Best 6 Tips On Getting Rid of Plant Pests- And It’s Easier Than You Thought
It’s the time of year when we all start to worry about those pesky plant pests. No one wants their plants to be eaten away or infected by some kind of bug, and it can be difficult to get rid of them once they take hold.
But don’t worry – getting rid of plant pests is easier than you thought, and you probably have most of the supplies you need right in your home. Here are six tips on how to get rid of plant pests for good!
Sapping Insects
If you’re dealing with pests that suck the sap out of plants, like aphids and mealybugs, try hosing them off with a strong stream of water. You can also make a homemade insecticidal soap by mixing 1 teaspoon of dish soap with 1 quart of water. Spray the solution on the pests, being careful not to get any on the leaves or stems of the plant.
On the other hand, there are other insects, like flies, beetles, and moths, that will lay their eggs on the leaves of your plants. If you see any pests of this sort, pick them off by hand and dispose of them. You can also try using a sticky trap to catch them. To get rid of flies, you can also try using a flypaper strip, but it depends if you’re indoors or outdoors. For outdoors, you can also try using a yellow light bulb, because flies are attracted to the light and will fly toward it.
Predatory Insects
There are some insects that you want around because they eat other pests! These are called “predatory insects,” and they can be very effective in getting rid of destructive plant pests. Some examples of predatory insects include ladybugs, green lacewings, and parasitic wasps. You can purchase these insects online or at your local nursery.
However, before you introduce any new insects into your garden, it’s important to do some research to make sure they won’t end up being pests themselves! For instance, ladybugs are great at getting rid of aphids, but if there’s nothing else for them to eat, they may start nibbling on your plants. So be sure to only introduce predators that will have a food source other than your beloved plants.
There are also some fungi and bacteria that can help get rid of plant pests. For example, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is used as an insecticide to control caterpillars, beetles, and flies. And Trichoderma species are fungi that parasitize plant pathogens like Pythium and Phytophthora.
Fungi
On the other hand, some plant pests are fungi, like powdery mildew and black spot. These fungi can be difficult to get rid of, but there are some things you can do to fight back.
First, try to improve the air circulation around your plants. Fungi love damp, humid conditions, so by increasing airflow, you can make your garden less welcoming to them. Second, try using a fungicide. You can either purchase one from your local garden nursery or garden center, or you can make your own with 1 part milk to 9 parts water. Spray the solution on the affected leaves, and be sure to reapply every few days until the problem is gone.
Additionally, you can try using a preventative measure, like horticultural oil, which will create a barrier on the leaves of your plants and prevent fungi from taking hold.
Physical Barriers
Sometimes, the best way to get rid of plant pests is to physically prevent them from getting to your plants in the first place. You can do this by covering your plants with a physical barrier, like a piece of fabric or netting. This will prevent insects from being able to land on the leaves and lay their eggs.
You can also try using traps to catch pests before they have a chance to do any damage. For example, you can use yellow sticky traps to catch flying insects like whiteflies and fungus gnats. Or you can place a piece of cardboard or wood on the ground near your plants. Insects will crawl underneath it to get to the other side, and then you can simply remove the trap and dispose of the pests.
Chemical Controls
If you’ve tried all of the above methods and you’re still having problems with plant pests, you may need to resort to chemical controls. This means using insecticides and herbicides to kill the pests.
Before using any chemicals, it’s important to read the label carefully and follow the directions explicitly. You don’t want to end up harming your plants or yourself!
There are a few different types of insecticides you can use, like contact insecticides, which kill the pests on contact. But be careful with these, because they can also kill beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs.
Another option is systemic insecticides, which are absorbed by the plant and then circulated throughout its tissues. This means that when the pests eat the plant, they’ll also ingest the poison and die, so this is especially helpful for pests who feed on the leaves of your plants and live in the stems.
Homemade Solutions
If you’re looking for a more natural way to get rid of plant pests, there are a few homemade solutions you can try.
One option is to mix 1 part dish soap with 4 parts water and spray it on the affected plants. The soap will kill the insects on contact. You can also add a few drops of neem oil to the mix, which will help to repel pests.
Another solution is to mix 1 cup of water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and a squirt of dish soap. Spray the mixture on the affected plants, and the baking soda will act as a fungicide and kill powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.
There are several ways to get rid of plant pests, both naturally and chemically. No matter which method you choose, it’s important to be patient and keep at it until the pests are gone.
Remember, prevention is always the best cure, but try using some of the suggested methods to keep your plants healthy and free from pests!
