Natural Ways to Manage Indoor-Plant Pests

Do you have green fingers but struggle to keep pests off your plants? While some plant pests may be good for them, no one wants creepy crawlies in their space. Battling to keep pests off your plants could have something to do with a knowledge of plants, their basic needs as well as how to nurture them. Below, we lay down simple ways indoor-plant pests can be managed. Before we get into that, it is vital that you know what indoor pests you could spot on your plants:

• White flies
• Gnats
• Mites
• Leafminer

Water Your Plants Regularly

The easiest thing to do is get a self-watering planter for each plant but this can be expensive for some. Creating a watering routine for the different plants in your space is another solution that will require a little bit more effort. You can determine how to do this when you purchase your plant and the care instructions are still on the label or by searching for care instructions for a particular plant online. While you may have to make sure that the roots of your plants are moist, some plants grow better when the roots are dry for a short while before being watered again. The secret is making sure that you know how to take care of your plants from the onset. Plants that are watered regularly are healthier, therefore making it easier to ward off pest without having to use a pesticide which can have side effects on the plant and the quality of the air in your space. Make sure that you water plants early in the day so that the foliage is dry for most of the day.

Prevent Plant Pests from Coming Into Your Space

Pests love an environment that allows them to thrive so, make sure that you prevent them from coming into your space by pest-proofing. In addition to this, take these steps to ensure none come back:

• Keep your gardening tools disinfected: Disinfect your tools before storing them away and when working from one plant to the next.
• Make your own compost: Your plants need to be strong enough to fight pests and the solution to this would be to make your own organic compost. Be careful however to not compost toxic products.
• Home treatment: This home remedy will keep plants healthy and pests at bay. Mix garlic cloves and mint leaves and place them in a blender, add a little cayenne pepper and dishwashing liquid. Boil the mixture and let it stand overnight. Strain and place in a spray bottle.

Give Your Plants a Shower

One of the simplest ways to get rid of plant pest is to place them under a tap outside, kitchen sink or bathtub. Use a spray faucet to rinse off the pests and place the plant in the shade outside. Repeat everyday until there are no pests.

Conclusion

Most plant pests are easy to prevent, detect or get rid of using the natural remedies provided in this article. Call in professionals to do an integrated pest management or get in touch with us on 0860 10 11 80 or email info@steiner.co.za.