PHONE: (701) 258-1742​​

How to Protect Your Houseplants from Pests

Plant Perfect Garden Center woman looking at underside of houseplant leaf

Houseplant pests are a pain in the butt, and they seem to show up even more often in the winter. That’s because our plants are growing slower, are getting less light, and are a little weaker than they are in the middle of summer.

The best way to protect your plants is to keep them as healthy as possible. Here are 9 tips to help you prevent pests on indoor plants.

houseplants being watered by silver watering can

1) Don’t overwater your houseplants. Soil that stays moist for a long time is the perfect breeding ground for fungus gnats. These annoying tiny flies, often confused with fruit flies, won’t actually harm your plants. However, they are very distracting and not very pleasant to look at. Leave your plants until the soil is dry on top before you water again, as their eggs and larvae can’t survive in dry soil. You can also employ yellow sticky traps to help catch as many adults as possible.

2) Regularly inspect indoor plants for signs of pests. Since houseplants are extra susceptible to pests in winter, it’s even more important to be vigilant. You may not need to water all your plants once a week in winter, but it’s still a good idea to have a close look at your plants. In particular, check the undersides of leaves and joints where limbs meet the main stem. Look for tiny specks on the leaves (many pests), fuzzy white bumps (mealybugs), spider webs (spider mites), or clusters of tiny hard bumps (scale). If you find evidence of pests, you should quarantine the affected plants immediately and treat the infestation quickly. Look for leaves that are yellowing or have spots, look for mold or fungus growing on the soil, and watch for wilting.

woman placing snake plant on dresser

3) Quarantine any new plants you bring home to prevent any new pests from spreading. Ok, we know you can’t resist bringing home a new houseplant baby from the garden center every now and then. We’re the same way! Just make sure you’re careful when you introduce new plants. Quarantine them, preferably in a room with no other plants, for at least two weeks. Check them every couple of days for signs of pests.

4) Ensure your indoor plants have good air circulation. Stale air that’s not moving creates an ideal environment for many pests. It’s not a bad idea to keep a fan running in rooms with lots of plants to keep the air circulating well to help prevent mold and pests.

5) Wash your plants occasionally. Giving your plants a shower of tepid water, whether in the sink or actually in the shower, does two things: it helps get the dust off the leaves, and a good spray down of all the leaves, tops and bottoms, the stems, and the pot, can help keep pests down.

planting aloe plant in white pot

6) Wash and bleach pots before putting new plants in them. Don’t move plants into dirty pots when you’re repotting. Get in the habit of either washing and bleaching pots when you take a plant out of them or make sure it’s done before you start repotting your plant.

7) Raise the humidity, but not too much. Most houseplants need a humidity level of 40-60%. In the winter, the air in your home may get really dry. If it does, consider adding a humidifier near your houseplants.

8) Clean up any fallen leaves and remove any organic matter laying on top of the soil. Damp leaves laying on the soil are an ideal breeding environment for pests.

9) The most important tip is to keep your plants healthy, because healthy and strong plants are less likely to be infested by pests. Check that your plants are:

  • Getting enough light
  • Getting fertilizer during their growing season
  • In an appropriate size pot
  • Planted in high quality, well-draining potting soil
  • Only watered when necessary

As a houseplant owner, it’s almost inevitable that you will have to deal with a pest infestation at some point. But, if you do your best to make sure your plants are happy and healthy, you should be able to prevent pests on indoor plants.