Whether you’re looking to purify the air or just add a little greenery to a grey winter, house plants will do the trick.

The problem with bringing plants inside is you are also inviting unwanted pests in as well.

What’s Best way to notice bugs on houseplants?

While you may find the occasional ant, or spider on your indoor plants, it’s highly unlikely these pests will do any large amount of damage. In fact, spiders will eat any of the more harmful pests feasting on your plants, so in some cases, it’s okay to let them be.

The pests we are more worried about are the ones that will destroy your plants, leaving yellowing leaves, and wilted growth. Below are a few ways to help spot and fix any pest issues you may have.

Wilting

If the wilting of a plant is not caused by the obvious such as lack/abundance of watering, then you may have a bigger issue. Adult thrips and/or young scale pests may be to blame. These pests will live in clusters and tend to stick onto the bottom of leafy plants and snack on sap. These pests are VERY small, and are sometimes hard to spot with the naked eye.

Stunted Growth

There are pests who may actually stunt a plants growth. Broad mites will thrive in the sun and warmth. This doesn’t mean that you’re in the clear during the winter months though! These mites tend to live in the plants that require the most sun which could include any tropical plants your have. When they feed, their saliva is actually toxic to plants, and will often cause stunted growth and deformities. Even after removal, a plant may have a hard time with new growth as well as continue with signs of deformities.

How to get rid of pests on your indoor plants

The good news is that most damage done to your indoor plants can be reversed if the pests are caught in time. Some good tips to prevent pests at all are:

1. Inspect your new plants thoroughly! Check under the leaves for clusters of white or brown spots. Also be sure to check where the leaf and stem meet. This is a common place where thrips are found. Lastly, comb your fingers through the plants soil to check for fungus and gnats.
2. Avoid Overwatering! Water and an abundance of moisture are what will attract fungus gnats to a plants soil. Fungus gnats will lay their eggs only in moist soil so it’s best to water plants on a “look/feel” routine rather than a schedule. Purchasing a moisture meter is also a great way to pursue a more accurate watering regimen.
3. Soap and water! If all else fails, and you do happen to see some pest damage occurring, soap and water will do the trick (for most plants). Please check the plants background before dousing the plants in soap as I’m sure there are many plants that may be sensitive to the toxic soap levels. But… for all other plants, a good soap and water cleaning will rid your plants of pests. A mixture of dish detergent and tap water can help remove spider mite and aphid infestations from your houseplants. Pour 1 quart of water into a spray bottle and add 4 teaspoons of the detergent to reach a desired 2% per cent concentration and give each plant a good spray. This mixture won’t take care of all houseplant pests, but it will successfully dehydrate some of the soft-bodied bugs living on your plants.