Indoor Plant Care and Eco-Friendly Pest Control for Happy, Healthy Houseplants
Don’t you just love the feeling of a home filled with thriving houseplants? What you probably don’t love are the pests that occasionally come with them.
This blog will teach you how to care for your plants and manage common pests that thrive indoors. You’ll also learn tips for how to properly water your houseplants to keep them in optimum health.
It might feel overwhelming at first, but growing lush plants at home and keeping pests at bay can be done with an eco-friendly approach.
A Stress-Free Approach to Indoor Plant Care
The important part about choosing indoor plants is putting the right plant in the right place so it can grow to perfection without stress.
For houseplants to thrive, you have to be proactive and align the environment with their needs so you don’t react later on to problems.
Here’s what to consider when selecting a plant for any area of your home:
Light exposure
Room temperature
Space and location
Pets and children
Size of plant
Your time and attention level
The right place for a houseplant – AKA indoor tropicals – is indoors. Though these plants thrive indoors, modern technology like A/C and heat dries out our rooms. This is an invitation for pests like spider mites, scale incest, fungus gnats, and fungal diseases to flourish.
If your first reaction is to grab a pesticide, let me show you a different way! There are plenty of non-toxic solutions to try first that are just as effective.
Common Houseplant Care Mistakes
Imagine you just spent top dollar on a gorgeous houseplant. It’s the perfect addition to that special spot in your home. Everything’s going great and it’s getting the care it needs. Then one day you notice that something doesn’t look quite right…
Is it a pest? What’s going on? What did I do? What do I do now?
This is a common scenario that leads many people to opt for the quick and easy fix: a pesticide. The trouble with that? That doesn’t address the root problem that brought the pests to the surface in the first place.
If you notice something off about your plants, it might be because you are:
Watering too frequently and not letting the soil dry out
Keeping plants in too warm and/or dry of an environment
Not repotting, pruning, trimming, or dividing plants when needed
Overfeeding with high nitrogen, synthetic fertilizers
Introducing new plants already infected with pests
Only using pesticides to manage pests and not changing the environment
Now, let’s talk about my top tips for houseplant care so you can start to make different decisions for the benefit of your plants.
8 Watering Tips to Keep Your Indoor Plants Happy
If you want your indoor plants to thrive, you need to understand their unique needs and create an environment to support them. A big part of this is proper watering practices.
1. Water only when needed
How frequently you water your plants depends on factors like the type of pot it’s in, where it’s located in your home, and the environmental conditions. I find that plants in clay pots dry out faster than those in plastic pots and a plant near an A/C unit or heater often requires more frequent watering. Be sure to check that the soil is dry to avoid over-watering – a moisture meter is a helpful tool for knowing when the soil has dried out.
2. Don’t let plants sit in water
I see this most often with plants that are in decorative containers. While they are beautiful, these pots often lack necessary drainage holes and cause root rot (a common issue for indoor plants). Make sure all your pots have proper drainage or commit to manually draining any excess after watering.
3. Wipe or rinse dust off leaves
Over time, dust build-up can be detrimental to your plant. Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or hose them off in the shower or sink. Remember that indoor plants are sensitive. Don’t blast them with cold water or you’ll shock them.
4. Increase humidity
The air in your home can get extremely dry, especially when the heater or A/C is running frequently. I recommend that you increase humidity during the dry times of the year. You can do this with a humidifier, by using a humidity tray to set the pot on, or misting the plant daily with water from a spray bottle.
5. Keep room temperature comfortable
To provide the best care for your indoor plants, keep your house at a comfortable temperature. If the room is too cold then the soil may stay wet longer, which can lead to root rot and other issues for your plant.
6. Feed with organic fertilizer
Fertilizers provide your plants with the essential nutrients they need to grow. Opt for an organic option to support your plants without the need to water excessively. There are many organic fertilizers for houseplants, such as Espoma Indoor!, Dr. Earth Pump & Grow Indoor Plant Food, or Down to Earth Houseplant fertilizer. Osmocote, though not organic, is also a great slow-release fertilizer that’s ideal for indoor houseplant care.
7. Use caution if placing outside
I see this a lot. It’s tempting to want to give your houseplants some time in the sun. Don’t! This will stress them out and cause a myriad of problems you don’t want, like pests. If you have to put your plants outside, keep them in the shade and make sure the weather is warm enough for them.
Even if they thrive in full sun, they’re not acclimated to direct sunlight and will get sunburnt. Plus, if you have to wear a sweatshirt or a jacket outside because the temperatures are that cool then the houseplant won’t like it. They can’t put a coat on, so use caution.
8. Monitor for pests
Pests can become an issue quickly, so you need to monitor them regularly. If you notice any pests (or signs of them), take inspired action the minute you see them to prevent an infestation.
Pest Management Strategies for Indoor Plants
Pests on indoor plants are common and can show up seemingly out of nowhere. They blow or fly into your house, hitch a ride on a new houseplant, or arrive when the environment inside is perfect for them to thrive.
This is not your fault! Pests are a part of nature, even if you don’t like seeing them on your plants.
The solution isn’t to soak your plants with a lethal combination of rubbing alcohol, neem, and hydrogen peroxide. It’s to remove the pest (e.g. hose it off) and get to the root of the problem (e.g. don’t water it as much).
Rather than immediately jump to the big guns that offer a quick fix, seek solutions that benefit your plants long-term.
The gallery below features a few common pests and my top eco-friendly strategies for you to manage them:
Ways We Can Grow Together
Stressed houseplants don’t need a pesticide. What they need is for you to take a breath and address the root of the problem instead of opting for a band-aid solution.
When problems arise, it’s up to you to adjust your plants’ environment so they can thrive.
Want to learn more about organic gardening and proper plant care? Check out these related blogs: