hi i'm Courtenay from DoMyOwn.com. today we're talking about pest control for indoor plants
what pests normally infest indoor plants how to know if you have them when you should treat
for them and how to prevent them from coming back the most common houseplant pests are aphids white
flies mealy bugs spider mites fungus gnats and scale how do you know if house plants
have pests change in leaf color or texture is a good indicator you may see webbing draped along
the leaf undersides or where leaves attach to the stems it's important to find the source
and to visually inspect each plant thoroughly some pests like spider mites are small and you
won't notice without inspection or until there is a full-blown infestation place pest monitor carts
above the plant to monitor infestation for flies when should i treat my potted plants for pests
ready to spray indoor products can be applied year-round inside if you choose to move plants
outside for treatment be sure to check the label for specific application restrictions
such as temperature requirements dry time whether plants need to be moved outdoors before spraying
generally you don't want to apply outdoors in cold weather under 40 degrees or in hot weather over
85 to 90 degrees do not spray outdoors if rain is expected within 24 hours how do i get rid of
pests on potted plants for some pests you should wash the leaves or hose down the whole plant
before applying any insecticides when you notice a pest infestation you should treat immediately and
quarantine the plant from others until you notice no pest activity while most products can be used
indoors or outdoors be sure to check the label in case the plants must be moved outside first during
treatment or before you spray it may be easier in some cases to take plants outdoors to spray them
to help avoid getting overspray on furniture floors and walls if you have plants that you
know are sensitive test a small area first now let's discuss some product types that are used
to control common pests on indoor house plants some common products used are horticultural oils
neem oils insecticidal soaps insecticidal concentrates and glue boards to monitor your
infestation oil products normally applied in spray form work by essentially smothering bugs to death
some ready to use insecticidal soap products can be used on houseplants rates in the product
you use would depend on the product and target pest if you are using an insecticide as a foliar
spray a good choice we recommend is a product that contains the active ingredient bifenthrin
if you need a systemic solution we recommend a product that contains the active ingredients
amidocloprid or dinotophyrin let's talk about treating for fungus gnats as fungus gnats aren't
sucking pests their treatment methods are going to be different here are some of the basics let
the soil dry out this may kill the larvae water less often and more deeply remove plants outside
prior to treatment allow to fully dry before bringing indoors knock down space spray aerosols
can be used but please note these are not for use directly on plants you can also use flylite traps
we carry some that are compact and affordable for this purpose what are some prevention and care
techniques get familiar with general care for your specific plants such as whether they need
direct sunlight or need to be moved as the seasons change how often to fertilize and what kind to use
and when to change potting media healthy plants are more resistant to pest infestations like what
we talk about with healthy turf for prevention of weeds and disease moisture meters are a good tool
especially for larger containerized plants inspect all new houseplants before bringing into your home
make sure there's no webbing anything crawling especially underneath the leaves or on the stems
always use sterile potting material do not over water plants and remove the top inch of potting
soil and replace with fresh if the top is infested inspect any plant that was taken outside and
brought back in discard heavily infested plants or cut off the growth that is infested maintain
a high humidity and proper water treat leaks in the home and use screens if you open windows a lot
thanks for watching if you liked this video make sure to like comment and subscribe we'd love to
answer any questions you may have and see photos of your house plants and we're always happy to
help here at do my own.com with any pest control lawn care and animal health questions you may have