Bugs are not just limited to outdoors. They also enjoy coming indoors and finding their way to tropical houseplants.

Over the winter months there seems to be an increase of infestations. It is important to keep plants healthy and strong as healthy plants are better equipped than weaker plants to handle infestations. Every time plants are watered take a good look at them for any problems. It is much easier to be proactive rather than reactive. The following are a few of the bugs that people should watch for on their indoor plants.

Mealybugs are a sucking, soft bodied slow moving scale, that look like little pieces of fluff on the plant. The white fluff is a protective coating to keep them safe from chemicals and predators. They can be found on their own or in a group that are often found on the undersides of leaves, stems and stem axils. As they suck the nutrients out of the plant they secrete a sticky substance. When a plant becomes infected the foliage turns yellow. To help eliminate the problem use a cotton swab, dipped in rubbing alcohol and dab each mealy bug with it. The mealy bug is killed instantly. Watch carefully for any further indication of mealy bug and continue to dab them with the rubbing alcohol.

Scales are similar to mealybugs but have a hard shell. The young insects move around and then attach themselves to the stem or leave and then they loose their legs, and form a protective hard shell that chemicals can not penetrate. They are a sucking insect that will slowly cause the plants foliage to yellow, and eventually die. To control scales, catch them early and scrape them off the plant, or dab them with a cotton swabbed soaked in rubbing alcohol. If the infestation becomes too serious it may be easier to throw the plant out.

Aphids are small green, black or clear soft bodied insects, that form groups on young tender new growth, along stems and the undersides of leaves. They propagate quickly and spread easily, so it is important to stop them when they are first spotted. As they suck the sap from the plant their bodies cannot digest the sugar which is then excreted from them in a clear sticky form. If they are caught early the plant can be sprayed with a good shot of warm water and then treated with an application of insecticidal soap. Do this several times every few days to catch any that may have been missed, or newly hatched. Infected plants will have the leaves and or flowers shrivel and fall off.

Spider mites thrive in our dry winter climate as they enjoy warm dry temperatures commonly found in many local homes. Raising the humidity or daily misting of plants can help alleviate this problem. Spider mites are hard to see with the naked eye and sometimes by the time they are spotted it is too late. Look for leaves that loose its lustre and colour. Get a sheet of white paper and gently shake an affected leaf over the paper to see if any very small spiders are seen. When the infestation becomes severe tiny webs can be seen around the leaf/stem joints. To help treat the problem wash the plant with soapy water and spray with insecticidal soap. Do this on a weekly basis, for a few weeks.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage  owns and operates  two Art Knapp home and garden centres in Prince George:

• Highway 16 west at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road