How to Protect Indoor Plants From Insects
Having plants means taking into account lighting, watering, fertilization, and even insects. Plants can attract certain insects such as spider mites, midges, and whiteflies, which can infect your plants and your home if not taken care of. Here are some natural and store-bought ways to rid your houseplants of annoying insects.
How to Naturally Rid Whiteflies, Spider Mites and Mealybugs from Plants
Whiteflies belong to the same family as cicadas and shield insects and love to settle under the leaves of your plants. Spider mites act the same way, with a red body and translucent legs. Mealybugs also love to nest in houseplants, but mealybugs will also drink your plant dry right from the roots.
These unwanted guests hate the presence of neem oil. Neem oil is a natural pesticide that interferes with the hormones of insects, prevents them from laying eggs and repels them almost completely. For whitefly and mealybugs, mix 30 grams of neem oil with a gallon of water and sprinkle the plants with this solution. Use diluted neem oil or a powdered version to fight spider mites. You can also prune the plant where you see signs of annoying spider insects.
How to get rid of indoor plants from cockroaches and ants
The main reason cockroaches are attracted to homes and plants is a warm, humid, and sometimes decaying environment. It is nearly impossible to wipe out cockroaches completely, but nevertheless, the House Plant Corner plant care website says that splashing with diatomaceous earth destroys their exoskeleton and dehydrates their bodies, killing them within 12 hours. Apply a thin layer of dust with a hand rag or spray gun and reapply when the dust disappears. You can also spray insects directly. Kieselguhr also works against ants and is a natural and safe pesticide for plants and humans.
How to get rid of aphids with cayenne pepper
Aphids are small tree buds that literally suck life out of your plants, using their uniquely shaped mouth to suck fluid from the veins of plants to transport nutrients. Luckily, all you need is a little soap, water, and cayenne pepper to fight off the infestation.
Take two tablespoons of dish soap (avoid antibacterial and scented soaps – Castile soap will work ) and mix the soap and two tablespoons of cayenne pepper with one gallon of water. Home Guides suggests testing a small area and observing the plant for 24 to 48 hours before applying it to the entire plant. If the plant is intact, spray the plant from leaf to stem and wait two hours for the solution to take effect before rinsing the plant. The mixture will kill on contact but will not stop aphids after it dries, so you will need to reapply it every four to seven days.