Question
I'm thinking of buying a small indoor plant for my room.  My main concern is
insects.  Do you have any suggestions for indoor plants that won't attract
insects?  Or ones that won't attract insects as much as others?

Answer
Hi Maria,

I appreciate your concern about plant pests. Unfortunately, all indoor plants are potential targets for pests. I struggled with them myself for many years until I learned how to prevent them.

Healthy plants are much more resistant to pests and disease than unhealthy plants. The most important thing you can do when selecting a plant is matching the plant with the light you have available for it. Only in proper light will a plant remain healthy. So a good match between the plant species and the light is you first line of defense against plant pests. After that, proper watering is essential to keeping your plant healthy.

If you can describe the light source and how far away from that light source you plan to locate your plant, then I will be able to recommend a plant that you can keep healthy and plant resistant.

If you twist my arm, I will tell you that the ZZ Plant is quite pest resistant and does well in a wide range of light. But there may be better choices for you.

Finally, if you ever do run into plant pests, let me know and I will tell you how to eliminate them safely and effectively. I have also written an article on plant pests that explains how to identify, prevent, and treat them. Send me an email request and I will send you a copy.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]