If you have recently started or expanded a houseplant collection, congratulations! You’ve improved your indoor air quality and have added life and vibrancy to your home. At the same time however, your indoor garden may be attracting bugs that can harm your precious plants and annoy you.
Unfortunately, not everyone notices an infestation right away. The average household, for example, won’t recognize a fly problem until they’re five flies deep, but even one fly can lead to a larger problem. Follow these three tips to protect your houseplants — and household — from bugs:
- Water plants carefully: Standing water creates a breeding ground for flying insects such as fungus gnats, which are very small and usually appear in swarms. Because these insects grow in moist soil and their larvae feed on plant roots, you can manage such infestations by reducing the amount of water you give your plants and by improving soil drainage.
- Take action fast: Did you know that in just one week, flying insects can lay eggs that hatch and mature into more adults ready to breed? For this reason, it’s important to be vigilant and take action at the first sign of a bug problem.
- Don’t let your guard down: Defend against fruit flies, gnats and flies 24/7.
Taking proper care of plants goes beyond watering them and giving them the right amount of sunlight. It also means safeguarding them from pests. The good news is that by making just a few tweaks, you can offer plants round-the-clock protection from insects.
