Pest Control for Plants Brought Indoors

When during cooler weather you bring indoors those plants that spend summer outdoors, you run the risk of bringing pests in with them. There are ways to prevent these pests from becoming established inside your house.

Significance

• Many pests may be controlled with the simple application of an insecticidal soap. Bugs that may be controlled with this method are spider mites, aphids, thrips and mealybugs. If insecticidal soap doesn't work, try a botanical insecticide, such as pyrethrins or neem.

Alternatives

• If you do not want to apply an insecticide on your plants, there are other, natural alternatives. Washing your plants with soapy water and a soft brush may control aphids. Hanging blue sticky cards above your plants will kill some thrips.

Considerations

• Routinely misting your plants with water may help eliminate thrips, which do not tolerate humidity, and the spray may knock other pests off the plants. Introducing ladybugs to your plant is another way to control pests. Ladybugs eat many insects, including aphids, that infest houseplants