How to Kill Houseplant Insects

Houseplants are not immune to pests.

Even though houseplants are kept indoors, they can still become infested with insects. Common houseplant pests include ants, mealybugs, aphids, cyclamen mites and fungus gnats. If you spot any of these insects on your plants, you must take immediate action before you have an outbreak that is not so easy to control. There are several options when it comes to killing houseplant pests.

Things You'll Need

• Small bucket
• 1 quart warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon mild detergent
• Washrag
• Yellow insect traps
• Small bowl
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Pruning shears
• Sealable bag

Instructions

1. Pour 1 quart of warm water into a small bucket. Add 1/2 teaspoon of mild detergent and stir. Place a washrag in the bucket and wring it out. Wipe the pests right off of the houseplants. Dip the rag back in the bucket to release the pests in the soapy water. They will drown. Repeat until you get all of the insects.

2. Set yellow insect traps around the base of your infected houseplants. Both gardening and home improvement stores carry these traps. They are sticky on the top. The insects are attracted to the yellow color, but then get stuck on the traps where they die. Replace the sticky traps when they become full. You can stop using the traps when you no longer spot insects on them.

3. Pour rubbing alcohol into a small bowl. Soak several cotton balls in the alcohol until they have absorbed the liquid. Wipe down the houseplants with the cotton balls. The rubbing alcohol won't harm the plants, but it will kill the unwanted insects.

4. Prune away all of the plant parts that are infected with the insects. Toss them into a bag that can be sealed shut. Toss out with the trash on trash day. Most plants can withstand a mild to moderate amount of pruning.

Tips & Warnings

• Preventing insects from infesting your houseplants is easier than killing them once they appear. Keep your plants free of dust without using a feather duster, do not over-water your plants, and use sterilized potting soil.

• Insecticides contain chemicals that can be harmful to both humans and pets. Do not use insecticides indoors unless you have no success with all of the other methods.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension; Houseplant Insect Control; Jeffrey Hahn, Deborah Brown and Mark Ascerno
• The University of Kentucky; Houseplant Insect Control; Lee Townsend