Natural Ways to Remove Houseplant Bugs #2

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Seeing bugs on your houseplants is always disappointing. Fortunately, there are a few strategies to protect them and eliminate them. Read this article to learn more about pests on houseplants and how to get rid of them with no harmful pesticides.

Use natural methods to get rid of houseplant bugs instead of pesticides and insecticides. This article will cover the following areas on how to get rid of houseplant bugs naturally.

  • What types of bugs there are?
  • The benefits of treating naturally.
  • Learn how to create and use natural bug spray.
  • Learn how to create and use natural soap spray.
  • Tips to prevent bugs.
  • Natural pest-resistance plants.

Neem Oil

Many professional gardeners use neem oil to control bugs such as aphids and fungus gnats. Neem oil works well in removing these pests in both indoor and outdoor gardens.

Put two tablespoons of neem oil in a spray bottle, add two cups of water, and spray over the entire plant. Wait a week before repeating.

Essential Oils Help Eliminate Houseplant Bugs

These natural sprays can be made of essential oils and used to get rid of common houseplant problems like bugs and pests in the following ways. Essential oils can be used to treat and deter the growth of bugs and pests and also to treat fungus that many plants are susceptible to.

  • Aphids –cedarwood, spearmint, or peppermint
  • Fungus gnats – spearmint or patchouli
  • Mealybugs – cedarwood, peppermint, or lemongrass
  • Spider mites – spearmint or peppermint

Pour ten drops of the essential oil into a 4-ounce spray bottle. Fill it to the brim with water to dilute the solution. Spray on leaves and stems of the plant to kill the bugs.

You will find that your houseplants are more likely to have bugs when you use a good essential oil spray on a regular basis. Here are some effective essential oil combinations:

  • Clove
  • Peppermint
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme

Solving Plant Bugs Naturally Using Fly Paper

This type of sticky fly paper is easy to use and is great for eliminating fungus gnats, whiteflies, and aphids. Most fly papers are just sticky paper, so they capture the bugs when they spread their wings.

The down side is they only work for adults, so if you let your pest problems reproduce before you get off the hook, you won’t get rid of it easily. They don’t treat the soil or other plants, so this would be suggested on a temporary basis only.

Solving Bug Problems in Plant Soil

The fungus gnats are usually found in soil, so if something is growing with the soil in it you should treat it like a weed. You can collect the soil and replace it with fresh soil or add sand to it. Sand should prevent further infestation.

One more way to treat the soil is to soak it with diluted neem oil, one teaspoon to two cups of water. Don’t overwater or fertilize it until you’re sure that all the pests have been eliminated.

If you have any leftover potting soil, store it in a tightly sealed container. It will not only keep bugs out, but it will also kill any bugs or larva that may be lurking in the soil.

Discarded Pests On Plant Leaves

When plant pests infest your plants, you’ll find a sure sign of them on the leaves of the plants. It’s important to be gentle when spraying or washing them. Do not over-spray to the point where the leaves are dripping.

Make sure the plant is in a safe area before spraying or washing it to avoid spraying floors, walls, or furniture. Put a layer of newspaper underneath the plant pot to catch any drips.

Return the plant to its spot after spraying the plant for a few hours to give the spray a chance to take effect. Check regularly for pests and treat again if necessary.

Natural Way to Remove Aphids

Aphids are tiny insects that like to live on the underside of leaves where they feed off the sap of the plant. Several aphids on a plant will not cause much damage, but the problem comes when they multiply rapidly and infest the plant. This causes the leaves to become discolored and pale and can also stunt plant growth.

A solution of soap and water can be used to remove aphids. If the plant has been heavily infested with aphids, and you are still determined to save the plant, simply pinch the top of the plant off at the stem.

During this period, avoid over-watering and stop feeding the plant altogether. As the plant regrows, keep an eye out for aphids and treat with dish soap if you find signs they have returned.

Natural Ways to Remove Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats are less destructive to the plant when they are in their adult stage and fly around like mosquitoes. When they are in the larvae stage, fungus gnats cause the most damage.

You should make sure the plant has good drainage and isn’t overwatered once you get rid of fungus gnats. Let the soil dry between waterings to prevent gnat infestations.

Natural Ways to Remove Mealybugs

Typically found on the leaves, stems, leaf joints, and stems of houseplants, Mealybugs thrive by feeding on plant sap. Their pale white appearance is characteristic of their feeding behaviour. The leaves will become pale, yellow, and curl at the edges as these bugs feed on the sap. The plant’s growth will also be stunted, and if untreated, will die.

Get rid of mealybugs with one of the natural remedies in this article. Another solution is to soak cotton swabs in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the infected leaves. Keeping the mealybug infestation under control requires you not to overfertilize or overwater the plant as mealybugs flourish under these conditions.

Natural Ways to Remove Scale

Eventually the leaves will turn yellow and go soft when your houseplant has a scale infestation. You will have no choice but to replace it with a healthy plant.

When bugs like scale live on your plants, you can remove them by rubbing them with a cloth. You can use a solution like an herbal bug spray, brushed on the leaves every day, to control and eliminate scales. Another option is to rub scale-affected areas with cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Natural Ways to Remove Spider Mites

Spider mites are tiny parasites that gather in clusters beneath plant leaves, eating plant fluids. They leave blue dots on plants where they have eaten. In addition, spider mites also produce silk that clings to plants. Flowers and English Ivy are common hosts for spider mites.

It is best to eliminate spider mites naturally by spraying and cleaning the plant’s leaves. You can also prevent their return by regularly dusting and misting the leaves. This prevents spider mites from laying their eggs on the leaves.

Natural Ways to Remove Whiteflies

Also a sap-consuming pest, whiteflies usually appear on the underside of leaves. They live in clusters and can cause a plant to become unhealthy very quickly. The plants’ leaves can yellow and drop, and they may cease to grow altogether.

Treat whiteflies with one of the natural sprays or soaps listed above. Plants treated with whiteflies are more susceptible to re-infestation after being treated once, so monitor the plant for new whiteflies if they return.

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