Windy-Lo Blog

The Green Thumb

Spray, Baby, Spray: Controlling Houseplant Insects (Safely)

Early February is prime garden-dreaming time in New England, and prime indoor gardening time, too. Our eyes start craving green, and the plants in the house keep us going a little longer. But not if we let mealy bugs and aphids have their way.
  
Yup. Even in winter, there are insects only too thrilled to suck the sap out of our leafy pals and leave them mottled, yellow, open to disease, or just plain dead.

How do these critters get in your house? All sorts of ways. If your inside plants lived outside last summer, the insects may have been hidden in the leaves. Or the bugs could have hitched a ride on cut flowers or on pets. However they arrived, the insects have got to go – the health of your plants depends on it.

Even if you don’t have kids or pets, we always recommend using the least-extreme solution first: Hand-picking and spraying with water are absolutely safe for everyone: people, pets, and plants.

One step up from that are eco-friendly solutions that, if used correctly, should get rid of most destructive insects, but be safe around people and pets. We like Safer Brand Houseplant Insect Killer. It’s got both pyrethrins and insectidical soap and will kill houseplant bugs on contact. To use, take the plant away from the sun, shake the can well, then thoroughly moisten anywhere on the plant the bugs are hanging out. Repeat every few weeks. The product is organic-compliant, but it should be used with caution on new, tender foliage.  Bonide All Seasons Horticultural Spray Oil and the Neem Oil Spray products are also great.

A good approach for temperate months is Bonide Systemic Houseplant Insect control. As its name implies, this product works systemically throughout the plant, protecting both old and new growth.  It comes in the form of granules, which means no spraying or mess, but it does have enough of an odor that you’ll want to apply it outdoors and wait a few days before bringing the treated plant back inside (which is why this is warm-season treatment).

It’s worth noting that any of these products can be applied prophylactically – that is, as a preventative measure.

It's For the Birds

Chilly months mean taking care of our feathered friends.  Our unseasonable warmth here in Metrowest seems to be over, and now it’s cold out there! 

Putting out birdseed is a great way to keep your garden filled with winged wildlife. Consult with us for the best seed to attract specific birds, and for the best ways to foil squirrels.