Horticultural soaps work against insects by coating their exoskeletons and suffocating them. Its a scaled-down version of showering your plant and an excellent choice for specimens that cant be moved. Much appreciated! Cleaning up the application area with a citrus-based cleaner can help counteract the smell somewhat. Depending on how severe the problem was, three treatments should be plenty. Garlic aromatics are an effective insecticide when prepared properly. So, what causes insect infestations? It is critical to perform a test patch on your Monstera. If youve got more to learn, grab a copy of our book today and get your Monstera Deliciosa back on track. (Check out the prices on Amazon here). Get your copy now! This can be hard if you have plants all over the house (like I do), but it is certainly worth the effort since fighting off plant pests can take hours of time and plenty of attention. The precautions fall into two categories: preventing pests from getting into your home and providing hostile circumstances for them. They spin silken threads across their victims, enveloping them as they intake the sap within. All of the pests on this list can be found in a typical garden, particularly aphids, mealybugs, and scale. Theyre small flying bugs the size of a fruit fly. Although it can be discouraging to encounter a pest problem on your Monstera, rest assured that even the most experienced houseplant owner runs into issues with insects from time to time. Make sure to get the backside of the leaf, as thrips prefer to hide there. Recycling the soil or the pot may allow the infestation to spread to new victims. This is especially beneficial to Big Monstera because it allows you to clean the leaves thoroughly of dust, debris, and pests. Scale insects are unmistakable once you know what to look for, but they can be challenging to identify the first time. Keep an eye out for ants as well. What Are A Crotons Needs for Water and Humidity? It may be more difficult to see in densely fenestrated Monstera, such as Monstera adansonii, so take your time. The simplest way to avoid this is to never take your indoor plant outside. They resemble tiny black slivers and are frequently misidentified as stray potting mediums or lint. You will probably see fungus gnats crawling on the surface of your plants soil or flying away from the pot when you water. Infestations of whiteflies respond well to neem oil or horticultural soaps as well. Spider mites, in particular, prefer dry conditions, and other pests will benefit from a dehydrated plant as well. To prevent them, you can change the environment by increasing humidity and decreasing temperature in winter. By doing this, you can control precisely the ingredients you want to use (for example, avoiding unnecessary perfumes or additives). My names Arifur and I am an Agriculturist. I like to dust it at the base of leaves and petioles and sprinkle it on the surface of potting mediums after watering.

A mealybug attack is imminent if the stems and petioles of your Monstera sprout tiny patches of cottony fluff. However, in cooler areas, it may be worth the risk, and in some cases, it is unavoidable. First off, if you notice scale on one of your plants, be sure to isolate it to keep nearby plants from being infected as well. Here I will be sharing the best helpful resources to grow houseplants, flowers, and vegetables within your sweet home. Pests are kept at bay by separating the bugs from the Monstera. Fungus gnats can be avoided by allowing your potting medium to dry between waterings. Instead, stick to more natural treatments and be persistent. While whiteflies dont particularly enjoy eating Monstera, theyre worth protecting for the same reason that aphids are. Your Monstera is a diva of the tropics. Once released, they will make themselves at home in your collection and do the dirty work of hunting down and devouring the aphids. There are several species of spider mite, so you may see different colors depending on which type you have.

(Check out the prices on Amazon here). They suck sap and secrete honeydew like mealybugs, so keep an eye out for the ant march. But there are a couple of things you should know about it before deciding if this is the solution to your pest problems, though. It is critical to consider your growing space when treating your indoor Monstera. I also saw what looked like little spiders crawling on another leaf. These bugs arent picky, and theyll eat anything in their path. Despite their armor, scale bugs are extremely vulnerable and can be killed with minimal movement. Unfortunately, even perfect conditions are not enough to prevent some insects from finding their way onto your Monstera.

This powder is a non-toxic mineral that dehydrates both larvae and gnats. They are likely to die if they are disturbed in any way. Their preferred food is fungus, not plants, and they eat mostly whatever is growing in your potting medium alongside your Monstera. They form clusters on stems and petioles and can be mistaken for emerging aerial roots. Your plants leaves will be more vulnerable to attack if it is already sickly. However, if you have outbreaks on other plants in your collection, you will almost certainly get a marching front of invaders taking their chances. Clove, thyme, and cedarwood all work well. They all thrive in high humidity, regardless of variety. I would recommend a thorough soak in soapy water to get any bugs out of the soil, plus a treatment of horticultural soap on the leaves.

Our 130+ page eBook, How to Care for Your Monstera Deliciosa, will teach you what it takes to keep your Monstera happy. Scale bugs are a tricky foe for any indoor gardener. They range in color from black to scarlet to white. It also prevents or kills common fungal diseases like powdery mildew and leaf spot on indoor plants.

Plants that have been weakened by root rot or edema are prime targets! You may also find the leaves have a sticky or sandy feeling, particularly on the bottom of the leaf as they prefer to congregate there. Lots of good mite treatments out there, wipe down the leaves with soapy water, then spray as long as it's under 90 and not in direct sun. Mealybugs lay a lot of eggs, and those time bombs go off every five to seven days. If the fungus gnats are only in your Monsteras soil, this might work since Monsteras can go without water for quite a while. When buying new plants, be sure you go to a reputable nursery and inspect your purchases very carefully before you even leave the store.

I grow these at my nursery and during the heat if the summer they become more and more apparent. It can then be poured into a spray bottle and applied directly to leaves after being filtered. Want to know what you can do to keep it happy and healthy? If you want to try this technique, first perform a patch test on your Monstera. You want a soap thats as pure as possible. Spots, speckles, and silvering are all excellent early warning signs of a problem. Scale insects seem to prefer stems and leaf joints over the thinner parts of the leaf, so you should inspect those parts if you suspect a scale infestation.

This is a good first step before you apply an insecticide or neem oil. Be aware that its not recommended to use insecticidal soap in hot weather (over 85 degrees Fahrenheit) or in direct sun since plants can be burned. Neem oil is banned in the UK, Canada, and several other countries due to health concerns for pregnant women and very young children. Thrips are another pest that cannot withstand a strong jet of water, so a good shower will get rid of the majority of these little nasties. Also need to repot since roots are coming out the bottom of the plant. They have delicate mouth parts that are easily damaged, causing them to die of starvation. Crush three or four garlic cloves and steep them overnight in a half-gallon of water to make garlic spray. Topical treatments range from over-the-counter remedies to stronger insecticides that should be reserved for severe infestations. Fruit flies will be around your fruit (obviously) and garbage as they seek out rotting organic material. Monstera rarely attracts pests on their own, which is one of the reasons these charismatic climbers are frequently recommended for first-time plant owners. They are very mobile and actually use breezes to move from place to place. Secondly, keeping your plants in good condition will go a long way to helping them resist infestation. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. There are actually two types of scale one has a hard, armored exterior covering, and the other is unarmored or soft scale. Climate control in our buildings removes moisture from the air, particularly during the summer months when the air is cooled. This method involves squirting pests clear with a water jet using a syringe or an air bulb. As always, your plants leaves are the best indicator of its health. If the leaf exhibits signs of irritation, such as yellowing, curling, or splitting, your Monstera is sensitive to the mixture and should not be sprayed. Although relatively resistant to the pests that plague other indoor plants, Monsteras can suffer damage from insects, including thrips, spider mites, and scale. Definitely is spider mites. These tiny insects suck the moisture from plants, which can leave them looking dry and brown. Good care goes a long way toward allowing your delicious darling to repel pests on their own. This will kill the larvae and prevent the gnats from ever gaining a foothold. Inspect new plants and quarantine them for at least two weeks before allowing them in the same space with your other houseplants. However, these immobile adults can lay hundreds of eggs, which hatch into larvae called crawlers. These travel to new feeding sites before latching themselves on. If you're wondering "what's wrong with my plant? While technically another horticultural oil, neem oil has something unique in addition to the physical properties that kill insects. Watering from the bottom instead of the top can help as well. They are a low-impact option for attracting and trapping adult whiteflies, which prevents them from laying eggs. Never compost a Monstera that has been infested. You will need to be vigilant with this method, making sure to treat all visible scale insects and checking every few days for new ones. yellowing plant with sickly-looking patched leaves. In this area, diatomaceous earth is a popular choice for a variety of reasons. Since thrips tend to congregate together, you may be able to remove heavily infected leaves from your plant and simplify the treatment of the rest of it. Thats because they dont look like insects, and the adults never move once they have attached themselves to the plant. Keep an eye out for re-infestation every few days. When you use neem oil on your plants, it is absorbed into the plants themselves and provides lasting protection against pests that attempt to eat them. To prevent new critters from entering your growing environment, quarantine new purchases and limit contact with the outside world. Pest insects, regardless of size or species, huddle out of sight. It can be quite shocking to discover that your otherwise invincible showpiece has been nibbled to death by tiny invaders! Apply a bit of diluted alcohol to a cotton tip, then wipe the bug right off the plant. As the name suggests, this soapy spray kills adult insects and aids in the removal of debris, including any eggs that may have been left behind. Overuse can result in resistant pests, so think about other options before using these insecticides. Well, Ill hose it down and buy some treatment for it and then do the follow-up spray as you suggested. Simply pull the bugs off your plant! The majority of the species are about the size of a sesame seed and range in color from pale translucency to black, green, and brown. Heres how I deal with pest infestations in a way thats safe for both you and your Monstera. Most varieties require at least 40% humidity, and the higher the better!

However, pest resistance and pest-free are not the same things, and it is easy to take Monsteras hardiness for granted. It is equally safe for you and your plant, and it is an excellent choice for the early stages of infestation. If I had to recommend one single product in the fight against pests on your Monstera deliciosa and other indoor plants, it would be neem oil. When the dust settles, it lacerates insects by making its way into their bodies, destroying organs and dehydrating them as it does so. Most insects get inside your home by hitchhiking in on a new plant or from a plant brought in from outside for the winter. A cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and applied to the scale is a tried-and-true method for killing these pests. Keeping your humidity high will keep them at bay and help your monstera repel and recover from any attacks. With a little effort and tender care, your Monstera will be flourishing, its flashy glamorous leaves healthy and radiant, ready to brighten your home once more. Monsteras benefit from aggressive pruning, and infested leaves should be chopped off and discarded entirely. *Note: make sure you do not use any soap that contains bleaching agents or degreasers. Thats why I prefer to check my plants for pests every time I water and give occasional preventative treatments with neem oil. Maintaining a high humidity level will help to keep spider mites at bay. Most homes and offices are closed, with little to no airflow and a lot of interaction between your plant and the people around it. Pyrethrin is a chemical found naturally in daisy flowers that works well as an insecticide. I have included a few recipes for horticultural soap below, in case you decide to go the DIY route, plus instructions on how to use it. They are attracted by the smell but get trapped by the dish soap and drown. Noticed what looked like web on my Monstera's leaf today.

Finally, your plant may go to the pests rather than the pests coming to you. Theyre an effective way to get rid of a moderate infestation by spraying them on the foliage of your Monstera. Yellow sticky cards, such as these ones available on Amazon, are an effective repellent for flying pests. It is usually easier to locate the larvae instead of the adults, as they cluster together to feed. This silk is frequently the most obvious indication that you are in trouble. Scale causes white or yellow spots and can cause leaves to turn yellow and/or drop off, but most people dont realize their plants have scale until they see the insects themselves. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Make sure to get into the plants nooks and crannies, especially around the petioles. Since these mites are so tiny, the presence of webs is usually the best way to discover if you have spider mites instead of another type of pest. Its sometimes best to admit defeat and remove an infected plant from your collection entirely. The most common bugs on monstera are aphids, thrips, whiteflies, and fungus gnats. Spider mites are tiny terrors that are often difficult to see with the naked eye. Have more questions about your Monstera Deliciosa? Neem oil has a strong smell. However, if you have a more extensive scale attack or you prefer to take systemic measures from the start, there are a couple of good options for this as well. Spider mites are difficult to see without a magnifying device. You can dissolve the bits in your watering can (be aware, this takes a while) or add a top dressing layer, which will slowly dissolve into the soil each time you water. They are not to be taken lightly. The signs of spider mites on a Monstera include yellowing around the leaves edges and small yellow or brown spots on the leaves where the mites have sucked out the sap. If the conditions are not right for the pests to attack your plant, they will find somewhere else to go. Thrips are also susceptible to being knocked off the plant by an intense burst of water, such as from a garden hose. Most types of insects youll find on your plants cause damage to your plant because they are phytophagous, meaning they feed on the tissues of plants themselves. Similar to garlic spray, you can harness the power of chillis to make a homemade foliage spray that will deter future invaders. This method works because fungus gnat larvae live in the top layer of the soil. When treating spider mites, its important to know what conditions these pesky pests like. If anything, they look like tiny mosquitos. Many people describe the scent of neem oil as like garlic or sulfur, and many find it objectionable. It is preferable to actual pesticides since it is non-toxic to pets, birds, and beneficial insects, plus it doesnt leave behind the unpleasant residue that some insecticides have. Thrips are a difficult pest to identify. Monsteras are rainforest species, so they prefer to be sprayed with a shower or hose. Insect pests enjoy hiding. They reproduce rapidly, with a single aphid capable of spawning enough to cover even the toughest houseplant in a matter of weeks. This is a lot of work, especially if youve pinned a vining Monstera to a wall or other heavy feature. Fungus gnats, on the other hand, are much more likely to show up in a plant that is overwatered. Aphids are a major annoyance for indoor gardeners. To make this spray, combine three tablespoons of powdered chili with a half-gallon of water. Yellow sticky traps are effective, non-toxic, and inexpensive, plus its very satisfying to see how many of these annoying gnats get taken out of commission. Personally doesnt look like spider mites to me. These insects are flat and round, with a dome shape similar to a turtle shell. Do a follow-up spray a week later then keep and eye out for any emerging mites. Increasing humidity will kill spider mites, and allowing your soil to dry between waterings will kill fungus gnats, for example. Note that it generally takes a couple of weeks for the predatory mites to do their thing, but they should die off naturally once they have exhausted their food source. This entails introducing predators into your growing environment. Whiteflies are small flying insects about the size of a sesame seed. Read the instructions on your neem oil for dilution instructions, as well as information about when and how to spray the plants. Scale is resistant to many of the spraying techniques that work on many other houseplant pests, possibly because of their hard shells and tenacity in attaching to the plant.

We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Reapply on a regular basis until your infestation is gone. Only make as much as youre planning to use for that treatment. Even the most careful and diligent houseplant owner will eventually run into that dreaded problem: pests. Horticultural oils work by coating the insects bodies and suffocating them to death. Press J to jump to the feed. Give your Monstera a good rinsing, or pick the bugs off by hand. Depending on what type of insect is attacking your Monstera, you may see different symptoms. Your next option is to spray neem oil or horticultural soap directly onto the plant. ", we will help you diagnose and treat it! To deter infestations, spray peppermint and spearmint oils on the leaves and stems at a rate of about two drops per ounce of water. This method requires that the spray actually come into contact with the insect, and will work best with repeated, thorough applications to ensure that all of the pests are eliminated. Your oil/soap mixture should be mixed with warm water to create the soap spray for treating your plants at 2 tsp per cup of water. They land on the trap and are unable to escape. Monstera deliciosa can grow to be massive even monstrous! Thats why, unfortunately, youll rarely find just one scale insect on a plant. However, you can distinguish them from one another once you know what youre looking for. The methods above depend on disrupting the fungus gnats life cycle, which can take several weeks, so there are some ways you can capture those pesky adult gnats in the meantime. Like their better-known relatives, they can spin fine webs, usually in the joints where a petiole or stem branches off. Damn. Furthermore, all pests prefer to prey on weak plants. It's putting out leaves still, but does seem to have slowed from when I got it. Discolored African Violet Leaves: 9 Reasons Your Plant Is Yellow or Brown, How to Crossbreed African Violets to Make Hybrid Varieties, Brown, white, or yellowish spots on the leaves or stems, Safe for pollinators like bees and butterflies, Effective as a pesticide for over 200 species of insects that eat plants, Signs Your Monstera Isnt Getting Enough Light or Water, What are Fenestrations and How Can You Encourage Them, Help Diagnosing Unhealthy Plants and How to Treat Them. Some people also add cayenne pepper or garlic powder as an additional deterrent to keep insects from feeding on their plants if you choose to go this route, a teaspoon should be plenty. For on-going maintenance, I recommend adding neem oil into the water when you water your plants to give them protection against any new pests that might get into your home. For these pests, prevention is preferable to cure. Thrips suck the green pigment chlorophyll from your Monstera leaves, leaving only the empty structure. Eggs can adhere to hands, shears, and anything else that has come into contact with an infested plant. Pyrethroids, its synthetic cousin, are just as effective, and both are safe to use on your indoor Monstera. This substance is completely harmless to plants, animals, and children, to the point where it is sometimes used as a dietary supplement in some cases. But you can rest assured knowing that other plant owners have battled against worse and won. If you enjoy taking your Monstera outside for some fresh air, you may notice that your tourist brings souvenirs back inside. Many people mistake fungus gnats for fruit flies, as they look similar to the naked eye and exhibit some of the same irritating behaviors (like drowning themselves in your wine and flying around your face). Personally, I havent had too much success with this method because many of my plants had gnats, and some of them couldnt tolerate the drier conditions. Neem oil (see more detailed information below) is effective against spider mites, but its not recommended to use a traditional chemical insecticide, as that can kill off the spider mites natural predators and actually make the problem worse. Start with a cup of oil (any type is fine, but youll probably want to use your least expensive option), and mix in one tablespoon of regular (not dishwasher) dishwashing liquid or pure castile soap. I cant tell you how many times these pests have gotten into my coffee or wafted around my glasses while Im trying to take care of my plants. Different pests prefer different environments, so lets take a look at what brings these horrors into your home in the first place. I also like to use Mosquito Bits, which are a type of biological control that kills fungus gnat larvae. They require moist conditions to thrive, so let the top layer of your potting medium dry completely between waterings. Adult thrips have wings and can easily move from plant to plant. If you havent experienced insects on your houseplant before, it can be upsetting when you realize that your plant is harboring unwanted guests. To treat pests that are on the surface of the plant, foliar application (spraying the solution on the leaves) is the best. This kind of biological control works well but may not be appropriate for the squeamish. Watering your Monstera with drippings collected from other plants, or repotting with used soil, are both excellent ways of spreading all sorts of nasties. Although I prefer to buy horticultural soap, it is easy to make with a few items from your home. Scraping them off the plant manually seems to be the easiest method, although it can be tedious if there is a lot of scale on your Monstera. The alcohol dissolves their shell, killing the insects quickly. You dont want to poison the people who live nearby, as well as the pests! Some people are big believers in the use of essential oils to treat insects. They are pale and resemble small balls of fluff. As with many of the pests on this list, treating thrips early will go a long way toward minimizing the damage to your plants. Theyre a great preventative measure for your collection, and they can be inspected on a regular basis to see whats buzzing around. Monsteras & Aerial Roots: What Are They & What Should You Do With Them? No matter how careful you are, fungus gnats will appear in your indoor plant collection at some point. More pics: https://imgur.com/a/3CHAR6O. I think youll be convinced once you give it a try, but here are a few of the (many) benefits of using neem oil: Neem has been used in India for years in a variety of applications. The oil is pressed from the seeds and leaves of the neem tree. However, the larvae have a very limited impact because they only occupy the very top layers of the soil, away from the majority of the root mass. It gathers in nooks and crannies on your Monstera, allowing it to locate pests where they prefer to hide. I know I have a difficult time getting a large plant under a showerhead for a wash and prefer to hose them off outside instead. For less serious scale problems, manual removal usually works. Simply toss everything, pot and all, into the garbage can. Grab our latest book,How to Care for Monstera Deliciosa, and get all that and more. For a DIY method using products you already have, you could make a trap using apple cider vinegar or wine. I will review the signs of several types of pests in more detail below, but these are the general signals that indicate you should inspect your Monstera closely for bugs: If you see any of these symptoms or your Monstera deliciosa, its a good idea to take a close look at the leaves and stems and see if you can identify any intruders. Infected prunings should be disposed of by double bagging and tossing them into household garbage, and tools like shears should be sterilized between uses. To get rid of them permanently, you need a solution that kills them at all stages of maturity. This may appear to be a dire situation, but the predators are as small as their prey! Petioles and the base of aerial roots should be rinsed thoroughly because mites like to hide in these areas. Watering the plant before you apply the horticultural soap can help prevent damage to the roots. Thrips are so small that it is difficult to notice them unless you inspect your Monsteras leaves closely. These annoyances set up camp on your plants veins, piercing the tough outer layers with a sharp proboscis. Manually remove bugs from your Monstera and avoid future infestations with a change in care practices. When the mites fall onto the paper, you should see them more clearly, and they will soon start to move around. Some people recommend wiping down the silvered part of the plant with a dilute alcohol solution but proceed with caution. The result is frequently a yellowing plant with sickly-looking patched leaves. If you do put plants outside during the summer, follow proper processes to get rid of pests before bringing them inside for winter.

To thrive, your Monstera requires clean water and new soil. Adults are dark brown or black and can fly.

They can also travel on people or pets that happen to brush up against them, so be sure to check all plants and provide preventative measures to your collection. However, they can hibernate, so this will only slow down their activity.

Since they like moist soil, you can try to let your Monsteras soil get reasonably dry between watering. Neem oil is effective against all the insects in this article and some that we didnt mention (aphids, caterpillars, whitefly, etc.). Their larvae nibble fine root fibers and can reduce the vigor of your Monstera. Remember that neem oil is concentrated and can damage your plants if misused. Spider mites leave a distinctive delicate brown speckling on both sides of your Monsteras leaves.

Ive often seen ants marching around my pots before I see mealybugs, so keep your eyes peeled. These thicker areas of the plant are more nutrient-rich, which is why the insects are attracted to those areas. They resemble mealybugs, so if you give your Monstera a bump and are suddenly swarmed by little white bugs, youre dealing with whiteflies. Check all veins under leaves, as scale like to hide near their food source. If you are using a commercial horticultural soap, follow the instructions for dilution based on the instructions provided. The Healthy Houseplant is reader-supported. However, these concerns are related to consuming a large quantity of the substance. If your indoor jungle is plagued by aphids, you should consider biological control options. Finally, you can purchase predatory mites or ladybugs that feed on spider mites and release them in your home. Maintaining a good growing environment for your plant is essential for preventing infestations. They buzz around your plants, polluting the air and invading places where wee little bugs should not be. Luckily, spider mites can be knocked off a Monstera fairly easily. Insecticidal soaps are another topical spray in the indoor gardeners arsenal. As with scale insects, it should be relatively easy to treat your plant with horticultural soap and/or a neem oil solution to get rid of thrips.