The Secret to Keeping Indoor Plants Pest Free
I found thrips in my orchids this week… so naturally I freaked out. But after all of that, I did my absolute best to try and save the plants without all of the chemicals sold in stores. Here’s my recommendations…
Prevention and early detection are key to a healthy indoor garden.
Inspect plants frequently paying special attention beneath leaves and along stems pests often masquerade as dust or debris. Wiping leaves with a soft damp cloth supports cleanliness and helps detect early infestations before they spread.
Watering practices heavily influence pest activity. Fungus gnats thrive in constantly moist soil so allowing the surface to dry between waterings reduces their targets. For plants needing humidity place pots on trays of pebbles with water rather than damp leaves which can invite fungal diseases.
Homemade Houseplant Pest Repellent
1 tbsp - Peppermint Castille Soap
1 tbsp - 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
2 tbsp - Concentrated Neem Oil
2 cups - Water
Spray Bottle (Ideally Glass)
Spray the solution generously on plant leaves and stems & feel free to use a microfiber cloth to help remove dust, debree, and pests too. After wiping, spray another layer and allow the solution to dry. Don’t be afraid to clip damaged/infested leaves off with a sterilized clipper too, this allows the plant to invest more energy in new growth.
Neem Oil is derived from the seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) that contains azadirachtin which is an antifungal, antibacterial, and insecticidal compound. This oil is a powerful natural product that interrupts the growth and reproduction of pests in your plants & the key active ingredient in this natural pest repellent.
Isopropyl Alcohol works to dissolve the exoskeletons of the plant pests while also drying out their bodies, dramatically dehydrating them, and ultimately causing death. This chemical can damage plants when it is too concentrated, so it is important to make sure you use the 70% & dilute it as instructed.
The Peppermint Castille Soap both suffocates the pests already on your plant and deters any wandering ones from coming near it. The peppermint scent is unappealing to many insects, so will hopefully keep away any other potential pest problems nearby.
Attention to detail is a key aspect of keeping your houseplants happy, healthy, and most importantly, pest free, but no one is perfect & sometimes they have a sneaky way of creeping up on you. As my plant collection has grown, it has definitely become harder to continuously check in on every single plant, but I am finding my way!! Anyways, give yourself some grace, give your plant a spray & a wipe, and hopefully your pest problems will melt away soon.
Hope this helps!
- Zoé & The Greenhaus Team
