Welcome to Root Life Plants Nursery

Oh no, not a bug!!

 Look, the reality is insects love plants. They live, eat, and breed in plants. Although some insects are actually good for your plants, they can be a pain to deal with. Here we'll discuss which insects are the good guys and which ones are the bad guys. We'll also discuss how to get rid of pest and how to be proactive. 

First things first, knowing which insects are our friends and which ones are not. The insects we consider the good guys are mostly predatory bugs and pollinators. Predatory bugs/insects are considered good guys because they usually feed on plant eating insects. These insects include lady bugs, praying mantids, and lacewings. Pollinators are insects that transfer pollen between plants. These insects include bees, moths, and of course butterflies. 

Some of our not so friendly insects includes spider mites, mealy bugs, and one of the most annoying insects on Earth... fungus gnats! 

It's important to know the difference between friendly bugs and pests. Knowing how to get rid of pesky critters is vital to keeping healthy plants. Here we'll go over a few tips to being proactive as well as tips on how to get rid of unwanted pests. 

The best way to be proactive with indoor plants is by keeping your leaves clean. Gently wiping your leaves with a terry cloth towel once or twice a month helps to get rid of larva and/or eggs. 

If you find bugs on your plant the first thing you should do is isolate it away from your other plants. This will help reduce the chances of the infestation spreading. 

Next you should spray your plant(s) with your favorite natural pest control (Root Juice is definitely our favorite) be sure to remove any visible bugs. Depending on how bad the infestation is, you may also use a diluted insect control to water your plant. This should help kill any insects and/or larva living in the soil. Worst case scenario you may have to do some pruning and take your plant completely out of it's soil and into some fresh sterile soil. 

Always remember when cleaning/treating your plants to hold the leaf and/or steam with one hand and wipe with the other. This will help reduce the chances of tearing. A lot of house plants tend to have thin flimsy leaves so placing your hand behind the leaves as you wipe will give some stability to the leaf while it's being cleaned. 

There are some great solutions you can make with common found household supplies. One of my "go-to" solution for pest control is a tablespoon of mild soap and a gallon of water. after shaking well, spray solution on all the leaves and onto the soil. Rubbing alcohol mixed with water also helps with getting rid of pest. 

 If you're unsure about mixing a solution, our organic leaf shine/pest control spray "Root Juice" is available in our online shop as well as our mobile store! 

If you have trouble identifying an insect, feel free to email us a clear photo and we'll try our best to help identify and give tips on how to treat your plants. 

Having pest doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. Most times, infestations can be treated and there's no need to get rid of your plant. 

We have to remember that all plants are a part of nature as well as all insects. Learning ways to be proactive is the best bet in the fight against infestations. We're here to help so don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns!