Lush and thriving houseplants are a dream for us all but unfortunately, pests love them too. Common sap-suckers thrive whilst slowly consuming our precious leaves, often going unnoticed until your plants start looking sad and stressed.
This guide will help you spot six of the most common houseplant pests and how to treat them before things get out of hand.
Mealybugs
If you see white, fluffy clumps sitting in leaf joints or under foliage, you might have mealybugs. These waxy pests feed on your plant’s sap, slowly weakening it over time. Left untreated, they reproduce quickly and can take over your whole collection.
How to treat
Use a systemic insecticide to target them from the inside out. For heavier infestations, dab affected areas with isopropyl alcohol to physically remove clusters.
Scale
Scale insects look like small brown or tan bumps on stems or leaf undersides. Like mealybugs, they feed on sap and rarely move, making them easy to miss until damage sets in.
How to treat
An insecticide is effective here too. Wipe off any visible bugs with a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol.
Spider Mites
Tiny but mighty, spider mites spin fine webs across your plant’s leaves. You’ll likely notice speckled, faded patches on the foliage before you see the mites themselves.
How to treat
Reach for a miticide spray like Abamectin to knock them out. Boosting humidity around the plant can also make life harder for spider mites.
Thrips
Thrips are fast-moving, winged insects that chew through leaf tissue at lightning speed. You’ll see streaky or patchy damage, and in advanced cases, leaves may twist or drop.
How to treat
Thrips are persistent. Use a systemic insecticide to stop them in their tracks and prevent them from spreading to other plants.
Whitefly
Whiteflies are small, fluttery insects that look like mini moths. While more common outdoors, they can sneak inside and bring disease with them—like mildew and black spot fungus.
How to treat
Treat them with neem oil leaf shine or an insecticide and keep affected plants isolated until clear.
Aphids
Aphids cluster on new growth, sucking sap and spreading disease. They come in a range of colours—green, black, orange or yellow—and often appear in groups.
How to treat
Like whiteflies, aphids can be treated with an insecticide or neem oil leaf shine. Act fast, as they multiply quickly in warm weather.
Let your plants thrive and keep an eye out for these tiny troublemakers. Pests can be tricky to diagnose properly, so if you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, reach out to our Plant Doctor to chat directly – together, we’ll keep your plants pest-free for their best summer yet!
