Winter is time for indoor gardening (Anthurium) |
Just like in our outdoor gardens, we need to keep an eye out for pests in our indoor winter gardens (houseplants). Pests may sometimes hitchhike on houseplants that spend the summer outdoors, and emerge in the warmth of our homes. New plants may also bring in new pests. Insect eggs laid on the underside of leaves or in the soil may hatch indoors and suddenly appear too.
Scout for signs and presence of pests. Look at the undersides of leaves and along edges and the bottom of pots for insects and egg masses and remove or treat. Shiny, sticky leaf surfaces (honeydew) is a sign of sucking insects like scale and aphids. Fine webbing is a sign of spider mites.
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Use fresh soil and a clean pot to re-pot houseplants (Amaryllis) |
Follow pesticide labels. Many pests can be eliminated from houseplants by hand-picking, wash or a blast of water. If you do choose to treat with a chemical, use one for houseplants and follow all pesticide label precautions. This is especially important with indoor plants as they live where we live. Managing insect pests on indoor plants
Author: Julie Weisenhorn, Extension educator, Horticulture