Pest FAQs

Pests are more harmful to plants than not

They feed off of them causing them to have scars, turn yellow/ discolored, and have tiny bite marks. Some pests are more of a nuisance, but overall we don’t want them. The first step when identifying pests is to completely quarantine the plant. This prevents the other plants from getting attacked. Our plants are critically inspected to ensure there are no harmful pests hanging around.

Aphids 

Aphids are tiny bugs, that feed off of the sap or sugars in plants. They also attract ants because they give off a sap to them.

Removing them is not too difficult as you need to wipe them with a towel and some insecticidal soap or some rubbing alcohol water mix (1 part alcohol and 3 parts water). Spray the plant with the rubbing alcohol water mix to make sure all the aphids die back. Do this in a shaded area as the alcohol is a very drying liquid.

Another method is adding pesticides, such as neem oil. Neem oil is a natural plant-derived spray. Follow the dosage instructions and the aphids should be gone.

Frequently check up on the plant to make sure they are gone.

Mealy bugs

Mealy bugs are soft small white bugs, that create a webby and powdery look to the plant. These bugs also eat the sap from the plant.

To remove the bugs, you need to wipe them with a towel and some insecticidal soap or some rubbing alcohol water mix (1 part alcohol and 3 parts water). Spray the plant with the rubbing alcohol water mix to make sure all the mealy bugs die back. Do this in a shaded area as the alcohol is a very drying liquid.

Another method is adding pesticides, such as neem oil. Neem oil is a natural plant-derived spray. Follow the dosage instructions and the mealy bugs should be gone.

Frequently check up on the plant to make sure they are gone. 

Spider mites

            Most spider mites are orange-red, but they can be brown and also yellow. These are really tiny dots along the plant. They eat the chlorophyll of the plant, which is basically what makes the plant green and make food. So getting rid of these ASAP is critical.

To remove the bugs, you need to wipe them with a towel and some insecticidal soap or some rubbing alcohol water mix (1 part alcohol and 3 parts water). Spray the plant with the rubbing alcohol water mix to make sure all the spider mites die back. Do this in a shaded area as the alcohol is a very drying liquid.

Another method is adding pesticides, such as neem oil. Neem oil is a natural plant-derived spray. Follow the dosage instructions and the spider mites should be gone.

Frequently check up on the plant to make sure they are gone.

Thrips

Thrips are tiny slim black or white bugs with wings. They eat the outer tissue of the plant, making the leaves look discolored, speckled, and scarred. They are mostly a cosmetic nuisance, but removing them is a must because they multiple quickly and can sometimes bite people and animals.

Remove them by wiping them with a towel and some insecticidal soap or rubbing alcohol water mix (1 part alcohol and 3 parts water). Spray the plant with the rubbing alcohol water mix to make sure all the thrips die back. Do this in a shaded area as the alcohol is a very drying liquid.

Another method is adding pesticides, such as neem oil. Neem oil is a natural plant-derived spray. Follow the dosage instructions and the thrips should be gone.

Frequently check up on the plant to make sure they are gone.

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats usually don’t harm the plant, unless its infested with so many of them. It’s mostly a nuisance, and they can multiply pretty fast. They don’t really eat the plant, but can be found living in the soil.

To get rid of them add hydrogen peroxide and water (1 to 1 ratio) to the soil and drown them, do this when it’s time to water your plants. Adding sticky yellow traps also helps, the bright yellow color attracts them out of the soil. Try not to over water your plant as this attracts them as well.

Another method is adding pesticides, such as neem oil. Neem oil is a natural plant-derived spray. Follow the dosage instructions and the fungus gnats should be gone.

Frequently check up on the plant to make sure they are gone

Scale

Scale bugs are small brown “bumps” found along the plant, they are mostly hiding under leaves and along the stem. These heavily feed off the sap of the plant, so getting rid of them ASAP is a must.

Remove them by wiping them with a towel and some insecticidal soap or some rubbing alcohol water mix (1 part alcohol and 3 parts water). Spray the plant with the rubbing alcohol water mix to make sure all the scale die back. Do this in a shaded area as the alcohol is a very drying liquid.

Another method is adding pesticides, such as neem oil. Neem oil is a natural plant-derived spray. Follow the dosage instructions and the scale should be gone.

Frequently check up on the plant to make sure they are gone.