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Connecticut Garden Journal
Connecticut Garden Journal is a weekly program hosted by horticulturalist Charlie Nardozzi. Each week, Charlie focuses on a topic relevant to both new and experienced gardeners, including pruning lilac bushes, growing blight-free tomatoes, groundcovers, sunflowers, bulbs, pests, and more.

Connecticut Garden Journal: House Plant Pests

John Tann
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Creative Commons
Male Dark-winged Fungus Gnat, a species of Sciaridae.
The top three house plant insects are mealybugs, scale, and fungus gnats.

Credit Neil Palmer (CIAT) / Flickr
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Flickr
A mealybug infestation on a cassava leaf.

One morning at breakfast, I found myself swatting flies. What, flies in winter? Then I saw they were coming from my amaryllis plant on the table. I love house plants, but so do the pests.

House plants are perfect for insects. They live in a controlled environment with food, but without predators or harsh weather. So here are the top three house plant insects and what to do about them.

Mealybugsand scaleare two insects found on woody indoor plants such as hibiscus, ficus and Dracena. These small pests attach themselves to plant stems and leaves. You hardly notice the damage with a small infestation. What you probably will notice is the sticky honeydew they excrete as they feed. It drops on tables and floors making a mess. The hard shelled scales are usually brown or black colored.

If you have a few scale insects, simply flick them off with your fingernail. For larger infestations, spray horticultural oil.

Mealybugs have white, cottony growth and can be killed with sprays of insecticidal soap. For just a few mealybugs, dab them with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol and watch them shrivel right up.

Credit Vijay Cavale / Wikipedia
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Wikipedia
Scale insects found on a lemon tree.

Fungus gnats are those black flies I saw on my amaryllis. They live in the potting soil and, although a nuisance, aren’t harmful to your plants.

Repot plants with fresh potting soil or drench the soil with gnatrol. It kills the larvae in the soil and is safe for pets and children.

Next week on the Connecticut Garden Journal, I’ll be talking about onions.

For garden inspiration this weekend, head to the Connecticut Flower and Garden Showin Hartford. It's filled with the scents and sights of spring. Until then I’ll be seeing you in the garden.

Charlie Nardozzi is a regional Emmy® Award winning garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert information to home gardeners.

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