Plants and Pests...
Plants and Pests...
A lot of our ethos here at PDC is rooted in people care, pet care, and plant care. And since we don’t believe in sugar coating, we’re about to talk about bugs. Fact of the matter is there is no such thing as a pristine plant collection that is void of pests. We strive everyday to normalize that plants are a lot closer to being a pet than a cool piece of furniture you just picked up from some big box store. Like your pets, they breathe, they eat, and they require care. And that means sometimes, they get sick.
If you’re reading this and you have a pet, chances are you’ve been to the vet when your critter has had fleas, infections, and the like. Because plants are alive, this means that they can also get sick. That’s right... This means that at some point or another, your foliaged friend will get infested with a pest, and you’ll inevitably end up on the internet reading an article just like this one!
If you’re stressed after reading that, don’t be. We’re about to cover why your plants get sick, and show you some common pests that you’re likely to encounter on the road to plant parenthood.
Remember folks: Nature is a finely tuned system, where everything happens for a reason. Bugs don’t exist to ruin your day, they pop up on your pants to tell you about some aspect of care you might be neglecting. So while we feel your pain, because bugs suck and they still can ruin your day.. Look at this as an opportunity to learn how to be a better plant parent!
So why do your plants get sick?
It’s likely that your plant got infested because (like pets and people) it’s needs weren’t being met. Most often, plants get sick because they’re not being nourished well, so they stress out, and that stress causes a lapse in their ability to have healthy, thick plant tissue. This inability to make thick plant tissue makes them very vulnerable to pests, because most predators are looking for an easy opportunity to feed. Plants that are stressed are easier for pests to set up shop in, because the tissue of the foliage is weak. Most pests are feeding on plant saps, and weak foliage means easy meals for days (good for pests, bad for you and your plant).
So how can we keep plants from having weak leaf tissue and getting pests? Easy!
Feed your plants.
It’s really that simple. This is hands down the best recommendation we have for avoiding pest problems. Keep. Your plants. Healthy. A half strength feeding once or twice a month during the spring and summer months can save you a lot of heart-ache in the future.
We know what you’re thinking:
“But why a half strength feeding and not a full strength feeding?”
Full strength feeds too frequently can cause your plant to push out a lot of new tender foliage. Lots of new tender foliage means: Soft plant tissue. That will attract bugs. So be easy! And don’t recreate a problem. All things in moderation, including plant food!
With that base covered, here are the most common pests to look out for:
Heads up. If you’re not into creepy crawlies, avert your eyes. Creepy critter content comin’ your
way.
1. Mealybugs: Ever see a cluster of what looks like the fuzzy end of a q-tip all over your plants? Those are mealies. They’re white little bugs that look scarier than they are and they suck the sap out of your plant. No worries though, these are beginner level pests. Just be consistent with treatment* and they’ll be gone in no time.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/mealybugs-indoor-plants
2. Spidermites: Got weird little dots on your foliage and fine webbing? Those are spidermites. They’re tiny mites that travel via web between leaves and plants. These are a little intermediate in terms of eradication, but not impossible. Consistent treatment* is key. They also do not like water or humidity
so misting your plants helps with treatment* because water makes it really irritating for them to get established.
https://www.dayliliesinaustralia.com.au/red-spider-mites-organic-control/
3. And finally. Thrips. Thrips are so small that they are almost naked to the human eye, this makes them much harder to catch at the early stages. You’re likely to notice their damage first. If and when you notice their damage, (looks like tan/silver/metallic splotches with black dots on your leaves), it might be too late. Eradicating thrips is an expert level undertaking, and usually we recommend trying not to be a hero on this one. Thrips can spread like wildfire through your plant collection, and are known for being very difficult to get under control.
Okay. Now that creepy critters are done with, let’s talk about solutions. There are a lot of pesticides and insecticides out there that may very help you get rid of pests, mainly: Pyrethrin, Neem oil, and insecticidal soaps.
If you have little ones, or pets... We highly encourage you not to spray these indoors. Most of these chemicals are designed to kill bugs and are toxic to come into contact with. Worst comes to worst, purchase one that will work for your issue, and treat your plant outdoors.
Curious about a people and pet safe pest treatment** that you can apply indoors (that works better than over the counter chemicals)....?
We thought you would be. Handed down to PDC by trustworthy pros in the plant industry, here’s THE tried and true pest treatment...
1. Take a regular 24oz sprayer bottle.
2. Fill sprayer bottle with water
3. Mix in 1/2 tablespoon of dishsoap, and a few drops of peppermint essential oil.
4. Close and shake sprayer bottle.
5. Spray your plants generously. We mean that. It’s okay to saturate your plants. This
solution is not harmful to plants and won’t burn foliage.
6. Treat plants at least once a day, for a week or two. And thank us later!
***Bonus points if you use this to preventatively treat plants before adding them to your plant collection!
So there you have it! PDC’s pest 101. This by no means is an all intensive dive into the world of plant pests, but it will help get you started. Happy growing! Now go be the best plant parent you can be!