Common Houseplant Pests: Identification & Control

Indoor plants lack natural predators, making them vulnerable to pests. Regular inspection and prompt treatment keep infestations manageable.

Major Pests & Controls

Aphids: Green/black/pink/blue; cluster on new growth; reproduce rapidly. Suck sap, spread viruses, excrete honeydew → sooty mold. Control: insecticidal soap, neem oil.
Caterpillars: Chew holes; carnation tortrix moth (yellow-green, webbing at shoot tips). Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) works.
Mealybugs: White, waxy clusters in leaf axils; common on cacti. Suck sap, cause sooty mold. Control: alcohol swabs, neem oil.
Red spider mites: Microscopic; yellow stippling, fine webbing on shoot tips. Love heat/dryness. Increase humidity; miticides if severe.
Scale: Static gray/brown bumps on stems/leaf undersides. Suck sap, cause sooty mold. Scrape off; horticultural oil.
Vine weevil: Larvae eat roots (sudden collapse); adults notch leaves at night. Cyclamen especially vulnerable. Nematodes for larvae.
Whiteflies: Tiny white moths; clouds from infested plants. Only adults susceptible to pesticides. Sap suckers → honeydew → sooty mold. Yellow sticky traps help.

Most respond to insecticidal soap or neem oil. Inspect weekly—especially leaf undersides.

Plant Care: Controlling Cottony Aphids and Plant Bugs on Pentas with Systemic Insecticide; Fungus Gnats in Snake Plant: Why Drying Out the Soil Is the Best Cure; Mystery Insects on Indoor Hibiscus: Likely Ladybug Larvae, Not Pests; Dealing with Aphids and Mealybugs on Drosera capensis; Rubber Tree Worms: Identification and Local Help; Mealybug Eradication on Mature Jade Plant; Pink Daisy Tiny Bugs: Whitefly—Discard or Spray; Diagnosing Brown Spots on Schefflera (Umbrella Plant); Mealybug Eradication on Myrtle Topiary: Alcohol Spray and Persistence; Identifying and Controlling Fungus Gnats, Thrips, and Soil Pests

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