Natural Pest solutions
Have you ever heard the saying “an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure?” It basically means that a small amount of prevention will do much more good for you than a large amount of solution after something has happened. We can apply that saying to many different circumstances in our lives and our gardening habits are certainly no exception. It will be less likely that we will be dealing with pest infestations if we stay on top of the little things consistently. Now, for some plants, that could mean daily attention is needed. For others it can be weekly or less. The overall health of your plants will be better if you give them better attention consistently. This will make everything much easier when you finally do come across some trespassers in the foliage! Whether you are dealing with indoor plants, a greenhouse, or tending to your garden in the back, you will eventually come across some pests. It is just a matter of time. Here are a few natural pest solutions that are completely safe and natural to help you keep the bugs away.
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When purchasing new plants at your local home and garden stores, be sure to inspect them before buying. It’s not uncommon to bring home pests in a new plant from the store. Be sure to inspect any fresh cut flowers or clippings that you may bring inside from your own garden / landscaping as well.
- Potted plants that are left outside during the warmer months are vulnerable to bugs crawling into their soil. Inspect them before you bring them into your home. You may need to replace the soil as this is a common place for bugs to live. Be sure to check the bottom of the leaves as well.
- Wash / clean the leaves of your plants every week or two. If possible, bring the plant over to your sink and spray all of the plant surfaces. Another option is to use a spray bottle filled with water. You may want to take the plant outside for this as it can get messy quickly. Try to spray the plant from all angles. Be gentle with everything, but also really try to wash the entire plant. It is much harder for a pest outbreak to happen when it doesn’t have a solid chance to get established. This will also improve your overall plant health and the look of the plant itself. These spray bottles are technically for hair, but I think they work great for plants! I love the continuous mist. I think it really does well for cleaning your houseplants as well as watering the leaves.
- Identify and isolate any infested plants as soon as possible. The sooner you spot any problems, the easier it will be able to deal with any issues that may come your way. When you find that one of your plants has signs of an infestation, move it away from other plants preferably outside of the home or greenhouse.
- If it is a severe infestation, you may want to try taking a couple clippings to propagate & then toss the mother plant. It sucks to have to go this route, but it’s better than a total loss. If possible, take a few cuttings of the plant, root them, and hang on to the mother plant just in case you are able to save it. You may not be able to save it, but if you have a few clippings you will have an opportunity to keep that same plant going.
For small outbreaks, you may try dipping a q-tip or cotton balls in rubbing alcohol and then rubbing it on the outbreak areas of the plant. The stem. The bottom of the leaves. The area where the leaf meets the stem also known as the “leaf axil.” Be thorough. Be consistent.
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