Do you have a garden in your home? Then in all probability, you will also have pests. Pests are common to gardens as they thrive on soil and plants. You may have potted plants and decide to bring them into your living area to beautify it. Caution is the watchword when you plan on bringing in potted plants, as they are likely to contain pests and diseases. Pests which are likely to infest your indoor plants include the mites, slugs, snails, scale, mealy bugs and aphids.

Aphids are tiny little bugs that can suck the sap out of newly sprouted plants. When aphids attack, the foliage of the plant becomes deformed and loses colour. Ladybirds actually feed on aphids, but since the only ladybirds your are likely to have in your house are toys like the Wheely Bug Ladybird ride-on toy, there are better methods of aphid removal. Mites are also tiny insects and a magnifying glass is required to see them. They suck on the plant’s juices. The undersides of leaves are where they are located. The plants can be rid of mites by giving them a warm bath with water and you can leave enough space between your plants.

Slugs and snails are plant eaters and make your plant looking famished with no leaves. If you find silvery streaks on your pots and leaves then that slugs and snails have been there and require being got rid of at once. If you see specks of cotton fluffs on your plants, you can be sure they are mealy bugs. These pests suck the plants dry making the foliage sick. To remove these pests, use cotton swab dipped in alcohol and touch the bugs before you remove them. Scales look very much like dots and cause the plants to become deformed and sick.

Tags: gardening, growing, plants