Houseplants get pests; don’t worry, it happens.
Insecticides
Now that the process of winterizing your houseplants has begun, it’s time to discuss insecticides. We have listed four general insecticide methods to kill common plant insects. We also discuss three methods that specifically target and keep away fungus gnats, which are very common during the winter.
Be sure to spot-test these methods on a small portion of your plant before applying to the entire plant. This helps gauge how the plant reacts to the method.
There are many different mixtures for all of these methods. We chose the most standard. All of these methods should be used once a week on plants until the problem subsides. Depending on how large the infestation is on the plant and how big the plant is, it may require the methods to be used more than once a week or a more concentrated solution. It is all very case dependent.
Method #1 | Dish Soap
- About 1-3 teaspoons of mild liquid soap
- 1 quart of water
- Mix into spray bottle of choice
- Helps against aphids, mites, and scale
Method #2 | Neem Oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of mild liquid dish soap
- 1 quart of water
- Mix into spray bottle of choice
- Then, mix in 1 teaspoon of Neem Oil
- Helps Against aphids, mealybugs, mites, thrips and whiteflies
Method #3 | Rubbing Alcohol
- Around 20 ounces of rubbing alcohol
- Around 12 ounces of water
- Mix into spray bottle of choice
- Helps against aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and whiteflies
Method #4 | Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar
- 1 quart of water
- Mix into spray bottle of choice
- Helps against powdery mildew and mold on plants and soil
Fungus Gnats
Heading into winter, our watering methods start to differ from summer. Plants are getting acclimated to the indoors, are staying moist longer, and the most common pest we find is the fungus gnat. Below, we have three ways to specifically deal with them.
Similar to the general insecticide methods, it is important to evaluate the size of your plant and the infestation to properly determine which method to use and how frequently.
Method #1 | Mosquito Dunk (Organic): A type of bacteria that you sprinkle on soil and flush through the soil system during waterings. Mosquito Dunk works to kill the larvae of fungus gnats.
Method #2 | Sand (Organic): Place a thick layer of fine-grain sand, at least an inch thick, on top of the soil. When the larva stage matures, they crawl up through dirt and into sand. The sand works to scratch them (to death). Gruesome, we know, but it keeps our plants healthy.
Method #3 | Diatomaceous Earth (Organic): Place a layer of Diatomaceous Earth on top of the soil, ensuring it is even and there are no gaps. This method acts in the same way the sand method does.
