Cleaning
Hello!! As I've been getting more and more plants, I'm starting to worry more about pests. I don't currently have an area to quarantine plants. However, I do make sure to throughly check the leaves & I normally repot new plants into one of my own soil mixes (because of pests, but also so I know what they're potted in). What do you guys use to clean the leaves of your plants? TIA :)
#plantaddict #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantcorner #newplantmom #pestcontrol #plantlove
#plantaddict #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantcorner #newplantmom #pestcontrol #plantlove
10
Best Answer
Ok, I'm gonna give you my "pre-recorded answer" and then follow up.
Some good tips I've learned and incorporated from Greg.
Setup a quarantine area for new plants. If you're limited on space, this can be a cart/shelf to keep new plants separate from your other plants for about a month. In case the new plant has pests, this will help contain it so the pests hopefully won't wander to your other plants.
New plants:
BEFORE they even make it to my quarantine area,
💁🏿♀️🪴:
1. Wash leaves off (will generally submerge leaves to drown any pests). I use Castile Peppermint soap as peppermint is a natural deterrent to pests.
2. Inspect thoroughly and wipe down leaves with rubbing alcohol (no more than 70%)
3. Spray down with Natria/Organic Houseplants Insect Killer
I keep my plants in quarantine for AT LEAST a month, but generally longer.
I regularly spray down all plants with Natria.
Every few weeks or so during waterings, I like to inspect plants closely. I'm a helicopter plant mom so this involves a magnifying glass to check anything moving.
Links:
Organic Houseplant Insect Killer
https://a.co/d/g1nJ74z
Natria:
https://a.co/d/3WzSGd7
Systemic Granules:
https://a.co/d/40zIr1t
Some good tips I've learned and incorporated from Greg.
Setup a quarantine area for new plants. If you're limited on space, this can be a cart/shelf to keep new plants separate from your other plants for about a month. In case the new plant has pests, this will help contain it so the pests hopefully won't wander to your other plants.
New plants:
BEFORE they even make it to my quarantine area,
💁🏿♀️🪴:
1. Wash leaves off (will generally submerge leaves to drown any pests). I use Castile Peppermint soap as peppermint is a natural deterrent to pests.
2. Inspect thoroughly and wipe down leaves with rubbing alcohol (no more than 70%)
3. Spray down with Natria/Organic Houseplants Insect Killer
I keep my plants in quarantine for AT LEAST a month, but generally longer.
I regularly spray down all plants with Natria.
Every few weeks or so during waterings, I like to inspect plants closely. I'm a helicopter plant mom so this involves a magnifying glass to check anything moving.
Links:
Organic Houseplant Insect Killer
https://a.co/d/g1nJ74z
Natria:
https://a.co/d/3WzSGd7
Systemic Granules:
https://a.co/d/40zIr1t
Hi there! I tend to use Neem oil diluted in water with a couple drops of dish soap or Castile soap. I buy the Captain jack’s Neem oil and follow the instructions to make a spray. The already prepared spray they have is convenient, but expensive. If you decide to use this just remember to do it after dark when the plant won’t be exposed to light. (The sunlight plus Neem oil can cause sunburned leaves.) I use my bathroom for quarantine when needed. Lol. And I’m pretty sure pests are kind of inevitable at some point for all of us plant addicts. Sounds like you’re doing great in trying to prevent them! Hope it stays this way for you! 😊🌱💚
To clean new plants, I use castile soap, but occasional cleaning, I'll wipe down with tap water and then my wintergreen alcohol so I can closely inspect the leaves.
As for pests, if you have plants, you'll get them sometime. But being proactive with new plants and spraying all plants every now and then will help.
No space for quarantine? Use a rolling cart, or even better a collapsible one. Or, use the end if a kitchen counter to put the new plants on.
As for pests, if you have plants, you'll get them sometime. But being proactive with new plants and spraying all plants every now and then will help.
No space for quarantine? Use a rolling cart, or even better a collapsible one. Or, use the end if a kitchen counter to put the new plants on.
@SunnyPlants Thank you ! I use neem oil on my outside plants, I just haven't used it inside because of the smell. I wonder if it won't smell as strong if I don't use much neem oil 🤔 (kinda went crazy with the neem oil in the last spray bottle because that was in the middle of summer when I couldn't control the aphids 😅 .. It worked though!) Appreciate the advice once again ! 😁
@AwesomePlants Thank you!! When you mean submerge the leaves, do you put the leaves in a bowl of water & let it sit there for a while? The castile soap is a really good idea, I'll have to see if I can find some. I'm also a bit of a helicopter plant mom and I throughly inspect each individual plant about every few days. Thank you again!! I really appreciate the advice 😁
I’m really lazy with quarantining new plants but it’s always a good idea and even if it’s a few feet away, it’s better than the leaves touching your other plants.
I usually spray mine off in the shower most of the time, but I will use a soap base and water sometimes to wipe down leaves if its been a while.
If I find pests I usually treat everything in the area rather than looking at every single plant, my plants are quite closely packed in some spots so I just like to treat everything.
If it’s thrips I go in with provanto, I don’t mess around there. Mealies I’ll make a rubbing alcohol and soap spray, spider mites (I haven’t had those until recently but I’m using smc). Mosquito bits for fungus gnats. Sulphur spray for flat mites (I can’t find much about whether smc works for them). I tend to use pet safe things unless it’s thrips and then I’ll move the plants away from the cats so they cant brush up against them or anything like that.
Also I’ve had no luck with neem oil besides it frying a few of my plants. I don’t really bother with it.
Try not to worry too much about pests, unless you ignore an infestation for months they’re not really a major problem. Checking over your plants when you’re watering them and making sure they’re sprayed down every so often is a really good habit to get into so if you do have an issue you spot it early. Also some plants are more prone to things than others. I had mealies completely bypass a bunch of other plants to just go for a hoya once 😅
I usually spray mine off in the shower most of the time, but I will use a soap base and water sometimes to wipe down leaves if its been a while.
If I find pests I usually treat everything in the area rather than looking at every single plant, my plants are quite closely packed in some spots so I just like to treat everything.
If it’s thrips I go in with provanto, I don’t mess around there. Mealies I’ll make a rubbing alcohol and soap spray, spider mites (I haven’t had those until recently but I’m using smc). Mosquito bits for fungus gnats. Sulphur spray for flat mites (I can’t find much about whether smc works for them). I tend to use pet safe things unless it’s thrips and then I’ll move the plants away from the cats so they cant brush up against them or anything like that.
Also I’ve had no luck with neem oil besides it frying a few of my plants. I don’t really bother with it.
Try not to worry too much about pests, unless you ignore an infestation for months they’re not really a major problem. Checking over your plants when you’re watering them and making sure they’re sprayed down every so often is a really good habit to get into so if you do have an issue you spot it early. Also some plants are more prone to things than others. I had mealies completely bypass a bunch of other plants to just go for a hoya once 😅