Insects and other bugs can sometimes invade your home and set up shop in your houseplants. There are several ways that you can prevent an infestation from doing this. One of the most effective ways is to use insecticides for plants on houseplants. These insecticides for plants are made with the same kinds of substances that you would find in pesticides for outdoor use. They kill insects, larvae, mites and other bugs but leave plants unhurt.
Indoor Insecticide For Plants
Prevent, or at least minimize, pest issues on indoor plants by choosing the right plants and providing good overall care. Learn about basic care and growing needs for your plant.
Grow plants in the best possible conditions
Select plants with growing requirements that match the indoor environment (humidity, light, temperature).
Plants cannot fight off pests when they are struggling to grow in too little light, overly wet or dry soil, too hot or too cold air temperatures, etc.
Water plants properly
Know how much water your plant needs.
Water the soil at the base of the plant, not the leaves.
Be sure the plant’s pot drains well.
Avoid letting plants stand in water.
Over-watering and poor drainage can cause root rot and encourage fungus gnats as well as other pest issues.
Remove dead leaves and flowers
Understand your plant’s nutritional needs
Apply fertilizer at half the recommended strength.
Fertilize when the plant is actively growing.
Keep plants clean
Keep soil surface free of dead leaves, stems and flowers.
Wash plant leaves with a damp cloth as dust and grime can reduce plant health. Never use leaf shine products or milk.
Prune out dead branches and stems.
Use new, sterile potting soil when potting plants
Never pot indoor plants using soil from the garden.
Avoid using soil from open bags of potting soil that have sat outside for potting indoor plants. Save it for your outside pots.
Plant in clean pots and wash soil off of plant roots.
Check undersides of leaves
Early detectionis key to managing pests
Finding pests before they become a problem is the best way to keep insects at bay.
Thoroughly examine all plant parts and containers before bringing them home from the store or indoors for the winter.
You may need to use a magnifying lens as some pests are very small.
Inspect tops and undersides of leaves for insects, webbing, holes and eggs.
Examine leaves that are discolored as this may be evidence of a pest problem.
A ten-power hand magnifying lens is helpful when looking for pests. There are also magnifier apps for smartphones.
Honeydew on hoya
Watch for honeydew, a shiny, sticky substance made by aphids, mealybugs and scale insects found on the upper surface of leaves as well as on tabletops and other items around and under the plant.
Check plant containers for signs of pests along edges, rims, the bottom of pots, saucers, crevices. Remove if found.
Isolate newly acquired plants for one to two weeks to allow any possible pest problems to become visible.
Check for pests when you water, fertilize or clean plants.
Yellow sticky card trapping flies
Some insects like springtails and fungus gnats will move due to the water, making it easier to detect them.
Use yellow or blue sticky traps to detect flying insects like whiteflies, fungus gnats, winged aphids and thrips.
Indoor Insecticide For Plants
Indoor insecticides are intended to kill insects that live and breed on the plants. Some of the most common indoor insecticides include:
Neem oil: Neem oil is an extract from the neem tree that is used as a pesticide. It can be applied directly to plant leaves or soil, and it works by disrupting the life cycle of insects so they cannot reproduce. It is effective against several different pests, including aphids, whiteflies and mealybugs.
Pyrethrum: Pyrethrum is a natural insecticide made from chrysanthemum flowers. Because it is organic and safe to use around humans and animals, it is often considered one of the safest pesticides available for indoor plants. Pyrethrum can be used on both outdoor and indoor plants to get rid of aphids, beetles, caterpillars and other pests that feed off your plant life.
Sulfur: Sulfur is an organic compound found naturally in volcanoes, caves and hot springs that has been used for centuries as an effective pesticide for many types of insects including mites, scale crawlers and thrips larvae eggs that live on leaves or stems near buds or flowers where they feed off
HOUSEPLANT INSECT CONTROL – These ready-to-use granules are meant for controlling insects and pests affecting your indoor plants. Unlike other products, this is designed to protect containerized plants.
NO ODOR – Unlike most other chemical pesticides and herbicides, this bug killer does not have an odor, so using it in your home will not stink up your furniture, clothing, or rooms.
TREATS MANY BUGS – This product is a capable treatment for mealybug, termite, aphids, Japanese beetles, and more. Be cautious of certain bugs or animals that eat your plants. Bees and pets may be harmed if the product is ingested.
FOR NON-EDIBLE PLANTS – This insect killer treatment is not meant for vegetable or fruit plants. This product is labeled for use on flower beds, roses, shrubs, and the like, but it is not labeled for use on any edibles.
HOW IT WORKS – After incorporating the granules into the soil and watering them in, the pesticide is absorbed by the roots where it moves through the plants to assist in protection against the listed bugs. Protection lasts for up to 8 weeks.
3-IN-1 GARDEN SPRAY – Earth’s Ally 3-in-1 Plant Spray is an insecticide, miticide and fungicide. The formula effectively controls soft-bodied insects and common plant diseases with a synergistic blend of botanical oils.
KILLS AND REPELS INSECTS – Kills common soft-bodied insects including spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, leaf rollers and scale.
CONTROLS AND PREVENTS DISEASE – Controls common plant disease including powdery mildew, downy mildew, blight, canker, black spot and leaf spot.
SAFE FOR PEOPLE, PETS & PLANET – Formulated with safe ingredients, the actives in Earth’s Ally 3-in-1 Plant Spray are thyme oil, rosemary oil, clove oil and peppermint oil. It is an OMRI Listed formula suitable for use in organic gardening.
PROVEN BEE SAFE – Earth’s Ally is committed to protecting our pollinators. Every formula is independently tested and proven safe for the bee population.
PLANT CARE SPRAY WITH ESSENTIAL OILS: Our Plant Spray is a mixture of peppermint, rosemary, and citronella oils. The combination is well-known for its insect-control abilities; it enables this pesticide for indoor plants to kill spider mites and fungus gnats quickly.
INDOOR & OUTDOOR PLANT PEST CONTROL: Use our Plant Spray to protect your indoor and outdoor plants from pests including spider mites, fruit flies, mosquitoes, and fruit gnats. Simply spritz the leaves and stems of plants to control and repel insects.
SAFE GARDENING: Our Plant Spray is gentle on plants and safe to use around people and pets. Use this spray in your garden, greenhouse, or home. You can be confident that no hazardous chemicals will linger – just a fresh peppermint oil scent!
NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Made with natural ingredients in the USA. A refreshing and pleasant scent to keep your house plants and garden insect and bug-free. This 16oz peppermint spray for plant insects has up to 2,000 sprays.
NATURALLY EFFECTIVE. Protect against spider mites, fungus gnats, and plant insects. Using our non-harsh peppermint oil spray formula, it is cruelty-free, biodegradable with natural ingredients. This product is made in the USA.
KILLS ON CONTACT: Contact killer for listed insects, such as Aphids, Fungus Gnats, Whiteflies, Lace Bugs and more
CONTROLS DISEASES: Protects your houseplants from a wide range of fungal diseases such as Powdery Mildew, Leaf Spot, Rust and more
KILLS MITES: Kills mites, including Spider Mites. Thoroughly spray all areas of the plant, especially new shoots and underside of leaves. Pests need to be contacted by the spray or dried residue to be controlled
USE INDOORS & OUTDOORS: Use to protect houseplants indoors and outdoors. It is also safe to use on flowers and herbs
