Pests love plants. Plants don’t love pests. How do we manage and control plant pest problems?

There are several products you can utilize to rid your plant friend of bugs and some great methods to follow that can help with preventative care. If you’re a plant parent, you’re going to find some hitchhikers on your favorite plant at some point. It’s unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be scary.

Pests can get inside when you open and close the door. They can come home on a new plant. They can live in the new soil you just used to repot your plant. No matter where they came from, you need to take action because those little guys aren’t just there to say hello. They will feed on your plant’s roots and foliage and can lead to the demise of your dear friend.

Let’s take a look at some tried and true practices.

Preventative Pest Control

Although these actions will not guarantee that you never see a plant pest, they surely help keep things at bay and make it more manageable when an outbreak does happen. Here are some of my favorite preventative pest control practices.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth is made from crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. It works against insects by damaging their protective outer layer.

Apply a light layer of Diatomaceous Earth to the top of your plant’s soil. Often this product will come with a scoop or duster that helps with application.

Bonide Systemic Granules

One of my favorite products to use for preventative care is Bonide Systemic Granules. I apply this to the top of the soil on my houseplants in late spring when all the bugs are starting to come out.

The granules look similar to sand. You can sprinkle them on top of your soil or mix them into the top few inches. After watering, the insecticide is absorbed through the roots and moves through the plant. Bonide Systemic Granules can control pests for up to eight weeks.

Neem Oil

Neem oil is another great thing to have on hand. Depending on the product, it can be used on plant foliage and as part of your pest-control routine. Always follow the directions on the product you’re using.

Common Houseplant Pests

Fungus Gnats

These guys like moist soil and can quickly become annoying when they’re flying around your house.

If you have fungus gnats, try bottom watering your plants for the next few waterings. This allows the top of your plant’s soil to dry out, creating an environment that is less suitable for the gnats.

Yellow sticky traps or indoor insect traps can also help control the adults. Fungus gnats are attracted to the yellow sticky traps and become trapped before they can continue reproducing.

Mealybugs

These insects look soft and fuzzy, but don’t let that fool you. They feed on the sap of your plant’s leaves and stems, weakening the plant over time. They can be especially difficult to eliminate on plants with curled leaves and plenty of crevices to hide in.

Visible mealybugs can be removed with a cotton swab or Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. After removing the visible insects, continue monitoring the plant closely and use your preferred pest-control method as needed.

Aphids

There are several types of aphids. Some may appear fuzzy while others look like tiny dots clustered on your plant, particularly around new growth.

Neem-based products and alcohol swabs can be useful depending on the infestation. If you have a severe pest problem, you may also consider repotting the plant into fresh soil after removing visible insects and inspecting the roots.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are incredibly hard to spot because of their tiny size, but once you start seeing their webs, they’re much easier to identify. They can cover leaves in extremely fine webbing that looks noticeably different from a typical house spider’s web.

Spider mites require thorough treatment because they can hide throughout the plant. Pay close attention to the undersides of leaves and other protected areas, and follow the directions for the pest-control product you choose.

Thrips

Also incredibly hard to notice, thrips have the shape of a teeny tiny grain of rice—long and slender.

Insecticidal soap can be used to help control thrips. Pay special attention to the undersides of leaves and other areas where they gather, and follow the product directions for treatment and reapplication.

Although it would be wonderful to never have to deal with an infestation, pests are a part of plant parenting that we just can’t completely avoid. Hopefully, a little knowledge can help turn your next plant-pest panic into peace of mind!