Bug problems on indoor plants?
Question:I have very small bugs (tiny ant-like but not ants) on my indoor plants. Leaves have small black spots on them - the bugs I see are crawling on the stems. I have sprayed them with plant bug spray but they are still there.
Help - any suggestions
Answers:
I have experieced bugs like these on my plants as well. They tend to grow in moist soil. It is important to know exactly what they are. It seems that you may have a couple different bugs. The ant-like bugs may begin to fly, called silverflies, i think. If the black spots are mostly on the lower leaves then they are most likely spidermites. I have bought a cheap bottle of insestiside (Bondie), which is absorbed in the plants roots, it worked. In the mean time clean the leaves off and keep them away from other plants.
take them into the garage...put them in plactic bags (trash bags that will hold them all.) spray the plants with insecticide and close the bag.leave it for a coupld of days and make sure you get the plants out and look before you take them back in the house...
(if the bugs are in the soil, you might have to repot all the plants...making sure the plants are clean, yes you can wash them (gently) and the pots are sterile...yes you can bleach them, but make sure they're really, really rinsed well.)
My wife takes a mixture of water and a squirt or two of liquid handsoap and puts them in a spray bottle and sprays the soapy water on the leaves. This makes a surface that the little buggies can't enjoy. Of course it would be like a slip and slide to us, but what do bugs know about enjoyment.
As a last resort use ladybugs. Make sure they are not the Japanese ladybugs because they will infest your house. All others prefer outside so they will not infest. Give them a few days to eat whatever is on your plants then gently remove them and release them outside.
I agree with Charlie
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