Pest that afflict
house plants insect are not as great a
problem to plants indoors as they are outdoors, but they can be brought into
the house on new plants. For this
reason, keep new plants isolated for a
week or two before adding them to a
group, especially one in a terrarium.
If insect appear on established plant,
place the plants in quarantine to keep
pest from spreading. Most insect can be washed off with soapy water or swabbed
away. Serious infestations required chemicals, but be careful to follow the
directions on the labels.
Aphids
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| pest house plant |
These common plant lice are about ½ inch long and may be green, red , pink, yellow,
brown or black. They congregate on soft young
tips or the undersides of leaves. Aphids suck out a plant’s juices, stunt new growth and cause foliage to
pale, curl and die. They also secrete a
shiny sticky substance, honeydew, that becomes a host to unattractive sooty
black mold.
Method’s of control
Pick off and crush any visible aphids, then wash the
plant-either dunk it upside down into warm soapy water or
swab leaves and stems with a soft soapy cloth. Rinse the foliage with
clear tepid water. For serious infestations apply rote none or pyre thrum, or
take the plant outdoors or to a
well-ventilated area and spray with
malathion. When the spray dries, rinse leaves with clear water.
