How to Prevent House Plant Bugs

House plants are a beautiful addition to any home; however, they can easily become infested with bugs that can damage them cosmetically or even kill them. Follow these steps to learn how to prevent insects, mites and other pests from infesting and eventually harming your house plant.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mild dish washing liquid
• Soft cloth
• Spray bottle

1. Purchase house plants from a certified nursery and examine carefully for pests before buying. Plants brought in from your backyard or from an unknown origin are more likely to carry bugs.

2. Isolate new house plants for at least 30 days before placing them next to other plants. This prevents cross infestation of bugs from your new plant to your old ones.

3. Use sterilized soil when potting plants for indoor use so that soil-born root bugs and pests do not invade your home.

4. Wash house plants at least twice a year. Make a soapy water mixture by adding a couple of tablespoons of a mild dish washing liquid to a gallon of water. Use a soft cloth soaked in the soapy water, and carefully wipe off the tops and the undersides of the houseplant leaves. Throw away the cloth after use.

5. Spray your house plants with the same soapy water mix to keep them dust and pest free. If there are any bugs on the plant, a strong spray of this water could knock them off for good.

6. Check your house plants regularly for bugs. A magnifying glass can be a helpful tool when looking for tiny pests. Isolate any plant on which you find bugs and exterminate them.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not over water house plants and avoid poor drainage. This prevents your house plants from becoming infested with fungal diseases, fungus gnats and springtails, which are attracted to moist, warm environments.