What Is On My Plant?

All our love and care for our plants allow them to grow in such conducive environments that they may start to attract pests. Sometimes we don’t even know what is growing on our plants, let alone how we can get rid of them! So here are 3 common pests you might see on your house plants, how to identify them and pesticides to prevent future growth.

1. Mealybugs

Identifying them:

Photo by Severin Candrian on Unsplash

They appear as white furry insects on the plant’s stem and leaves. After removing the visible bugs, check the surrounding leaves and the bottom of the leaves for more mealy bugs or eggs. They spread easily and it is important to get rid of all of them to prevent an infestation. 

Pesticides to prevent future growth:

After removal of the bugs, you can use Neem Oil to prevent future growth of Mealybugs as it disrupts the lifecycle of these bugs. Neem oil is very versatile and can also be used to stop plant diseases while being non-toxic to beneficial insects.

2. Spider Mites 

Identifying them:

Spider Mites thrive in dry environments and appear as small red or white spots on the underside of leaves and might even form webs. Similar to the mealybugs, spider mites might infect other plants, so make sure to isolate the infected plant. 

Pesticides to prevent future growth:

When you spot some spider mites appearing on your plant, apply Starxmite Insecticide / Miticide to control its spread. It should be used every 2 to 3 weeks and is effective in controlling spider mite infestations. 

3. Slugs

Identifying them:

If you start to notice chewed leaves or flowers in your plant, you might have slugs or moths that have been feeding on them. Snails are likely to destroy the vegetable or flowering plants and may be a bigger problem given the constant rain these days as they thrive in wet conditions. Their eggs are usually found buried in the soil. 

Pesticides to prevent future growth:

STARX SNIPER Snail & Slug Slayer

Apply the STARX SNIPER Snail & Slug Slayer on your plants weekly, especially after rain as a preventative measure. This pesticide would destroy the slugs’ mucus cells irreversibly and poison the slugs.

Growing succulents?

Succulents are supposed to be easy-to-grow plants that require minimal attention. They do not require constant water supply and they are able to survive indoors and help brighten up your house. However, even succulents are victims of pests.

STARXLE G insecticide

STARXLE G is a systemic insecticide which is great to help kill insects in the soil, with little toxicity to the environment. It is placed in the soil and absorbed by the plant.