What are the seven most common houseplant pests?

The seven most common houseplant pests are mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, scale insects, whiteflies, fungus gnats, and thrips.

What are the signs that my houseplant has a pest problem?

Common signs of pest problems include yellow or stippled leaves, sticky residue, webbing, distorted growth, and the presence of insects or their eggs.

How can I prevent pests from attacking my houseplants?

Practice good plant hygiene, including keeping plants clean and removing dead leaves, and inspect new plants before bringing them indoors. Quarantine any plants that show signs of infestation.

How can I control mealybugs on my houseplants?

Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove individual mealybugs, or use a systemic insecticide to treat entire plants.

How can I control spider mites on my houseplants?

Spray plants with a mixture of water and mild soap or use an insecticidal spray specifically for spider mites.

How can I control aphids on my houseplants?

Wash plants with a strong spray of water, use insecticidal soap, or introduce natural predators like ladybugs.

How can I control scale insects on my houseplants?

Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove individual scale insects, or spray plants with an insecticidal oil.

How can I control whiteflies on my houseplants?

Use yellow sticky traps to capture adult whiteflies, or spray plants with insecticidal soap or oil.

How can I control fungus gnats on my houseplants?

Water plants only when the soil surface is dry and use a layer of sand or gravel to cover the soil surface, preventing adult fungus gnats from laying their eggs.

How can I control thrips on my houseplants?

Remove affected flowers and inspect new plants before bringing them indoors. Use sticky traps or spray plants with an insecticidal soap or oil.

The 7 most common houseplant pests and how to control them

Are pests attacking your houseplants and you don't know what to do? I'm here to share my top tips for controlling the 7 most common pests. Say goodbye to spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids, and others for good with this comprehensive plant care guide. Let's get those plants thriving again!

Water spray on leaves

Are you dealing with pests on your houseplants but you're struggling to identify them correctly? You're not alone! Some pests are difficult to identify because they might look alike or the symptoms your plant displays might look very similar from one pest to another.

In this plant care guide, we will look at the 7 most common pests on houseplants, I'll help you identify them and then we'll look at how we can control these pests. Pests are a common problem for houseplants, and if left untreated, they can cause significant damage.

These are the pests we're going to look at:

Let's get started and help your plant recover from these pests.

Spider Mites

Spider mites

Spider mites are tiny, eight-legged insects that are very difficult to spot with the naked eye. One of the easiest ways to spot spider mites on your plants is if you start to see what looks like cobwebs. Spider mites are tiny insects, but their webs are quite easy to spot. They will start to appear on the stems on leaves of your plant.

The spider mites themselves can still be spotted on your plant though. They'll look like tiny dots that can be yellow or brown. They usually like to hide on the underside of leaves and cause damage by poking tiny holes in plants' leaves to suck out the sap. One of the first signs of spider mites is the appearance of tiny, light-colored spots on leaves.

You can control and remove spider mites in several different ways. Your first option is to use a steady stream of water to flush them off the plant. You can also use insecticidal soap or neem oil to suffocate them. It's important to spray the plant repeatedly to make sure you get all the mites and their eggs.

For more in-depth information, you can have a look at How to get rid of spider mites on your houseplants.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are tiny, white, cotton-like insects that attach themselves to the stems and leaves of your houseplants. They feed on plant sap, which can cause stunted growth and damage to the leaves.

You can usually find these insects in groups around the stem, leaves, or in the hard-to-reach spaces of plants. They produce a white, waxy substance that makes them look like small cotton balls and makes them easy to identify.

Mealybugs thrive in warm and humid environments, which are the perfect growing conditions for a lot of tropical plants indoors as well. Mealybugs can spread easily from plant to plant, so it's important to catch them early and take action to control their populations before they get out of hand.

To control mealybugs, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol on the insects to suffocate them. Alternatively, some people use horticultural oils like neem or vegetable oil, which smother the bugs. Make sure to repeat this process every few days until the infestation has died.

For more in-depth information, you can have a look at How to get rid of mealybugs on houseplants.

Scale Insects

Scale insect on leaf

Scale insects can be challenging to identify because they appear on leaves and stems as small, flat bumps. They can settle on your houseplant because of several reasons like over-fertilization, lack of sunlight, overwatering, and high humidity. These hard-to-spot pests are attracted to weak and stressed plants, and they feed on the sap, causing damage and weakening the plant further.

To add to their inconveniences, these pests also produce a sticky substance called honeydew that attracts ants into your garden!

To get rid of them, it's important to prune and remove the affected parts of the plant right away. You can use insecticidal soap or neem oil to suffocate the scale insects as well. If you're looking for a gentler approach, use a soft-bristled brush or sponge to scrub away at them.

It may take multiple applications of this removal process over a few days before all the scale insects have been eradicated.

For more in-depth information, you can have a look at How to get rid of scale insects on houseplants.

Aphids

Aphids are tiny insects that suck the sap from houseplants, causing them to wither and die. They're easily recognizable because they cluster together on the stem and undersides of leaves. They come in different colors, like green, yellow, brown, red, or black, but the most common is green.

Like mealybugs, aphids thrive in warm and humid environments. You can often find them in overcrowded and poorly ventilated spaces, as well as on plants that have been too moist for too long.

Aphids can spread from plant to plant, especially if the plants are close together. They can also be carried from one plant to another by insects, humans, or by transferring infected soil or plant material. This is why it's important to regularly check on your plants and make sure you catch aphids early to prevent too much damage.

To control aphids, you can use a steady stream of water to flush them off your plant. You can also use insecticidal soap or neem oil to suffocate them. If you're looking for an eco-friendly solution, you can get a few ladybugs to help you out. Ladybugs are natural predators of the aphid, so introducing them into your plant can be an effective way to control the infestation.

For more in-depth information, you can have a look at How to get rid of aphids on houseplants.

Whiteflies

Whitefly insects

Whiteflies are tiny, white, moth-like insects that suck the sap from the leaves of houseplants. They're a very common pest in greenhouses, but can also start to attack your houseplants. Whiteflies, despite the name, can also be yellow, not just white. They might look like moths but are more related to aphids.

Whiteflies cause leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Whiteflies are difficult to control because they lay their eggs on the underside of leaves and then fly off, making them hard to target.

To control whiteflies, use a yellow sticky trap to catch the adults. You can also use insecticidal soap or neem oil to smother them. For severe infestations, use a chemical insecticide that you mix with water and pour into the soil. Your plant will absorb this and kill the whiteflies when they feed on it on the plant's sap.

A great way to prevent whiteflies from settling on your plant is to keep the leaves moist by regularly misting them.

For more in-depth information, you can have a look at How to get rid of whiteflies on houseplants.

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats

Fungus gnats are tiny, black, or dark gray flies that fly around your houseplants. They lay their eggs in the soil. When the larvae hatch, they'll feed on your plant's roots and other organic material in the soil. These larvae weaken your plant by feeding on its roots, which makes it prone to other pests from this post.

Luckily, adult fungus gnats don't cause any harm to the plant itself, but their presence can be annoying. These adult gnats are attracted to moist soil, so if you consistently overwater your plant, you might attract these gnats. A great way to prevent this is by letting the soil dry out for a day before watering your plant again.

If fungus gnats have already infested your plant, you can control the infestation by replacing the top layer of soil with fresh, dry soil. If the infestation is too large, you can also use chemical insecticide to kill the larvae in the soil.

A more natural way to get rid of these larvae in the soil is to introduce little worms to your plant. These worms, also called nematodes, will feed on the larvae and the eggs, so will indirectly get rid of the gnats for you.

For more in-depth information, you can have a look at How to get rid of fungus gnats on houseplants.

Thrips

Thrips are tiny, slender insects that feed on the sap of houseplant leaves and flowers. They're difficult to spot on your plants because they're only 1-2 millimeters long. Thrips come in different colors, including black, brown, and yellow. They look like spider mites, but won't leave any of the cobwebs behind.

Thrips cause damage by scratching the leaf surface and sucking the sap out of the plant. When thrips feed on your plant's sap, it can slow the plant's growth and turn the affected leaves yellow and brown.

Thrips are resistant to most types of chemical insecticides, which makes them tough pests to get rid of. However, there are several ways to control the infestation. You can use insecticidal soap or neem oil to suffocate them, but you can also introduce predatory mites, like Amblyseius Cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii, to control the population.

A great way to prevent and control the infestation is by regularly wiping your plant's leaves and stems. This keeps the plant free of dust and removes any insects that are currently on the plant. Make sure to prune any dead or dying leaves, because thrips are attracted to them.

For more in-depth information, you can have a look at How to get rid of thrips on houseplants.

Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.