Perla IrishEvery house must have a houseplant of some kind to make the space more lively. Houseplants are not only a great decorative item, but they also spruce up your personal space, and some types of house plants act as a natural air purifier.
However, maintaining houseplants can be tricky as there are a lot of aspects involved. If you see soil bugs, then it might be a possibility that your plants are infested with them. Also, houseplants often attract soil bugs or tiny insects that might slowly kill your indoor plant.
There are a wide variety of bugs that can infest your planters. Many bugs start infesting the soil and make their way to the leaves of the plants. However, there are some simple steps that you can take to get rid of the bugs.
A common sign of an infestation is noticing tiny white bugs in the soil or on the leaves of your plants.
But, what are they?
These bugs could be springtails, isopods, or thrips. Initially, it might be very difficult for you to see them as they are tiny. But rest assured, these bugs cannot jump or fly, and will not cause any harm to you or your family.
How to Get Rid of Bugs in Your Plant?
1. Clean The Soil
You must clean the soil of your plants regularly to prevent the bugs from growing inside the soil. You can try replacing the soil once every three months or use a new potting mix instead.
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2. Household Treatment for House Plants
Chemical solutions are effective in treating your plants, but many people are opposed to using chemicals on plants. So, homemade solutions are your best bet, and there are a couple of solutions that can help you.
A simple solution is to mix one spoon of liquid soap and half a liter of water and spray it on the plants that are infested. The fatty acid in soap will help you break down the bug’s outer shell.
However, if you are spraying the plant frequently and leave it under direct sunlight for too long, it could also increase the chances of sunburn.
On the other hand, there is a more robust solution that is made of neem oil. You simply have to put a couple of drops of neem oil in the water and soap solution and spray it on the soil.
3. Physical Removal
Most of the pests and bugs on your plant are usually so small that they are almost invisible to the naked eye, but some of them are often big enough. If you see one, you can try using a tweezer to remove it. Remember to check the soil for other bugs too, as some others may be hiding.
If the stem or leaf is heavily infested, you must cut it from the plant to stop the growth of the infestation.
These are some solutions that you can use if you see soil bugs on your plants. Remember to only spray the solution in the morning or after sunset since using it under direct sunlight could harm your plants.
