Houseplant pests can make your life a misery. They utterly wreck your houseplants (and do this to the point where you have to throw those plants away). But is there actually anything you can do about this? In most cases, the answer is yes. Here are some of the most common houseplant pests and how to get rid of them.
Common houseplant pests you might find at home
1. Scales
These are small white insects, which have a flat body and no legs. They look exactly like their name (they look like scales on your plants). These pests feed on plant sap. What they usually do is attach themselves to stems and leaves, and then suck until the plant is dry. The best way to get rid of these unusual insects is by scraping them off your plants. You can also spray insecticidal soap.
2 Aphids
Aphids are famous for producing honeydew. This is a substance secreted by insects when they feed on plant nectar. These pests also breed extremely quickly and can completely destroy your plants. Their green colour makes green aphids hard to spot.
The good thing is that they are easy to get rid. Spraying your plant with water should be enough to knock them off. If you get aphid on your garden plants, common uk ants will milk them for their honeydew.
3. Mealy Bugs
These houseplant pests are almost the same as scales. They are similar in both appearance and behaviour. The only difference is that they produce a black mould that grows on your plants. This mould grows due to the honeydew produced by these pests. You may also notice that the leaves of your plant have died. To remove them, dip an ear bud in rubbing alcohol, and wipe these pests off of your plants.
4. Spider Mites
The problem with these houseplant pests is that they are extremely small. About the size of a tiny dark grain of sand. The way to identify them to by looking for their webs. You’ll most often see these on the underside of leaves. You’ll also see holes in the leaves of your plants.
Destroying these pests is difficult. This is usually because you won’t even know they are there. This is why you should regularly inspect your plants. If you do spot these pests, wash them off with water and soap.
5. Whiteflies
These are small white insects with wings. They are about 2mm long. Stunted plants and yellowing leaves are the most common sign of whiteflies. These pests are most often found on the undersides of leaves. The best way to get rid of them is by spraying olive oil on your plant. Do this once a day until you no longer see these types of flies.
6. Fungus Gnats
These flying pests do not damage the upper part of plants directly Despite this, they can still be a problem. Their larvae can attack the roots of your plants. The most common reason why you get these pests is because of overwatering. To prevent them, only water when the soil around plants is dry.