Actually its usually the other way around. There are natural predators outdoors that will help you to control infestations on plants better. Not that you might not still get an infestation, but they are, IMO, much easier to resolve outdoors than in.

Its the same with light...even being in a sunny window is absolutely no substitution for the direct hit of photons from unobstructed sunlight, and a fan is a poor substitute for real moving air (wind)

Thank you so much bihai, in fact I can't beleive your greenhouse once again. I wish I could do same up here in New England!! Do you ver stick any of them outside. or keep them in the GH all yearound?
You certainly have a green thumb....Thanks for all your other suggestions on my previous posts too. You have been a blessing. The only other thing I have to ask you is ,where do you get your BLACK SOIL from, or what is the label on the bag. I can not find it up here. All the soils I see in bags are for the outdoors, heavy and stay wet for lond periods of time. I asked on another post but I do not think you saw it...Thankyou again..:-)

Sissy, actually, plants kept indoors, especially during winter months, are more prone to mites..Figure, dry air, hot, shady, stuffy rooms, opposed to humidy, sun and fresh air..
Of course, not everyone has the option of setting plants outdoors, so they have to make do by opening windows, or if they're appartment has an outdoor balcony..
Tell your friends to take one plant outside, see the difference..Especially a plant that loves sun..If I had the room and energy, all but African Violets would go outside..:)Toni

Thankyou so much Toni!!!

That is true!!!! The plants can go outside with plenty of space between them for air circulation. I do mine every year. Winter comes, it seems like mites etc. are worse indoors.

Just so you know that there is another side to this issue, I'll speak up on my own experience. ;-) I never take my indoor plants outside except to root prune and/or re-pot. I also never have critter infestations.

New plants are treated to an extended isolation period before introducing them to the pack. During this time, they will be treated to alcohol mists, especially under the arms, lol!

I have central heat and air, but we keep our home cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer than most people do, and I'm sure that the plants appreciate it. Judging by the glowing health, lush growth, and overall vigor of my plants, they are all very happy. I don't mist, use humidifiers, fountains, etc.

Plants DO become exposed to pests while outside, make no mistake about it. It's when they are brought back to the indoor environment that the populations are able to build up. Having to acclimate over and over to a change in environment might be stressful for plants, causing them to shed a pile of leaves, turn yellow, or simply pout for the winter.

See? There are two sides to this issue, both with merits.

Rhizo,
Isn't true though that even plants can be invaded kept indoors? I remember a time when I never brought my plants outdoors and I always had a pest infestation, especially in winter.I have 2 friends that never put there's outside and they have svere mite infestations. There is no COMPLETE cure for these stupid pests. Won't I find it alot easier to treat them outside or rid them forever if you can treat plants outdoors before I bring them back in at the end of summer. The only way I can think of getting total control is throwing them all outdoors now that I already have them, mites and thrips, and santitizing my whole plant room and allow natural predators to attack along with regular treatment out in the fresh air....? Is thinking of base?
If I do not clear my room of all the plants, I will never rid of every mite...:-(
A very frustrated sissy...lol

Yes, if you have some persistent pest problems, they are best handled outside where you can make all the mess you want to. That will give you the opportunity to clean your plant room, too.

I've never had a problem with critters coming in from the outside to attack my house plants, but I am sure that it is possible. However, it is common to introduce pests when purchasing new plants, or even bringing in cuttings from the outside. For example, I discovered a heavy population of spider mites on some holly that I brought in the house one year for Xmas! Do you isolate and treat the newcomers (the plants not the people, lol) to your home?

My pests have all come from nursery plants, as far as I can tell.
A quarantine is a good idea, just to be safe.

That said, my plants pick up spiders and frogs (hoyas) during the summer.
I consider these quite beneficial, though.

Josh

As I get more plants, I will definitely be quarantining them before bringing them close to any of my established plants. In a way, I'm glad I'm new to houseplants, since I still have quite a bit of space between plants. My croton will be summering outdoors, though, and if we're still battling mites at that point, I hope that fixes it!

Chandres

Do you know what!! You are all right! I actually got a couple of small Citrus trees in the mail from a very reputable greenhouse 2 weeks ago. All I did was take it out of the box and rinse it, then stick it in my plant room because that is the only room that gets sun. Well on Monday I noticed all the new growth on that plant starting to deform. So at 10:30 at night ,I looked at the underside of the leaves and saw RED MITES!!! I took that one right out and sprayed the hell out of it. I wouldn't be suprised if it came with Thrips too, since some of the leaves looked like they were attacked by some already! It will be monitored closely. I called the company and told them, and they opologized up and down and that they were going to tell there horticultirist. They said it was an ongoing problem!!! Goes to show you, don't trust any plant that comes from any greenhouse for the first few days. :-) I really beleive that my problems are coming from other plants from greenhouses, or from stores and not outside. I remember when I bought a Palm tree on sale at Walmart last winter, and by the time spring came, just in time to put that one outside, it was loaded with webbing and mites because I didn't think to look that one over since it looked like a clean plant.
I put that one out side all summer, hosed it down alot, gave it to a friend at work taking no chances in the fall, and she has NO MITES on it after being outdoors all summer to this day.
So examine your new plants carefully, especially under the leaves with a magnifying glass.I wish I would of thought of doing this before you all gave me good ideas.
I guess the moral of the story is.....You have more chances of contracting insects from other plants from other greenhouses than you do from putting them outdoors!!:-)

I have been watching this post, and I hear your pain Sissy!!
I too have been battling DEVILS all winter, and never had such as bad as a problem as this winter. I summer my plants outdoors every year, and never have the kind of pest problems I have had,as I am having this winter. You know where my MITES came from? From my local nursery. I bought 4-5 Citrus trees on sale, and after just sticking them in my room,without examining them as I should of, because they looked good, in a few days I too also noticed deformed new growth. I looked closely, even sent a sample into a natural predator pest place, and they told me what I had. MITES!! I went back to the greenhouse and examined theirs and saw the same bugs..I was livid. They even knew they were selling them infected,with mites and thrips, and fungas knats, that is why they were so cheap!! Only a week in my home, and now all my plants are a constant battle,until I can put them outdoors. As for the plants that brought these DEVILS to my home, I returned them, got my money back, just for them to turn around and sell them again to the public! They were right back out on display. Maybe we will see new members on this site soon..lol
All I can say is UNBELIEVABLE. Don't trust any greenhouse. I hope you fight your battle with these Devils sucessfully..:-)
All for one and one for all!
TO THE DEATH!!!!lol
Have a great weekend...:-)

Oh yes-sir-ee, I agree, bringing a new plant home, no matter how 'reputable' the nursery is, is one way bugs invite themselves in our homes..
I never ever saw scale..it was only after bringing in an Olive tree did those suckers feast on my plants..mostly neighboring plants such as citrus..the Olive had hundreds and I mean hundreds of scale..Well, plucking was impossible because of the huge number..Thankfully, a woman I talk to who owns a nursery told me they use Fish Emulsion, (foliar) to rid/prevent scale..it was worth a try..I sprayed not only the Olive, but every plant in the room..A couple days later, no signs of scale..the weird thing was, I dont know where they went, but none were visable, and if anyone here has seen scale, you know they're unlike mites, in fact, quite visible..
Whenever I buy/order plants, I inspect..I'm guilty of placing new plants among other plants, but there's no room to isolate, since every spot in our house is plant-filled. :)
But I have learned to inspect leaves and soil..Some insects, particularly mealy, are hard to find, especially if they're in an egg stage..I think most nureries spray plants, so adults die off, but once eggs hatch, voila, we find them..
Every so often I check read through the Hoya forum..Some people swear crushed scented geranium keep mealy away..I grow geranium, unscented, though geranium have a smell of their own..wonder if it really works..
I set out most plants in summer, but not all..many stay inside..Philos, AV's, Calathea, Hoyas, Orchids, Begonias are amongh those who live indoors during summer..All cacti and succulents, hibs, gardenias, scheffs, citrus, coffee, Christas/Easter/Thanksgiving cactus go out..
Plants in or out are insect-free..Only one time did I have a whitefly problem, the source was a hardy Hydrangea..yellow sticky traps cured the problem, and it was a problem..
Some annual/perrenial plants are known to attract insects, so if possible, keep house plants far away from hardy outdoor greens..I don't have that option, but since I found the source of whitefly, I spray the Hygrangea with organic stuff, (my concoction) so far so good..
IMO, I doubt plants attract bugs if kept indoors during summer..I feel being outdoors is a vacation for plants..LOL..fresh air, sun, and humidity. Access to a hose instead of misting, which really creates a cloud of humidity..Plants such as cactus, succulent, citrus, and hibs love sun, so being outdoors gives them a chance to absorb much more light then if kept inside..So, whether or not plants go out or kept in is optional..there's no written rule our plants need to go out..To each his/her own..But as long as I'm capable of lugging plants outside, they'll have the chance to enjoy a 'vacation.' Toni

The only insect problem I ever had with a plant I put outside for the summer was a doozey - a herd of wasps decided to build a nest in my huge piggyback plant. Caught them just in time, but it wasn't a good situation...

For the most part, they seem to benefit from it. the biggest problem I have to watch out for is making sure any drip trays are emptied after a rainstorm and/or anything I don't want getting too wet (like a cactus) is brought indoors if storms are in the forecast.

Until you put your plants outside and experience the lush growth that they recieve you really don't know what beautiful is..I put mine out every spring til fall..to keep down on infestation I water with dawn dish washing liquid and my plants sit in water the whole summer including cactus with out root rot

Hi Sissy,

I put most of my plants outside every spring-fall. When I use Neem oil as a preventative, I don't get pests. And, my plants have a wonderful shine to boot. The fresh air and increased lighting will do your plants a world of good. I've never had so many blooms on my christmas cactus until after I summered them outdoors. And, my oncidium 'Sharry Baby' had tons of spikes.

You can always treat your plants with a systemic pesticide if you notice they are infested before bringing them back indoors. Some gardeners do this anyway as a preventative.

Good humidity and air circulation in the winter go a long way in preventing mites. I give many of my plants a shower once a month in the winter, as well. Keeps them clean and the plants love it!

Shanika