Top 8 Common Houseplant Problems Solved, Continued

5. Fertilizers
Use a time-released houseplant fertilizer, such as Osmocote, for your houseplants. Follow the instructions on the bottle.

6. Insects
When using any insecticides, be sure to read all instructions and precautions on container labels.

Many insects can invade your houseplants. Read below for details.

Insects:

Mealybugs, pictured right
These are soft-bodied, wingless insects that suck the sap out of plants. This weakens and stunts the plant, causes leaf distortion, yellowing, and in some cases death of the plant. Mealybugs leave a sticky substance called honeydew, which attracts a black fungus called sooty mold. If there are only a few mealybugs on your plant, you can remove them with a cotton swap dipped in alcohol. If there is an infestation, remove what you can and use an insecticidal soap, such as Organic Summer Oil from Pharm Solutions, Inc. (available in our Garden Center). Also, using System Houseplant Granules will prevent future outbreaks from reoccurring. Follow the directions on the label.



Spider Mites, damage pictured left
If your houseplants look mottled (spider mite damage pictured at left) and have webs on them, they are probably suffering from spider mites. The solution? Try hosing off the plants in the shower, followed by an application of an insecticidal soap or Ortho Systemic Insect Spray. You have to repeat this process two or three times within a month to completely rid your plants of mites. Follow the directions on the label.



Whitefly, pictured right
These are tiny winged insects that are found on the underside of leaves. When you move the plant, they will leave the underside of the leaves and begin to fly around the plant. Use Ortho Systemic Insect Spray to get rid of these pests. Follow the directions on the label.

Aphids, pictured left
This is another insect that sucks the juice from the leaves. They also secrete honeydew which attracts sooty mold. Try hosing the plant off in the shower and then apply an insecticidal soap. Follow the directions on the label. Repeat if necessary.



Scale, pictured right
This is usually a brown or black (sometimes white, pictured) insect with a shell-like body. These insects also secrete honeydew which attracts sooty mold. Remove any scale that you see with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab. Spray with Ortho Systemic Insect Spray. Follow directions on the label.



Fungus Gnats, not pictured
While these insects cause no harm to plants, they are annoying to us. Use Bonide All-Season Spray Oil. Follow the directions on the label.

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