How to Get Rid of Peace Lily Bugs
Peace lilies are indoor plants that produce white, showy flowers and typically thrive with few problems. They are one of the few low-light plants to flower and usually grow between 1 and 4 feet tall and wide. However, there are pests that can damage this houseplant, most commonly scale and mealybugs. Removal of these insects is essential, as they can be fatal to the plant if the infestation is severe. The are several simple and effective ways to eliminate bugs from your peace lily. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tweezers
- Lidded container
- Shower
- Cotton ball
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Garden shears
- Insecticide
Instructions
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Remove the pests with a pair of tweezers. Place the collected bugs inside a resealable plastic bag or lidded container. Pour boiling water overtop of the removed pests to kill them.
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Wash the pests off your plant. Place your plant in the shower and situate it directly under the showerhead. Turn on the shower. The force from the water often is all it takes to knock pests off a peace lily plant.
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3
Kill the pests with alcohol. If mealybugs are the problem, soak a cotton ball in isopropyl alcohol. Dab each insect with the strong-smelling liquid, which typically kills them. Wipe the leaves with a soaked cotton ball as well to remove mealybug residue.
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4
Cut off any infested leaves or branches with garden shears and treat with the plant insecticide. If scale is the problem, apply an insecticide or horticulture oil labeled for use on scale to the plant. Use the insecticide when the insects are in their crawler stage, as the products cannot penetrate nymphs and adults. Look closely at the plants to see if the bugs are crawling, or cut off an affected branch or leaf and place it in a plastic bag to monitor. Insecticides also are effective in treating mealybugs. Look for insecticides that contain permethrin, pyrethrin, rotenone or resmethrin to control the mealybug problem. Most insecticidal products are sprayed directly on the plant; however, read their instructions for best results.
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Tips & Warnings
Discard any peace lilies that won't respond to your treatments. Failure to improve is often a sign of a plant that is too infested to repair. Keeping the plant around exposes your other plants to the same problem. Place the peace lily in a thick, plastic bag and toss it in an outside container.
References
- Photo Credit Medioimages/Photodisc/Valueline/Getty Images
