We’ve all been there. One minute, you’re excited to bring a new houseplant home to join the family; the next, you’re swatting tiny flies. Pests in your houseplants can be a source of anxiety for many, but the good news is, they’re manageable. In fact, many pests are normal in healthy plants.

But just because our plants can tolerate them, doesn’t mean we should. Let’s dig into the most common plant pests, how to identify them, and how to treat and prevent infestations.

You’ve heard us say this before when speaking of root rot, and we’re here to say it again: pests aren’t the problem, they’re a symptom.

Identifying Common Houseplant Pests

There are three main categories of pests that show up in houseplants:

1. Aphids (including scale insects, whiteflies and mealy bugs)
   • What they look like: Aphids are tiny, pear-shaped insects in various colors that are very visible to the naked eye. You can typically find them on the underside of leaves or close to areas showing new growth.
   • Symptoms: Yellow, curling or twisted leaves, sticky, clear or sugary residue, black, powdery mold or stunted growth.
     
     
2. Fungus gnats
   • What they look like: Fungus gnats resemble fruit flies or mosquitos and are often seen hovering around damp soil. You may also find small, white worm-like larvae with distinct black heads in the soil.
   • Symptoms: Yellow or wilted leaves and low growth.
     
     
3. Thrips
   • What they look like: Thrips are the hardest to detect because they are nearly invisible. To confirm whether you have Thrips, tap the leaves of your plant vigorously over a white sheet of paper. Dust-like particles = thrips.
   • Symptoms: Leaves curling inward or looking streaked and deformed.

Treating Pests

Once you’ve identified the pests that are infesting your plants, here’s how to treat them:

• Aphids: Spray a solution of dilute dish soap on the pests or on the leaves. If you have scale insects, rub each insect with a Q-tip that has been dipped in rubbing alcohol. It’s tedious, but we promise, it’s effective.
  
  
• Fungus gnats: Mix granules of BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), a naturally occurring, non-toxic bacteria, with water and spray it all over the plant. You can also water the soil of a plant with the BTI mixture.
  • Pro tip: BTI will kill your fungus gnats, but they will likely show up again pretty quickly. To prevent them from coming back, add a layer of sawdust over the soil so they can’t penetrate it and reenter the soil.
    
    
• Thrips: Prune off any heavily-damaged branches or leaves. Spray the plant with a prediluted Neem oil spray. Continue to spray weekly for a few weeks to ensure you're getting newly-hatched thrips.

Prevention: Building Your Plant’s Immunity

The methods above should work pretty quickly if not immediately in getting rid of pests, but getting your plants to a state where pests don’t come back is a longer process. Here’s what you need to know:

Every plant has a Brix score, which measures the amount of dissolved solids (e.g., sugars and silicates) in a plant’s fluids. Plants that have a lower brix score are more prone to diseases and pests than those with a higher Brix score. There are a few things you can do to prevent pest infestations, which will subsequently increase your plant’s Brix score.

1. Supplement your plants with silica. Silica helps to reinforce a plant’s cell walls, making it harder for insects and fungal pathogens to penetrate
   
   
2. Amend your soil with Humic Acid. Humic Acid improves plant health by helping to retain water, bind critical nutrients and enhance photosynthesis and sugar production, leading to higher Brix levels. Humic Acid is a critical component of what makes Mother Soil so effective among plants!
   
   
3. Boost your plant’s nutrition carefully. Overfertilizing your plants (particularly with nitrogen) causes obesity, which makes plants more prone to pests. Stick to a balanced feeding schedule.
   
   
4. Stick to the basics. At a fundamental level, stress-free plants attract fewer pests. That’s why the best defense is understanding and meeting your plant’s water and light needs.

Myth-Busting Your Pest Knowledge

Okay, so now that we know how to address pests, let’s bust some longstanding myths.

• Myth #1: The pest is the problem.
  • Remember, pests are just the messenger. Fix your plant’s environment to fix the issue.
    
    
• Myth #2: No pests are acceptable.
  • A few aphids won’t hurt your plant. Don’t panic over every speck you see.
    
    
• Myth #3: Chemicals are the answer.
  • Harsh chemicals may kill pests, but they also kill beneficial microbes in your plant’s soil. The result? More pests in your future.
    
    
• Myth #4: Plants get more pests outdoors.
  • Actually, outdoor ecosystems are much more balanced, which helps to keep pests in check. Sometimes, a few days outside can be a good reset for your struggling plant.

Pests may be inevitable, but they don’t have to be a disaster. With quick identification, targeted treatments, and holistic prevention, you can keep infestations under control and strengthen your plants against future attacks.

Remember, healthy plants aren’t just beautiful — they’re resilient.