When it comes to home decor, plants can provide some much-needed greenery to your environment. The presence of indoor plants has a range of benefits, from improving air quality to boosting your mood. However, these plants can also serve as an attractive food source to insects. Here are some common pest control issues that can plague your plants.

Top 3 Pest Control Problems for Houseplants

1. Mealybugs

Closely related to scale insects, mealybugs are relatively large pests that look like cotton wool. They kill the plants gradually by sucking out sap, eventually causing leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Mealybug infestations typically start at the base of the leaves. They can be killed by a spray mixture of one part rubbing alcohol and three parts water.

2. Spider Mites

Spider mites can spread quickly from one plant to another, requiring a fast response. These pests are closely related to normal spiders and are discovered by the thin webs that they weave across your plants. However, rather than catching other insects, these webs serve as a type of road that allows spider mite colonies to get from one part of the plant to the other. These mites eat liquids with the leaves, which will become mottled with brown dots. Spraying affected plants with Neem oil over a two-week period can help eliminate the infestation.

3. Whiteflies

Whiteflies will appear as a small white mist surrounding your houseplant. If you accidentally brush against the plant, this mist will expand like a dust cloud. While adult whiteflies will fly away after the plant is disturbed, eggs and nymphs can be killed by using a spray that mixes one teaspoon of dish soap in one quart of water. Diligent spraying will keep whiteflies from reproducing and eventually eliminate the infestation.

From termite treatment to spider control, you can count on Aardwolf Termite & Pest Control in Bessemer, AL. With over 49 years of combined experience, their licensed and certified exterminators provide quick and efficient work to remove your pests and keep them from coming back. To learn more about their pest control services, visit them online or call (205) 338-6615.