Pest Prevention 101
Nothing is worse than when you’re admiring your beautiful plants, and suddenly, you see a creepy bug crawling around in the soil of your Pothos, or making its way up the stem of your Monstera...then you realize quickly if there is one bug, there is likely to be many more!
Pictured at center: spray bottles I use most often including “leaf shine” which I use to clean new plants as well as keep existing plants fresh.
In my personal experience, the best way to stop bugs from getting into your houseplants is to be proactive! Every time I bring a new plant home, I clean it thoroughly, preventatively treat it for pests, and then leave it in quarantine from my other plants for 14 days. This way I know the new plant is pest-free, and unlikely to spread any unwanted bugs to my lush plant collection.
What should I be looking for when I bring a new plant home?
When I’m plant shopping, once I find a plant I like, I do a quick assessment to ensure the plant is healthy to bring home into my care. I check for any sort of webbing (a sign of spider mites), bugs in the soil (often fungus or soil gnats which can spread rapidly to other plants), or heavy damage to the leaves or foliage which could be a sign of other pests. If the plant looks clear of these things, I bring it home!
How do I clean the plant once home?
There are many products out on the market that can be used to safely clean your plants. There are also several household products that you might already have on hand to clean your plants with, chemical-free and at minimal cost! I personally like to use a 1:1 mixture of distilled white vinegar and room temperature, filtered water with peppermint oil to make it smell good! The vinegar helps to remove stubborn mineral buildup (white, chalky looking water splashes) that often stain the leaves white. I use a spray bottle of this solution to mist the leaves, and then clean gently with a soft rag or microfiber cloth. You can also use diluted Neem oil to clean leaves for a similar effect. Please note, I wouldn’t use these solutions on soft/velvety leaves which could damage their delicate texture.
What do I use to preventatively treat my plant for pests, and when is it necessary to do so?
You don’t need to treat your plant unless you see signs of pests, however, I typically treat new plants proactively because I don’t want to deal with the possibility of a pest outbreak. Having such a large collection of plants in a very small space, it’s a risk I’m not willing to take! I like to use Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew ready-to-use spray, an organic pesticide that has worked well for me so far. I spray it evenly on the foliage and soil of the plant after cleaning it (but please be sure to thoroughly read the directions on the bottle before using with your plants), and let it dry a bit before returning the plant to its spot.
Once your plant has been in quarantine for two weeks and there are no signs of pests, it should be safe to move the plant where you wish, or with the rest of your plant collection!
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