Houseplants bring so much joy and relaxation, but a bad pest infestation can ruin the serenity of any indoor garden! Yellow and brown leaves, poor growth, and misshapen leaves can be signs that there are some creepy crawlies feasting on your indoor plants, and they can be a big headache! If you don't have pests yet, taking the right steps to prevent them is key, and if you do see signs, we'll cover methods to curb any infestations!
Let's talk about prevention first:
1. new plants? inspect, then quarantine!
This is your first line of defense! Before bringing any new plant into your home, inspect it meticulously. Check the tops and undersides of leaves, stems, and even the soil surface for any signs of bugs, sticky residue (honeydew), webbing, or tiny white/black spots. If you see anything suspicious, you may want to look for a different plant. Even if it looks clean, quarantine any new additions in a separate area for a few weeks, and giving it a shower or two and spray down with neem oil spray couldn't hurt.
2. set the right conditions
Healthy plants are more resilient to pests. That means making sure they have enough light, water and humidity!
- avoid overwatering: Overwatered soil can attract fungus gnats, which seem harmless, but the larvae can actually damage the roots. Let the top inch or two of soil dry out between waterings for most plants.
- maintain high humidity: Most houseplants love humidity, and some pests, like spider mites, thrive on plants in drier conditions. Make sure to mist your plants regularly, or keep them by a humidifier or pebble trays filled with water.
- good air circulation: make sure there's some air circulation around the plants- having them in a breezy spot indoors can do the trick, otherwise, adding a fan can help make sure there's consistent air flow.
3. keep up plant hygiene
- wash your plants!: dust and any debris that plant leaves collect can not only make it more difficult for your plant to breath and photosynthesize, but it can also make for a nice home for pests. Make sure to give your plant regular showers or wipe down the foliage with water or a plant spray(like this one!)
- prune your plants: those dying leaves and flowers don't just look unattractive, they can also attract pests. Make sure to remove those and give your plants a trim, here and there!
- use clean pots and fresh potting mix: pests can hide out in old soil and pots, so make sure to clean out old pots regularly, and if re-using old soil, to sterilize it in the oven prior to using it(fresh potting mix is always best, though!)
But despite our best efforts, pest infestations can still break out. Every week or so, do a general check-up on your plants. Look for new growth and the undersides of leaves to see if you can spot any pest activity. The earlier you can catch them, the better! Sticky traps like these are great for controlling any flying pest issues, and can give you a clue as to whether there's an underlying issue.

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dislodging pests physically: works well as a start and for infestations that haven't gone too far.
- hand-picking: For larger pests like mealybugs or adult scale, you can often pick them off with your fingers, tweezers, or a cotton swab.
- water spray/rinse: For smaller, soft-bodied pests like aphids, spider mites, and even some mealybugs, you can dislodge quite a few with a good shower where you spray down all parts of the plant, the leaves, the undersides of the leaves and the stems.
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rubbing alcohol: alcohol is a great way to battle pests. Just dip a cotton swab or cotton ball in 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol and dab it directly onto individual pests like mealybugs or scale. For larger infestations, you can dilute rubbing alcohol (~1 part alcohol to 3 parts water) and spray the plant. Alochol can damage some plants, so test it out on a small area first before applying to the entire plant. Just make sure to avoid getting too much alcohol in the soil- your plant won't thank you for that!
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insecticidal soap spray: This is a classic for soft-bodied pests like aphids, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Mix 1-2 teaspoons of a mild liquid soap (like Castile soap or a gentle dish soap, not dish detergent with degreasers) into a large spray bottle. Give the plant a good spray down of the plant, and optionally rinse the plant after a few hours. Make sure to repeat this 1-2 a week until the infestation is gone. As with the alcohol, it's important to spot test the spray on your plant before doing the full spray down to make sure you don't damage the plant!
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neem oil spray: Neem oil is a powerful, naturally derived pesticide from the neem tree. Alcohol and insecticidal soap works by breaking down the oater coating of bugs and dehydrating them, but neem oil acts as an antifeedant, suffocates bugs, and disrupts their reproduction! It works great against a wide variety of pests, including aphids, mites, whiteflies, mealybugs, thrips, and fungus gnats. You can find pre-mixed neem oil sprays(like this one) or you can mix pure neem oil with water and a few drops of mild soap (as an emulsifier, so the oil mixes with water) , and then spray all plant surfaces thoroughly, including undersides of leaves. note: make sure to apply the neem oil spray while your plant is away from direct sunlight or grow lights to prevent leaf burn. Repeat 1-2 a week until the infestation is gone.
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diatomaceous earth (make sure it's food-grade): This is a fine, powdery substance made from fossilized remains from aquatic organisms called diatoms. This powder damages insect exoskeletons and causes them to dehydrate. It works well against most pests and can be applied a couple of different ways. Mixing it in soil and sprinkling a thin layer on the surface of soil can target fungus gnat and other larvae. In bad infestations you can, sprinkle on leaves/stems, or you can mix with water in a spray bottle to spray down a plant. Once it dries, it'll leave white residue on the leaves and stems, but is very effective in bad infestations. note: Make sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth and it's recommended to use a mask when working with it because it can irritate the lungs.
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yellow sticky traps: these bright yellow cards(like these compostable ones) attract
flying insects like fungus gnats, whiteflies, and adult thrips, trapping them on their sticky surface, it's a great method to use in combination with other methods.
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cinnamon: cinnamon has antifungal properties, which can help plants battle any fungal infections but it also discourages the fungus that gnat larvae feed on.
So to sum up, make sure to establish a great plant care routine to help strengthen your plant's natural defenses. Keep your plants clean and give your plants the occasional shower or wipe down to dislodge any pests. Then if you do spot any pest activity, try out one or more of the methods listed and re-apply 1-2 a week to fully get rid of an infestation. Good luck and happy planting!