My Tips for Houseplant Pest Removal

Bugs are gross, and nobody wants them buzzing around their home and especially not their houseplants!

The good news about houseplants and pest removal is once you know the root of the problem (pun completely intended) it is far easier than you might think to solve!

Read on to become a Houseplant Pest Removal Expert and how to prevent, treat, and know the signs of a houseplant insect infestation.

Houseplant, Infestations: Everything You Need to Know About Houseplant Pests

How Pests Invade Houseplants

Unfortunately, pests can gain access to your houseplants in more than one way. Some pests, such as gnats and flies, can come in anytime your front door or window is open without a screen. Other pests can come with your plant from the shop, greenhouse, or outdoor garden where you buy your plant. Some bugs burrow themselves deep into the potting soil and go almost entirely unnoticed until it is too late.

Prevention is critical for a houseplant infestation because once an outbreak starts, it can spread as easily as whipped butter.

To eliminate the possibility of future pests invading your home, follow these tips:

Get To Know Your Houseplant

Knowing your houseplants’ growth patterns and appearance is beneficial. It is a good idea to fully research their type and become well-versed in proper care and growth expectations. The better you know your houseplant, the quicker you will notice any signs of possible infestation.

Inspect Your Adopted Plant Friends

“Adopted plants” refer to any plants you purchase from a store, greenhouse, or any other external source. Because adopted plants have the chance to bring along unwanted pests, always inspect the soil, leaves, and base of plants before bringing them into your home.

Keep it Airtight

I keep all of my houseplant supplies in an airtight container, including the soil and/or gardening tools. This keeps them as sterile and bug-free as possible.

Also, I am weary about keeping our windows open without screens because I do not want any bugs to invade our houseplants from the outside.

Signs and Symptoms of Infestation

Infested houseplants may show several symptoms, including (but not limited to):

• Holes or tears in the leaves
• Slimy or sticky residue
• Yellowing or browning of leaves and/or flowers
• Plant decay or wilting

Each houseplant infestation is different from another, as it depends almost entirely on the type of pest. Check out this article to learn more about how to identify your houseplant invader.

Natural Treatment for Houseplant Pests

Once you have researched your plants’ symptoms or identified the pest(s), take the necessary steps to treat your houseplant. Thankfully, chemical methods are not the only effective way to treat houseplant pests. Here are a few natural treatments for houseplant infestations…

A Clean Start

As soon as you notice a pest problem, it is essential to keep the infected plant away from other houseplants to prevent further spread.

It is then crucial to scrub your plant’s area was sitting with old-fashioned soap and water – the cleaner, the better.

If the problem is severe, you should consider repotting your plant with new soil and sterilizing the old planter before reusing it.

Neem Oil

Neem Oil is a natural, tree-derived oil that is used to treat houseplant bug infestations.

Neem oil is commonly used on plants, but people have been using it for skin, hair, lice, and more for centuries.

Sticky Traps

Sticky traps are one chemical-free method for attracting and ridding your plant of pests. The odorless bright yellow color and glue will draw in insects, help control infestation, and break the breeding cycle.

If you’re up for it, you could also make your sticky traps rather than purchasing them.

I have some more tips about natural ways to deal with houseplant pests in this post. 

As always, feel free to join me on Instagram or leave any comments or questions below.