Software
Houzz Logo Print
hzdeleted_10471126

Houseplants and bugs

15 years ago

Someone offered me a half dead golden pothos plant a few months back. The leaves were all yellow and the whole plant looked rough from totally being neglected for a long time due to their schedules. I cut some pieces off and repotted with new soil in a different, larger pot.

I was looking something up in regards to them tonight and started reading about "bugs on houseplants". I don't know anything really about plants and I never had any real plants because I have cats. It's currently on my window sill and they're never on the counter.

So anyhow I'm reading all this gross stuff about bugs and I see "white fly". I then remembered as I was painting my nails this evening I saw a little white fly land on the table. I figured it was from us leaving the outside light on and it came in with DH. Then I started thinking maybe it was from..*DUN DAAA* the plant.

Then I see "thrip" and it says "...As adults, if they are disturbed, they fly to other plants. They suck on to the plant juices, and leave behind visibly distorted and scarred leaves..." There are three leaves that the very edges look seared, brown, and slightly curled. Please tell me it's not thrips. I just thought it was from the sun when I had it on a different window sill the one day. The pictures I saw online didn't look quite like what I have going on.

So then I get the magnifying glass out and start eyeballing this plant. I don't see anything moving around. I did see a couple small white clumps on the one leaf so I took a q-tip with alcohol to it. I might not have been the right thing to do but I saw alcohol listed somewhere in my reading. It came off.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem catching a bug (in a container usually) and putting it outside or smashing a spider but I'm really grossed out by the idea of bugs on plants. Wheeeere do they come from? Can they get in the rest of your house? I read thrips travel on people. I also have an aloe plant on my window sill. My first live potted thing! *smiling proudly* For some reason I didn't think they ever got bugs and I read different tonight.

I'm ready to give them away or put them to sleep in the trash. :(

Comments (11)

  • 15 years ago

    Many houseplants are resistant to bugs.At least mine have been. Some plants seem to draw them or perhaps have them from the beginning of time. ;)
    I dont think pothos or aloe are ones that are prone to bugs, so relax.
    These little bugs only hurt houseplants not the house, they dont get into the rest of the house so don't get rid of your plants!

  • 15 years ago

    Give the foliage a bath in Dawn from time to time for things like white fly and rinse.

    If you find odd leaves clip and toss in trash.

    Oh bugs in the house also have a benefit....cat toys.
    My cats love when a fly gets in or I get grain moths

  • 15 years ago

    Buy some Neem Oil. Mix it in a small spray bottle with some Dawn and water. It will give you directions.

    It's not a "poison" and will kill most bugs.

    Bugs are very common on both indoor and outdoor plants. The thing is, you can't see most of them.

    The white spots may be mildew. Take a wet dishcloth and wipe down each leaf, it gets the dust off too.

    Pothos are very easy to grow, so are Aloe. Neither wants full sun though. My Potho's takes forever to grow! But it's doing good!

  • 15 years ago

    If the plant has bugs it sounds like they were part of the mother plant's sad state. The above tips will take care of any bug problem you're having. I wish I could have plants. My cats may never go to a spot, but let me put a plant there and they are all over it. Inside cats love to "eat" anything green because they miss having that natural element in their lives/diet. Be care it's not poisonous.

    I have one cat who undoes even artifical arrangements. She does it at night when I'm sleeping and each morning I wake to find another flower on the floor. In a matter of days I no longer have an arrangement. I've learned hanging my ivy from the ceiling is the only way I'll ever enjoy indoor plant life. She's so bad!!

  • 15 years ago

    I was totally grossed out by the thought of bugs that night. I was also tired and in a really silly/goof off mood. I actually don't think there are any bugs on either plant. I'm going to keep them for now but I know my neighbor would take them off my hands.

    I did cut those couple of leaves off and I'll give the leaves a bath just to be sure. :)

    Oakley, I never heard of Neem Oil. I'll check it out!

    Hiwthi, The pothos is poisonous but I know the cats won't mess with it. None of my cats act like normal house cats. They don't climb up on things and don't mess with anything decorative. Well...the one likes the bottom ornaments on the Christmas tree. :) I've never had any house plants because the easy to grow ones are poisonous but if their behavior changes the plants will be gone.

  • 15 years ago

    Shee, I bought my Neem Oil onlie. My dh uses it in his veggie garden and loves it.

    Don't be afraid of the plant bugs. I've had house plants all my life and have never seen any on me! lol

    My cat's have never bothered my plants except when they were kittens. They get bored with them.

    With Neem Oil you spray on top and below each leave, includinhg the top of the soil.

  • 15 years ago

    Shee - it's possible the bugs are in the dirt. See if you can tell. You might want to repot them.

    Insecticidal soap is good. Organic gardeners like it.

  • 15 years ago

    I had a house full of plants and then one day I brought home a new plant. I didn't notice it had these fruit fly looking things. Gnats? They flew around the plant which grossed me out. The insects soon infected ALL of my house plants which made me really angry. I sprayed and sprayed until the problem cleared up. I might have thrown some out, I can't remember. Once I had things under control I brought home a new house plant and darn it all I started seeing those gnats again. Turned out the nursery I was buying from kept their houseplants in a hot, humid indoor greenhouse. It was a breeding ground for insects. I bet every plant they sold was infested. Forget now how I got rid of the problem because this was years ago but I do know you can buy a liquid pesticide to mix with water and pour into the soil. It will prevent insects from thriving in there for up to a year. Not organic but maybe by now there is a similar product that is organic. My garden is organic except for some of the potted plants. I am willing to give them a more toxic solution if that's what it takes to rid them of persistant soil-borne problems, but only because they are isolated in a pot.
    Anyway, this is why you have to be very careful bringing plants into the home. If you have a garage you can quarantine a new plant out there until you decide it's safe to bring indoors. Anything that's been outdoors has a greater probability the soil is infected and even indoors there's no assurance. Until you know the source don't assume it's bug free.
    Little by little I got rid of the house plants and now all my indoor greenery is made of plastic! Problem solved for good, lol.

  • 5 years ago

    I am aware this is a thread from 9 years ago, but still wanted to comment, in case someone comes across this nowadays or in the future :) Firstly, it is always best practice to quarantine any new plants that you bring home. What Sheeisback_GW did was also really good; repotting the plant in new potting mix. Because, the soil/potting mix can be the breeding ground for pests and you may not see them until it is too late, or until they harm your plant. While repotting, it is good to hose the plant off really well, give all the leaves, branches, stem and roots a good shower to clean them off of any pests, physically. Then once repotted in clean potting mix, a treatment with Neem oil as a preventative treatment could also be a good idea. I would also like to mention hydrogen peroxide as a good treatment option and a preventative option, against pest problems. Be very cautious when using it as a foliar spray though, it can harm plant leaves. But for soaking potting mix, it works really well, when diluted to 1.5%, or it can be used at 3%, too. The good part is, that it also aerates the roots and plants can thrive. The bad part is, that it also can kill some of the beneficial microorganisms in the mix, so one would need to replenish the microbiome from time to time.

  • 3 years ago

    The Plant Rescuer book has a great section on pest and bugs