4 Ways to Kill Plant Pests
We’ve been answering plenty of questions lately about how to deal with insects on houseplants. It can be a frustrating problem to deal with. Sometimes these pests seem to pop up out of nowhere! Spider mites, fungus gnats, mealy bugs! These little nuisances can definitely affect the health of your houseplants. But don’t despair. We have some easy solutions that will help you defeat those pesky pests that are bothering your plants. These are the TOP 4 weapons you should have in your arsenal.
Pure Spray Green
This is the product we recommend most often at Spruce It Up Garden Centre. Pure Spray Green is a broad-spectrum horticultural spray oil. It works by suffocating non-beneficial insects. It also prevents further damage by coating the plant so insects don’t attach themselves to it. Use Pure Spray Green to treat fungus gnats, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, scale and aphids. Pure Spray Green can also be used on your outdoor plants, trees and vegetables.
2. Mosquito Dunks
This awesome product does more than just treat mosquitos! It’s also one of the most effective ways to take care of fungas gnats on your houseplants. And, fungus gnats seem to be one of most commonly occurring pests for Calgary houseplant owners. Simply fill your watering container and soak a Mosquito Dunk in it overnight. When you water your plants in the morning, the beneficial bacteria from the Mosquito Dunk will kill the larvae of flying insects .
3. Sticky Strips
While the Mosquito Dunks take care of the larvae in the soil, Sticky Strips will capture the mature, flying insects as they try to land on your houseplant. Super easy to use and also super sticky! These yellow strips attract and trap flying insects like gnats, thrips, whiteflies and leaf miners.
Pot-It Plant Pest Traps
These work the exact same way as the Sticky Strips, they’re just in the shape of a flower or a butterfly. Pop one in the soil of your plant and watch as flying insects get trapped. They are super sticky on both sides and can be used for indoor and outdoor plants.
4. Rubbing Alcohol
The best way to treat mealybugs is with Rubbing Alcohol. Soak a Q-Tip in Rubbing Alcohol and dab it on the nasty mealybug. The cottony-white bugs don’t stand a chance! You can also get rid of spider mites, aphids and whiteflies with Rubbing Alcohol. Make a spray solution of 1:8 - 1:12 rubbing alcohol and water. It’s best to run a test on a small leaf first. Leave the spray on for 15-20 minutes and rinse off.