The first step in pest control is to isolate any plant that appears to be affected with a pest. The plant should then be kept away from other houseplants until the pest has been fully eliminated. This procedure could take several weeks or longer.

Several effective control approaches should be investigated before resorting to a chemical solution to a pest problem on houseplants. However, don't expect a single application to fix the problem. Some of these methods necessitate patience on the part of the indoor gardener, but they can provide effective control.

Tips To Non-Chemical Control.

If only a small section of the plant is attacked, as with leafminers, remove and kill the infested parts. Take a clipping and start a new plant if the roots are infested. Begin with a clean pot and sterile potting soil.

Handpicking can often be used to eliminate early infestations.

To remove insects like aphids and mealybugs, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Scale insects may require scraping with a fingernail.

In many cases, spraying the plant with insecticidal soap will eliminate a pest infestation in its early stages. Insecticidal soaps are contact insecticides that work only when they come into direct touch with insects. When the soap solution dries, it no longer has any effect on bugs. Soft-bodied insects and allied pests, such as aphids, mealybugs, immature scales (crawlers), thrips, whiteflies, and spider mites, are the most efficient targets for insecticidal soaps. Because bugs can be hidden or in the egg stage, removing them frequently necessitates more than one treatment. See Table 1 for product examples and other remarks on insecticidal soap sprays.

If the plant has been significantly damaged and is no longer valuable, the best and simplest approach may be to dump the plant and its soil and begin again with a new plant.