10 Common Houseplant Pests and How to Get Rid of Them

Although a few pests here and there do not cause much harm, if you leave the problem untreated, it can multiply and make an ugly mess. Panic not! Check out our post on Common Houseplant Pests and How to Get Rid of Them!

Tiny insects like spider mites are so small that you may never be able to notice them with your naked eyes, but they look like dark specs on surfaces. You may first see their silky white webs along the veins. Spider mites love figs, hibiscus, ivies, scheffleras, and dracaenas. 

How to Control: Wash these insects away with soapy water, and pruning infested plants and parts of plants is the best way to destroy these insects.  Alternatively, you can kill spider mites with a mix of rubbing alcohol and water in a 1:4 ratio. 

Aphids are another sap-sucking insect that produces sticky honeydew. They are fond of attacking many different species of plants and causing wilting and distorted growth. 

How to Control: Spray infested plants with high-pressure water. Insecticidal soaps, horticultural oil, and neem oil sprays can destroy the insects, too. 

Mealybugs are similar to scales and make dew with their waxy bodies. Whenever you notice waxy deposits on the plant or sooty mold, it is a mealybugs infestation. Hoya, jade, poinsettias, coleus, and gardenias are most prone to mealybugs. 

How to Control: Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. For larger, sturdy plants, wash leaves off with a strong spray of water to dislodge the pests. Insecticidal soap and neem oil may be the best option for heavy infestations.

Scales are soft-bodied pests that suck up plant sap. Whenever you notice the leaves turning yellow, or stems dying, check for scale infestation.

How to Control: Use an insecticidal soap or neem oil to destroy