Now autumn has arrived, it's the perfect time for houseplant owners to be on the lookout unwanted creepy crawlies that might be lurking among their beloved indoor greenery.
When there is a change in the environment, such as the heating on, pests may thrive and end up killing houseplants within a short period of time. The team at Essential Living have jumped in with their top tricks for keeping those pesky bugs at bay naturally.
They said: "After all your hard work of looking after your indoor garden, it is important you control houseplant pests as quickly as possible to prevent them from spreading to your other plants. Going chemical-free with pesticides is the name of the game, as household solutions are up to the task. First things first, isolate the infested plant to prevent it from spreading to your other houseplants.
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"Also, make sure you monitor your other surrounding plants closely for signs of indoor plant pests for three to four weeks." Once you've separated the sickly plant, give the surrounding area a good scrub with soapy water to evict any loitering insects. For "extra precaution", Britons can also sterilise the area by using rubbing alcohol, making sure not to touch their eyes whilst doing so.
The experts added: "Now wash the infested plant with insecticidal soap, or you can use a mild liquid soap, as soap can kill houseplant bugs on contact. Some contain degreasers and detergents that can harm sensitive plants, therefore be careful with the type you choose. Try dabbing the soap lightly on your plant before washing it fully to double-check it won't cause any harm.
"Use a cotton swab soaked in alcohol and dab it on the bugs to kill and remove them from the plant. Also, wash the pot and plant tray with soapy water too as houseplant pests can easily hide under the rim of the pot or tray without you even noticing."
Washing-up liquid can be bought for as little as 50p from several supermarkets, which will last a long time. Mealybugs, one of the most common pests, are often mistaken for fungus or mould because they can look like cotton or white powder. They tend to gather on the stems and leaf joints.
According to experts at Essential Living, damage usually includes stunted or "deformed growth" of the houseplant. Aphids can be spotted because they tend to leave a sticky residue on the plant and will result in deformed plant growth.
The pros said: "They easily go unnoticed until the houseplant is completely infested, as you will begin to see fat, small, juicy bugs clustering on new growth and flower buds ranging from different colours including green, brown, blue, orange, red or black."
