Insects on the flowers of indoor plants. The main insect pests of indoor plants and how to get rid of them
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Pest Control indoor plants Only then will it be crowned with success when you know exactly who the enemy is and how to fight him. In this article we will briefly talk about what insects harm house plants and how to get rid of them.
Even if you love butterflies very much, take care of yours from this white beauty. indoor flowers. The tiny one prefers to settle on the underside of the leaf. She really loves fuchsias, pelargos and even fragrant mint. How to detect it? Very easy! Just touch your plant and tiny butterflies will immediately fly into the air. These pests will leave a white coating on indoor flowers.
The delicate whitefly responds to temperature. If the temperature limits correspond to the individual needs of the plant and the period, then these insects appear less frequently. As a preventative measure, you can water the plants with Aktara solution in winter and summer. Folk methods include garlic infusion and cool conditions.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars are not only enemies garden plants, they also love indoor flowers. These insects “work” mainly at night; during the day they prefer to hide.
There is no need to rack your brains over how to get rid of caterpillars. The main way is to assemble them by hand. If this is not so easy to do in the garden, then it is quite possible with indoor plants. You can prevent the appearance of these pests by spraying biological drugs– “Lepidocide”, “Bitoxibacillin”. They are absolutely harmless to humans and pets.
Weevils
These little bugs don't just nibble on leaves. indoor flowers, but also leave their offspring in the soil. The larvae, in turn, damage the roots and tubers of plants.
It is best to collect weevils early in the morning. To avoid reproduction and destroy all larvae, spray with Fufanon or Inta-vir insecticides. Another way is to water the soil with Aktara solution.
Drosophila
Drosophila are dangerous pests of most indoor plants. These flies are spreaders of infections and other pests that they carry on themselves. Drosophila breed in a pot where the soil is damp and fallen leaves and roots are rotting. These insects are attracted to the smell of rotting.
You can also bring flies into your home along with garden soil, which may be contaminated with Drosophila eggs. To avoid this, only into disinfected soil or ready-made substrates. Do not overdo it with watering, remove fallen flowers and leaves.
Ticks
Woodlice
Large insects that feed on everything close to the soil. They love darkness and warmth. Active at night. Traps, such as potatoes, are most effective in combating these beetles.
Centipedes
Centipedes look like a caterpillar. They are interested Bottom part plants. To avoid attracting these pests, keep it damp. If necessary, dry the soil in the pot with sand or ash.
Sciarid front sight
The small insect does not particularly harm plants, if we talk about adult individuals. But the larvae can gnaw on the tender roots of plants. If you notice mosquito larvae in the ground, sprinkle the soil with “Grom-2” or “Bazudin” powders. Adults also need to be disposed of to prevent them from reproducing. This can be done using adhesive tape or Dichlorvos Neo.
Nematodes
Tiny worms that spread through contaminated soil. Their appearance is indicated by black spots on the leaves. It is extremely difficult to combat them: flower utensils, tools and all contaminated material are eliminated.
It's better to apply preventive measures: use of pure soil mixtures.
Fools
These little insects white live in damp soil. They move in the soil in a very interesting way. Some of them have a special "jumping fork". For the most part, they do not harm house plants. Sometimes they can eat into the roots, and some carry fungal spores.
Slugs
These unpleasant pests often appear not in house flowers, but in plants used to landscape loggias and balconies. An indicator of slug infestation is the presence of ulcers on the leaves.
You can get rid of them folk ways. Sprinkle the soil with stove ash and lime. Pollinate the plant with a mixture of tobacco and lime dust. This treatment must be carried out throughout the day every two hours.
Aphid
A preventive measure is spring and autumn watering with insecticide solutions. If infection has already occurred, then only immediate treatment can save the plant. To do this, rinse the roots thoroughly and cut off any damaged ones. Throw away the soil and disinfect the pot or, better yet, replace it. Pure roots place in an insecticide solution for 10 minutes, dry thoroughly and only then plant in new soil.
Thrips
In the summer, to prevent thrips from appearing, be sure to spray the plant with water so that the air is not dry. If you already need to treat the flower, then you need to start by washing the leaves with warm soapy water. Then you can use both herbal and chemical preparations for spraying.
Earwig
These bugs masterfully hide in indoor plants. They got their name because of the belief that they crawl into the ear of a sleeping person at night. The earwig sleeps during the day and eats leaves and flower petals at night.
The only salvation from insects is hand fishing. To detect a mite, you need to look under a leaf; after finding it, shake the earwig onto the paper. Or you can put tubes of strong paper in the pot - there is a chance that early in the morning the insects will hide there.
Earthworms
Many people consider earthworms useful because they loosen the soil. Only worms can also eat the roots of plants, which is extremely undesirable.
It is necessary to collect earthworms in special traps, and it would be good to occasionally water the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate as a preventive measure.
Enhytrea
If you find this pest, immediately wash the roots and replant the plant in new land. If transplantation is not possible, then immediately begin treatment - water with an insecticide solution.
From this video you will learn how to save indoor plants from pests and diseases.
There are quite a few pests on indoor plants. Most often they are very small and not always immediately noticeable. They live and reproduce both in the soil and on parts of the plant itself. If pests of indoor plants appear and measures are not taken against them, then the flowers begin to wither, turn yellow, and then die altogether.
What needs to be done to save pets? First of all, find out what harmful insects got started on flowers. To do this, a thorough examination of the plant itself and the soil is carried out. After this they begin a merciless struggle various methods. Remember, any delay is fraught with disastrous consequences.
Insects live in the soil (on roots), on leaves, stems, and gnaw buds.
Pests of indoor plants
Plants react to each pest in a special way: they can change the color of leaves and slow down their growth. At visual inspection indoor plant, you can notice changes in the leaves and stems.
The appearance of white spots
White spots are a signal of the appearance of:
- Mealybug or rootbug. You need to examine all parts of the flower. If you notice “cotton” lumps, it means there is a pest.
- When whiteflies appear, the leaves become sticky and may fall off.
- The presence of a red spider (clover) mite can be determined by the whitish mesh, spider mite by the cobweb. Leaves with a large number of insects die off.
What do yellow spots signal?
Appearance on leaves yellow spots you need to inspect the leaves. If your fingers stick to them, these are marks left by the scale insect. The cause may be the appearance of enchytraea. Tiny white worms live in the soil right at the root.
Brown spots
The presence of brown, brownish spots on the bottom of the leaf and white streaks on top indicates the action of thrips.
Deformation of green parts of the plant
If the shoots and leaves on the flowers begin to deform, it means that the flower is affected by aphids or cyclamin mites. Aphids leave behind sticky residues. It sucks the juice from indoor plants, which can cause them to dry out. If dust appears on the leaves below, they curl—the mite is in control.
Withering
The cause of drooping leaves and shoots is fungus gnats, leaf or root-knot nematodes.
Description of pests
Pests of indoor plants can cause harm and lead to the death of green spaces if they are not dealt with. Let's look at the most common insects and their destructive activities.
Spider mite
Spider mites are the most common “guest” on indoor plants. Due to their small size, they cannot be seen with the naked eye. You need to examine the lower part of the flower, because these pests do not tolerate light and moisture. Insects may appear in a dry and hot room. In such conditions, the development of spider mites is rapid.
If you have geraniums or palm trees, then they need to be inspected constantly. Insects pierce the tender part of the leaves and suck out the juice. As a result, the leaves become faded and fall off.
Aphid
Aphids can be seen despite their small size. They come in black and green. Insect colonies multiply rapidly: the female lays at least 150 larvae, which after 7 days themselves enter the reproduction stage.
Females of the third generation have the ability to fly. They move onto any indoor plants and lay larvae. Diseases are transferred to flowers on their paws, for example, different types flower mosaic. Getting rid of aphids is not as easy as it seems.
Shields
Scale insects on indoor plants are a dangerous pest; they love to settle on cuttings, leaves, and stems. It is not difficult to detect: it is flat, oval, bottom The body is closely adjacent to the substrate.
These pests are different. Real scale insects hide under their shells, just like turtles. False scale insects do not have this possibility, since this part of the body is inseparable.
The favorite colors of these pests are:
- lemons;
- oranges;
- tangerines;
- oleanders;
- ivies;
- palm trees
Scale insects settle on the lower part of the leaf. Colonies develop quickly. Slowly moving dots appear on the leaves, somewhat reminiscent of plaques. The leaves around their habitat turn yellow. Insects suck out the juice of tender plants and shoots, depleting the plant. If you do not start a timely fight, indoor flowers die.
Thrips
Ficus and palm trees are affected by the jumping beetle small sizes- thrips. The females make holes in the leaves or flower buds and lay eggs. The damage is microscopic and impossible to notice with the naked eye. A signal that thrips are on indoor plants is a silvery pattern appearing on the leaves. The insects themselves live on the back side of the leaf.
White Podura
These creatures can also jump. This is a soil insect that lives directly in pots. It is distinguished by an elongated body, on which sparse hairs are visible. There are antennae on the head. Most often they appear in soils rich in humus.
The basis of nutrition is plant residues, but it does not disdain the living root system. It is clear that the eaten roots can no longer cope with their function, the plant slows down its growth and may die.
Mealybugs
These are white worms; they love the back of the leaf in the places where the vein runs. Females are large, up to half a centimeter, very fertile. They build houses for their offspring that look like balls of cotton wool, and lay eggs in them. The hatched larvae are mobile and quickly conquer space on the flowers.
Flower growers who grow cacti need to constantly inspect the plants for signs of mealybugs. These pests of indoor plants prefer them and it is necessary to take immediate measures to combat them.
Whitefly
Whiteflies by by and large greenhouse insects. If you purchased flowers in these places, do not be lazy to examine them carefully. Even one female whitefly on indoor plants will produce huge offspring in a short time. Then the question will arise of how to fight. The pest's favorite flowers are fuchsias, ferns, and geraniums. The two-millimeter insect feeds on plant sap, and as a result it weakens and withers.
Fungus gnats
It often happens that flower growers notice flying creatures around their flowers. small flies, but do not attach any importance to it. And in vain, because the fly lays larvae in wet fertile soil. The larvae are microscopic, so their appearance is not immediately noticeable. The danger of insects is that the smallest creatures feed on the root system of plants. As a result, the flower dies.
How to control pests on indoor plants
Many novice gardeners are wondering how to deal with pests of indoor plants. The answer to this is important, since insects multiply rapidly, time must not be wasted.
Exist different ways to help get rid of pests:
- mechanical;
- biological;
- folk;
- chemical.
If pests of indoor plants are correctly identified, and measures to combat them will be effective.
Mechanical
You need to start with the measures that are safest for humans, especially since they often help a lot. Before starting work, you should disinfect and sharpen your tools. All damaged leaves and shoots are cut off, and the cut areas should be sprinkled with activated carbon.
Bugs and visible larvae are selected manually: scale insects, slugs, caterpillars. Leaves with pests such as aphids can be wiped with a cotton pad. A contrast shower and spraying with water helps get rid of pests living on the green parts of the plant.
Biological
How to deal with harmful insects biological means? Such preparations are created based on plants. Most often used:
- "Fitoverm";
- "Agrovertin";
- "Iskra-Bio".
Before use, you should read the instructions. Since they destroy pests, they contain poison in small doses. The plants are treated early in the morning and left in a shaded place until all parts of the plant are dry. The room where the treatment was carried out is ventilated. You need to wash all exposed parts of your body. warm water with detergents.
Traditional methods
If there are indoor pests plants, treatment can be carried out using time-tested folk remedies. For this purpose, decoctions and infusions are prepared from:
- yarrow;
- chamomile;
- dandelion;
- marigolds;
- nettle;
- garlic;
- Luke;
- peels of oranges, tangerines, lemons.
These environmentally friendly and harmless plants can effectively destroy harmful insects. Steamed citrus peels can be buried in the soil. Insects don't like their smell.
An infusion of tobacco, stove ash, a solution of potassium permanganate, furatsilin or soda works well. To prevent the liquid from immediately draining from the plants, laundry soap is added to it.
Chemical
Using chemicals Pest control can achieve rapid success. It is better to resort to their help as a last resort if other methods have not given a positive result. It should be remembered that such products are unsafe for humans and beneficial insects. You need to work with chemicals with the window open, removing children and animals from the room. In addition, when working you need to use tools personal protection. After work, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and face.
The treated plants are placed in the shade until the solution is completely dry. The area where the treatment was carried out must be washed hot water with detergents.
remember, that chemicals are toxic, therefore, they need to be stored in places inaccessible to children and pets.
Popular and effective means from pests of indoor plants:
- "Karbofos";
- "Chlorophos";
- "Syphos";
- "Trichlorometaphos";
- "Pyrethrum";
- "Decis";
- "Fury."
They are capable of destroying almost all harmful insects.
Getting rid of harmful insects
Shchitovka
The shell of insects makes them invulnerable even to toxic drugs. If there is a large concentration of pests, you should clean them with a toothbrush and moisten them with alcohol.
The best chemicals to use are:
- Actellicom;
- Detis;
- Intavir.
Getting rid of thrips
If thrips appear on flowers, they must be urgently isolated from healthy plants and start processing. Place flowers in a cool room with high humidity.
An adult insect can be destroyed with special preparations:
- Karbofos;
- Spark-bio;
- Fitoverm.
Thrips eggs survive safely in the soil. Treatment alone will not be enough. Repeat in a week, just by this time a new batch of pests will hatch. It is advisable to replant the plant in new pot and fresh soil. To avoid transferring the larvae to a new container, the roots are washed with clean water.
People have long used garlic infusion to get rid of thrips. You can take a different route: spread chopped garlic on the soil, cover the flower with cellophane and leave for 2-3 hours. Repeat the procedure every other day until complete destruction.
Plants will be healthy if timely prevention is carried out and the rules for caring for each indoor flower are followed.
Use quality soil, before planting it must be disinfected. Purchase your indoor flowers from reliable sellers. It is easier to prevent the appearance of pests than to fight them.
Of course, indoor plants are less likely to suffer from diseases and pests than their garden relatives, since they are usually under more careful attention. But if they are still damaged by insects or become infected, it is much more difficult to treat them, because “green pets” are more pampered and capricious, and react worse to outside interference and, especially, to the use of chemicals. The wrong location (too dark, too sunny, too cold, too warm, low humidity) as well as improper care (too much water, not enough moisture, wrong fertilizer, wrong substrate) can cause poor plant health. Unskilled care also contributes to the damage of indoor flowers by pests and diseases; the plants refuse to bloom, wither, and ultimately die. As they say, you need to know your enemies by sight. Therefore, read the photos and names of diseases and pests of indoor plants, learn about the causes of damage and how to get rid of these insects and infections.
Diseases of indoor flowers: photos, causes and methods of control
In this section of the article you will learn how to deal with some diseases of indoor plants and you will be able to see what the symptoms of damage look like.
Brown edges of leaves
Causes: excess or lack of water, excess, unsuitable soil, dry air. Control measures: optimize care, increase air humidity.
curled leaves
Causes: low air humidity, dry soil. Damage to the roots can also cause this plant disease. Control measures: optimize care, if necessary.
Pale leaves(chlorosis)
In plants that prefer acidic soil, such as azalea and milkweed. The leaf veins are still green. Causes: hard water, iron deficiency. Control measures: soften the water, add an iron supplement to the water.
Light spots on leaves
Causes: temperature changes, too cold or too warm water. Moisturizing in the sun (for example, in the Usambara violet). Control measures: change location, optimize care, water from below.
Powdery mildew
Symptoms: a powdery coating from white to dirty brown on both sides of the leaves. Causes: fungal spores. As you can see in the photo, you can fight this disease of indoor plants using fungicides:
Gray mold
Symptoms: gray-brown coating on leaves, petioles or flowers. Causes: not suitable for spraying or cold water, air humidity is too high. Control measures: Remove diseased parts of the plant, reduce air humidity, and place in a brighter place.
Bacteria and viruses
Bacterial wet rot occurs in alpine violet and indoor calla lilies. Symptoms: rot at the base of the stem. As shown in the photo, with this disease of indoor flowers, if there is no correct treatment, rot spreads throughout the plant:
Mosaic virus
It primarily affects orchids, gloxinia, and hippeastrum. Symptoms: light green and dark green spots. Control measures: No. Kidney failure is most often caused by an imbalance of water balance. Either the plant has experienced a lack of moisture, or as a result of excessive moisture, the roots are so damaged that they cannot absorb and transport enough moisture. Some plants, such as stephanotis or camellia, shed buds even when their location changes dramatically. Premature shedding of flowers is also a consequence of changing the place of growth and is especially evident when the plant is not hardened enough. Inactive flowering may be due to genetic factors (some varieties bloom less than others) or a lack of phosphorus, violation of the dormant period, or improper wintering. Cracked pedicels are considered a consequence of irregular watering. This can lead to tension in the tissues and rupture of the shoots. Rotting flowers or buds indicate gray mold infection. These photos show the symptoms of some diseases of indoor plants:
Pests of indoor plants: photos, causes and control measures
The most favorable time It's considered the end for indoor plant pests heating season. Lack of light and dry air in a heated room expose plants to the risk of pest damage. During this period, spider mites and aphids appear especially often on plants. Summer and fall are whitefly season. The best prevention will provide care that meets the needs of the plants. Choose the most suitable places location. In addition, you should devote more time to observing plants. First of all, pay attention to the underside of the leaves. In this case, it is often possible to detect diseases or pests in initial stage defeats. Sick plants should be isolated to avoid spreading the infection to other plants.
Spider mites
Symptoms: cobwebs under and between leaves. Causes: air is too dry. Control measures: increase air humidity, use a warm shower, introduce predatory mites. Also, special preparations are used to combat these pests of indoor flowers.
Soft-bodied mites
Symptoms: curled leaves, cessation of growth. Causes: infection promoted by heat and high humidity air. Control measures: reduce temperature and humidity. Parts of indoor plants affected by this pest must be removed and destroyed.
Thrips
Symptoms: silver streaks on leaves. Look at the photo - when indoor flowers are infected by this pest, brownish traces of the penetration of sucking insects appear on the underside of the leaves:
Whiteflies
Symptoms: There are small white flies on the underside of the leaves. Causes: infection from other plants. Control measures: lower the temperature, since the tropical insect does not tolerate cool weather. Traps, riders and insecticides are also used to control this pest of indoor plants.
Shields
Symptoms: brown shields under which insects sit. Pay attention to the photo - indoor plants affected by these pests shed their leaves:
Felt bugs and mealybugs
Symptoms: cotton wool-like formations, primarily in the axils and on the undersides of leaves. Poor growth. Causes: air is too dry. Control measures with these insect pests of indoor plants are the same as when fighting scale insects.
Nematodes
Symptoms: glassy or brown spots limited to leaf veins. Dropping leaves. Causes: an infection promoted by moisture on the leaves. Control measures: Remove and destroy diseased leaves. Keep leaves dry. Here you can see photos of the main diseases and pests of indoor plants:
Changes that occur in plant leaves indicate the presence of pests, diseases, or care errors. A healthy leaf is strong, with flawless edges and tips. Pay attention to the metamorphoses and take action. Leaves are the life nerve of the plant and at the same time the best indicator presence of pests and diseases. Sometimes buds and flowers are also damaged. The main causes of such damage should be known. Pale colors of flowers indicate excess sunlight. Deformed or torn flowers indicate the presence of pests, such as aphids.
How to get rid of pests of indoor plants: methods of protecting flowers
There are several ways to deal with pests of indoor plants. Some of the most effective are mechanical protection, biotechnical methods and the use of chemicals. How to get rid of pests on indoor plants using mechanical protection:- Remove affected parts of the plant.
- Carry out pest removal, including washing them off in the shower.
- Immerse the above-ground parts of the affected plant in warm water with a small amount of detergent. The pot must first be placed in a plastic bag and tied at the top.
- Riders against whiteflies,
- Predatory mites against spider mites and fringed winged
- Predatory gall midges, goldeneyes or parasites against aphids.
- The yellow plates are insect traps coated with glue that attract bright color leafminers, whiteflies, sciarids and other flying pests.
- In the “plant bath” due to the very high humidity air destroy spider mites. To do this, water the plant well and place it in a transparent plastic bag. Be careful, rot! Plants with soft leaves such treatment cannot be tolerated.
- Oily products, such as white oil, clog the insects' airways. Leaf shine sprays work in a similar way.
- Follow the directions for use and dosage contained on the package.
- Maintain recommended intervals between treatments to eliminate new generations of pests.
- Do not use sprays that are harmful to the environment.
- Treat plants only outdoors.
- Wear gloves and do not inhale spray products.
- Store plant protection products in closed original packaging out of the reach of children and pets.
- Do not store leftover chemicals; their effectiveness is quickly lost. Do not throw chemicals away with regular household waste, but take them to a special waste collection point.
Appearance of this pest not to be confused with anything. This is a fairly large relative of the scale insect. The mealybug reaches up to 8 mm in length.
Female “hairy lice” have an undeveloped oval-shaped body, more typical of insect larvae. They lay numerous eggs in special sacs in the axils of the leaves. The shoots on which the pest lives are covered with a white, sticky waxy coating.
Males are not at all similar to females - they have wings and normally developed limbs, the body is divided into sections and ends in a bunch of tail filaments
Using their mouthparts, females and larvae easily pierce the surface of a leaf, bud or shoot and suck out the juices from it. Young scale insects are extremely mobile and easily move between plants. Sexually mature males do not feed because as they grow older their mouthparts atrophy.
Signs of Mealybug Infestation
To detect pests, it is enough to carefully examine the indoor plant.
Main features:
- drooping appearance, lethargy of leaves and shoots;
- underdeveloped buds, deformed leaves;
- white powdery plaque with lumps;
- small “mosquitoes” (male scale insects) on the windows near the pots;
- the presence of sticky mucus (honey dew) on all parts of the plant;
- the presence of white inclusions in the earthen coma during transplantation;
- presence of white oval insects.
Any of these symptoms may indicate the appearance of a scale insect. Not a single flower is immune from infection. Special control should be given to citrus, amaryllis, cycad and palm plants, as well as cacti, violets and orchids.
The azalea often suffers from a pest, a photo of which is given in the article. The pest attacks young shoots. The leaves stop growing and begin to turn yellow. Azalea, a photo of which demonstrates its beauty, when struck by insects, loses its former appearance.
Harm to the plant
Mealybugs literally suck everything out of flowers nutrients, disrupting their growth and normal development. Sweet honeydew secreted by females provokes the development of associated fungal infections. Due to the sticky, impenetrable coating, the green pet's breathing becomes worse. This can cause the leaves to wilt and even fall off.
Mealy aphids (another name for mealybugs) do not prefer a specific part of the plant, attacking everything that comes in its way. Not only shoots, buds and leaves are under attack, but also roots. If treatment is not started as soon as possible, the bug will spread to surrounding indoor plants. In time he will destroy them all. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately declare war if you notice mealybugs on indoor plants. How to deal with the pest will be discussed below.
Causes of mealybugs
Why do these harmful insects appear?
There are several main reasons:
- Presence of eggs and larvae in the soil. Even purchased soil can be contaminated, so it is very important to treat it with hot steam before use.
- Transfer of larvae with newly acquired plants. New pets should be kept separately and carefully examined periodically. You can place them next to other flowers only after finally making sure that there are no pests.
- Errors in care - low temperature indoor air, stagnation of moisture in the soil, insufficient lighting, excessive application of fertilizer. Improper care significantly reduces the plant’s immunity, causing various diseases.
- The presence of dust on the leaves, irregular removal of dry parts.
- Untimely replacement of soil in pots. Harmful insects can live inside a compacted earthen clod.
- Poor quality water for irrigation.
Traditional methods of combating mealybugs
Now you know how dangerous the pest is for plants. You can easily determine that a mealybug has settled on indoor plants.
How to deal with such an insect? If the infection is small, you can try to get rid of it without special means.
Popular home control methods:
- Infusion from medicinal herbs. To treat the plant, you can use horsetail and calendula. The powder purchased at the pharmacy should be brewed with boiling water. After the product has cooled, the plant is treated with it. To prepare the infusion, use the following ratios: 100 g of horsetail (calendula) per 1 liter of liquid.
- Garlic tincture. This is enough effective method combating mealybugs. Peel and chop a medium-sized whole garlic head. Pour in a liter hot water and let it brew for 4 hours. Garlic tincture is applied to the leaves and trunk using cotton wool or a sponge.
- Oil emulsion. Per liter warm water stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spray the affected leaves with a spray bottle.
- Soap-alcohol solution. To prepare it, it is better to take natural soap, without perfume additives. For 1 liter of water, 1 teaspoon of grated soap and 1 tablespoon of ethyl alcohol is enough. Spray the affected parts of the plant, avoiding getting the solution on the earthen ball. The procedure can be carried out once every 3 days. It is necessary to wash off the applied product one day after spraying.
- Tincture of lemon and orange zest. A surprisingly simple recipe that allows you to effectively rid your plant of pests. Take lemon and orange peels and pour boiling water over them. The ratio is as follows: 30-50 g of zest per 1 liter of liquid. The product should be infused during the day. Then treat your green pets with this infusion using a spray bottle.
Chemicals for mealybugs
If ineffective traditional methods or large foci of infestation, one has to resort to chemical insecticides.
Widely available effective drugs against mealybug:
- "Decis".
- "Vertimek".
- "Tsvetofos".
- "Nurell D."
- "Phosfamide."
- "Bi-58".
- "Aktellik".
- "Fitoverm".
- "Aplaud."
There should not be any particular difficulties with such substances. The main thing is to read the instructions carefully and follow all safety precautions.
Affected plants must be quarantined. Usually 3-4 insecticide treatments are sufficient. If pests still remain, you need to change the drug.
Precautionary measures
Make sure that the drugs you use do not cause harm:
- Chemicals should only be used in a well-ventilated area.
- Keep children and pets away from the area.
- To avoid poisoning, use personal protective equipment.
Preventive measures
- Periodically carefully inspect green spaces.
- Regularly replant grown flowers.
- Inspect the earthen ball during transplantation. Rinse the soil with hot water (about 55° C).
- Properly care for flowers according to their preferences.
- Promptly remove dying parts of the plant. Dried leaves can serve as a convenient hiding place for various pests.
- Before planting, scald the pots with boiling water and steam the soil.
- Observe quarantine measures for new plants.
Insects are an integral part of any ecosystem, but they have no place on the landscaped windowsills of apartments. Especially if mealybugs appear on indoor plants. You know how to deal with the pest. Therefore, use any available methods. After all, healthy house plants without pests actively develop and delight the eye with bright greenery and abundant flowering.
All plants, no matter where they are grown, are subject to invasion by various pests. In addition, indoor plants that housewives love to grow are susceptible to various diseases and malicious actions various insects. This is facilitated various reasons. Often housewives themselves are to blame for this, since they do not create the proper conditions for growth and development for plants. Some of them simply forget to water the plants, and some of them water them excessively. It should be noted that there are quite dangerous pests that can reduce a person’s work to zero.
This is an insect with a body length of no more than 2 mm. Feature- these are white wings and a yellowish body. They can be found:
- WITH reverse side leaves, where they are located in colonies.
- According to characteristic sweetish traces, on which after some time a sooty fungus appears.
Whitefly larvae have a sucking type of mouthparts, so they suck out the juices from the plant. As a result, the plant loses its vitality, gradually loses its attractiveness. If no measures are taken, the plant will soon die.
Interesting fact! When appearing in greenhouses, the whitefly prefers plants such as hibiscus, pelargonium or begonia. After the appearance of just one individual, after a short period of time a whole colony of these insatiable pests appears in the greenhouse. In this regard, the fight should begin immediately.
Aphid
These are also harmful insects that suck juices from plants due to the presence of piercing-sucking mouthparts. Insects have an ovoid body shape, no more than 2 mm in length. Aphids have rather long legs, but they move rather slowly. The color of insects depends on the species, as well as on living conditions, so it can be varied.
There are both winged and wingless types of insects. Naturally, insects with wings can easily enter a person’s home, even through an open window.
This type of aphid is also called mealybugs. They represent some of the most dangerous insects for plants. As a rule, they can be found on the underside of leaves. Their presence is indicated by a cobweb-like white coating, as well as the presence of a sticky liquid.
These insects are different high degree fertility. Female mealybugs lay eggs in miniature formations that resemble balls of cotton wool. After a certain time, fairly mobile larvae emerge from these lumps, which are then distributed throughout the plant. Fighting them requires an instant reaction. The sooner you start fighting this pest, the greater the chance of saving the plant.
Males are more like whiteflies. As adults, they quickly die because they stop feeding. Therefore, females make up the main population of these pest colonies.
It is important to know! The presence of such insects on indoor plants leads to the fact that the plants lose their attractive appearance. In addition, damaged plants begin to suffer from fungal diseases.
Shchitovka
The false scale insect, which does not have a waxy shell, poses a huge danger to plants. The females of these pests grow up to 5 mm in length, and they have neither legs nor wings, unlike males. Females are distinguished by the fact that their body is covered with a convex shield, which may have different shape, both round and oval.
White podurs are hopping insects that can be found in potted houseplants. They differ:
- An elongated body on which sparse hairs grow.
- Having 3 pairs of legs.
- Having a long mustache.
- Prefers moist conditions.
Spider mite
Many indoor plant lovers are familiar with this common and quite dangerous pest. This is a tiny insect that can only be detected with a magnifying glass. Colonies of these insects are found on the underside of leaves. Spider mites prefer warm and dry air. Under such conditions, the insect reproduces at a tremendous rate.
You can determine that a plant is infected with spider mites:
- By light spots that are visible in places where pests live.
- By the presence of the finest cobwebs that cover plants.
Chinese roses, geraniums and palm trees suffer quite a lot from the invasion of spider mites, which suck the juices out of them.
Thrips
These are insects whose length does not exceed 1.5 mm. Pests can be identified by their black or dark brown body color, with the lower part of the body being a reddish-yellow hue. Like most pests, thrips hide on the underside of leaves. The female lays eggs in very small holes, which she gnaws in the leaves and also in flower buds.
It is important to know! The appearance of a silver pattern on indoor plants indicates that the plants are infected with thrips. These are traces of their life activity.
These insects are also called scyriads. These are not large flies, up to half a centimeter long, that fly around indoor plants. Sexually mature individuals carry the larvae of various pests, which infect plants. The scyriads themselves lay eggs in the root system of plants, which causes great harm to the plants, since white larvae emerge from the eggs and feed on the root system. The result of their vital activity is dead indoor plants.
How to get rid of pests? This question haunts many indoor plant lovers. Pest control is real different ways. For example:
- Mechanical.
- With the help of biological drugs.
- Using chemical control agents.
- Based on folk recipes.
To protect them from various insects, as well as in cases of their diseases, many lovers of indoor plants prefer folk remedies struggle. These products have been tested for many decades, so there is no doubt about their effectiveness. Decoctions prepared from plants such as chamomile, nettle, yarrow, dandelion or marigold are absolutely harmless to humans and plants. Solutions prepared with garlic and onions have the same effect. The prepared solutions are simply sprayed onto the plants almost every day.
Solutions based on wood ash, furacillin, soda or potassium permanganate. You just need to prepare the solution correctly, after which the plants are sprayed with a spray bottle.
It is important to know! If you add a little soap, preferably laundry soap, to the solutions, the product will not drain from the leaves so quickly, which will enhance the effect of using the product.