sun and fertilization. Heck, you even sing to her occasionally. (We’re not judging!). And yet...you find small bugs in your house, and your pampered plant is the culprit.
First off, don’t feel bad. You probably did nothing wrong. Even the most seasoned plant enthusiast has plant pests. The truth is that plant bugs often enjoy the same conditions that common indoor plants want. And with houseplants, it’s not as easy as adding some predatory insects to the garden.
So, the question is how to get rid of bugs on plants in your house? Below are three of the most common indoor plant pests, how to identify them, how to treat them (naturally), and how to prevent them in the future.
As always, when it comes to plant care advice, I like to stress that plants are living things and favor organic methods to keep them healthy and happy.
1. Spider Mites
What do spider mites look like?
Spider mites are little red bugs. Often, they can be found living on the backs of leaves. Infected leaves will begin to show yellow or orange spots as the spider mites begin to sap nutrients from them. You may see leaves dotted with small holes, and you may even find delicate webbing in the interior of your plant.
How to get rid of spider mites
First and foremost is to quarantine any infected plants. Spider mites on plants will spread to other plants quickly. Remove any infected leaves from the plant, clear away any of those webs, and make sure to bag everything up before disposal. Wipe down each leaf with a solution of 3 tablespoons of dish soap to 1 gallon of water. Make sure you use a clean cloth or sponge each time and repeat this process at least once a week. When it’s time to water your plant, take it outdoors or somewhere where you can spray it with high pressure to force the spider mites off. Be sure to target the underside of the leaves. The bigger the infestation, the longer you will have to keep repeating this process of wiping down leaves and using high pressure during waterings.
How to prevent spider mites
Those little red bugs love dry plants and dry air. Keeping your plant properly watered is the first step in preventing an infestation. It’s always helpful to take note of your plant's watering needs as not all of them will have the same care requirements. Lastly, wiping down your indoor plants shouldn’t just be reserved for spider mite damage control. Wiping the dust from the leaves regularly not only helps keep indoor plant bugs away but also makes for a more attractive houseplant!
2. Mealybugs
What do mealybugs look like?
Mealybugs are tiny white bugs on plants. If you see white fuzz along with the leaves of your plants, you probably have mealybugs. Even though they’re tiny (1-4 millimeters), the off-white color and fuzziness make them a little easier to see. Mealybugs will sometimes hide in the interior of your plants or in an unfurled leaf, so take care to check all areas of your plant when treating mealybugs. It’s essential to target every infected area due to how quickly they reproduce.
How to get rid of mealybugs
Mealybug treatment includes a few different tactics. Again, it’s important to move any infected plant away from others to keep houseplant pests from spreading. Spraying down your plant's leaves to shake loose any visible white bugs on plants helps to cut down their numbers. Even a rinse down in the kitchen sink or your shower can help. Any lingering bugs can be dabbed with Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will permeate their waxy outer coatings and kill them. For the unseen mealybugs, it’s best to spray your plant’s leaves with neem oil, making sure to spray every part of the plant, including stems and the undersides of leaves.
How to prevent mealybugs
So, what’s the best mealybug control to avoid that white fuzz on plants in the first place? The best practice to prevent mealybug infestations is to inspect your plants often. Mealybugs are hard to prevent entirely, but a couple of bugs are easy to get rid of. A couple thousand is not as easy! Neem oil can be used preventively as well as for treatment. Spraying plants with a dilution of this natural, organic oil is never a bad idea. It’s also a good practice to let new plants you bring home spend some time away from any others and to thoroughly inspect them in the first few weeks.
3. Scale Insects
What do scale bugs look like?
As the name suggests, your plants will look like they have brown scales growing along various parts. Scale bugs are tiny, but will not sit completely flat on the stems of the undersides of leaves, so you’ll see a slight bump when inspecting your plant. Scale often clumps together, so more than one will generally live in the same spot, making them easier to spot and identify.
How to get rid of scale
Scale is one of the more challenging plant bugs to get rid of. This is due to how they adhere to the plant and effectively shield themselves. Start by plucking off as many of them as you can. A toothpick or an old toothbrush will suffice if you’re not comfortable using your fingernails. Place any removed scale bugs into a bag that you can dispose of. Like with other pests, a good rinse of your plant’s leaves to shake some loose will be helpful. You can create your own oil spray by mixing 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and 2 tablespoons of baby shampoo in 1 gallon of water. Our trusty friend, neem oil, is also an option for spraying on leaves. Repeat this process over the next few weeks until your plant has appeared pest-free for a few weeks.
How to prevent scale
Scale is a pest that occurs indoors and outdoors and is a hearty one. Indoor conditions are ideal for scale as they like the relatively stable temperature an indoor environment provides. They’re less likely to have natural predators and can multiply quickly when indoors. The most important thing is to start treating an infected plant when you notice it has scale!
Most infestations can be treated in a way that doesn’t potentially harm you or your plant. Above all else, it’s important to remember that indoor pests can happen for various reasons. I always welcome people to come by the shop and talk to any of our amazing Articulturists who can answer any other questions you might have!