Common Houseplant Pests
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Types of Plant Pests
I know, they’re gross.
But you need to know about bugs on your plants because these pests are sucking the sap out of your plant. Let me repeat: sucking THE LIFE out of your plant.
The moment you see your plant drooping, yellowing, or curling excessively, don’t assume it’s miswatering: look closely for pests. If you want to be an expert, find the plant pests before they arrive. Below are the top 5 most common houseplant pests by identification.
Fungus Gnats
They’re easy to spot because they fly around the plant (and in your face). But be warned - although you see them on the outside, they lay eggs in the soil when it’s too moist. On the bright side, fungus gnats are a type of plant pest that are outwardly annoying and obvious to spot, which can be beneficial for the plant owner.
Solution: Let the soil dry out mostly and apply Sticky Traps
2. Spider Mites
Spider mites are likely the most common houseplant pests. They are tiny white bugs (not actual spiders) that create condensed webbing on your plants and eat away at the nutrients in the leaves. They are difficult to spot, as they hide under the leaves and web in the crevices close to the stems. These plant pests can spread quickly so it’s important to regularly check your houseplants for pests. If you see spider mites, isolate the plant immediately.
Solution: Isolate the plant, wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth, spray the entire plant with Trifecta Crop Control
3. Mealybugs
They sound cute, but they are ninjas at hiding and slicing your plant to pieces. They position themselves in the crevices of the nodes and are fuzzy white ovals, shown above. They come in various sizes, so a white spot that looks tiny is likely one of them.
Solution: Use a toothpick or Q-tip to dig them out of the nooks and crannies, spray the entire plant with Trifecta Crop Control
4. Scale
Little brown or black bumps in the shape of an oval might appear on your leaves. While it looks to be a part of the branch, it’s not! These pests have a hard shell, suck the plant’s juices, and secrete “honeydew”, meaning you’ll feel stickiness on your leaves and stems.
Solution: Use a nail file or an old toothbrush to scrape them off, spray the entire plant with Trifecta Crop Control
5. Aphids
Common houseplant pests include aphids, which look exactly like what you’d picture a plant pest to look like: little green bugs with crawly legs. Aphids eat your plant’s nutrients and spread from one houseplant to another.
Solution: Isolate the plant, wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth, spray the entire plant with Trifecta Crop Control
Fun fact: If your plants are outside, you can buy ladybugs to eat aphids!
Overall Solution to Plant Pests
Trifecta Crop Control is the #1 all-natural pest killer. I use this for my houseplants and my clients’ because it has non-toxic ingredients like peppermint oil and thyme oil, and it prevents and cures pests and mold. If you have more than 3 plants in your home, you should always have this bottle in your plant cupboard. Grab it below!
The other item you must get is microfiber cloths because you should be wiping down your plant’s leaves monthly for general care, let alone when a pest treatment is needed. They are gentle on your plant’s leaves, pull dust and dirt away, reusable and multipurpose.
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Thanks for reading!
