Even in ancient times people decorated their houses with flowers and clothes, use a variety of plants as gifts. History of indoor plants takes us far into the past, as evidenced by archaeological excavations are dated three thousand years BC. And in the modern "concrete jungle" people are lacking in wildlife. Therefore, many are creating their green corners on the window sills. But the real lovers of houseplants, day after day trying to learn something new about their green pets, exploring new kinds of plants are selected for each of them special care.
The most dangerous for the home colors were and are the pests of indoor plants in the soil. There are not many, but they are able to damage the roots of plants, and hence to a flower in general. After all, if the root is sick, then the part that is above the ground, eventually die. And in order to avoid this problem, you need to carefully monitor the quality of the land in which you place the plant in time to repot it and noticed that the flower feels bad, the first thing to check is the soil.
Almost every potting flower has its own land, which contains all the necessary precisely for this type of component. And if you want your flowers please you long green leaves and buds, soil for planting is best to buy in the shops. So you will minimize the problem of root diseases. But, as the saying goes, "forewarned is forearmed", so let's consider the types of pests houseplants and look at how to protect them from their pets. And also learn methods of pest control.
Woodlice
This species of insects, though there is a relative of shrimps and lobsters, but it prefers to live in the land. More specifically, in the wet soil. They are not the most dangerous pests of indoor plants, which can be got in the soil, but knowing about them is still necessary.
Woodlice prefer damp places and hidden in pallets of pots. This type of pest is gray and flat body with a plurality of legs. Prefer night. Can harm plants by eating the roots. However, much damage to your plants, they do not cause as woodlice easy to detect and destroy manually.
If your house has a plant-loving frequent watering regularly inspect pallets of pots, wash them, do not let them accumulate in the damp earth. So you will not allow wood lice proliferate and harm your colors.
Millipedes
This type of pests houseplants that live in the soil, is very diverse. They form a zoological class, which includes a variety of insects. They are united by one thing - eating plant roots, centipedes do not let it develop. Millipedes have a serpentine structure: its body is made of rings and numerous leg is very difficult to see before they are tiny.
Contaminate soil centipedes two ways. Either you bought low-quality land (this also happens), or used for planting ordinary soil from the garden. To detect these insects only during the transplant. If you notice them in the ground, be sure to change the substrate completely, even the roots should be cleaned from the old land, as it can stay eggs pests that may eventually harm the fresh soil.
Collembola
Another name of the insect jumping, similar to fleas - sublevels. This kind of pests houseplants, too, inhabits the earth. Springtails multiply very quickly, especially in the wet substrate. They feed on decaying plant remains, why gnaw small holes in the stems, which are close to the ground, at least - on the roots. The biggest harm to bring springtails during wet season - autumn when plant growth is stopped, and it is not able to fight for life.
If you have time to notice the infection, get rid of pests easy. It is necessary to fill the surface of the soil with ash, sand, or dried. Very effective are the so-called potato trap: raw potato cut in half placed on the ground cut down, and then collect the insects pick up there. If the infection is strong, you must use special solutions for irrigation. Here you need to consult with a specialist at the store. And best of all, wash pot and sweep up the ground completely.
Nematodes
These little worms damage the root system, thereby causing negative changes in the aerial part of the plant. Leaves flower wither and dry up, and on the roots appear swelling. These pests bring houseplants heavy damage, treat the infected flower is almost impossible. Particularly susceptible to infection by rubber plants, cactus, cyclamen.
The good news is that at home nematodes are rare, they can be brought only with the earth from the garden. However, if you are going to professionally grow plants in greenhouses for sale, then you should look out for them.
Spider mite
Pests houseplants and struggle against them is as diverse as the flowers themselves. Insects can cause damage not only the roots of the plants. Some of the hazards for the above-ground parts of the flower. One such pest is spider mite. It is dangerous for virtually all types of houseplants, especially if you are in the warmer months, brings them to a balcony or courtyard.
The presence of the tick can be seen on the web stretched between the leaves. These pests eat the leaves from the inside, so that the leaves lose color and curl inward. Flower buds are damaged by mites may dry out and fall in, and do not dissolve.
Spider mite mass attacks in the hot season, the best prevention of it - is the maintenance of moisture, so often spray the plant. For pest control needs acaricidal solution, which can be purchased in a specialty store. After treatment plant polyethylene wrap. So you protect others from infection with flowers and create a lot of moisture, which will accelerate the death of mites.
Aphids
A very common pest, but also find it quite easy. Aphids dangerous for all types of indoor plants, especially in the summer. Some species of these insects have wings. Vagrants in the open windows, aphids occupy flower, sucking the leaves and stalks of juice. Thus, the plant is reduced and ceases to evolve.
If you just found out pests to deal with them is not difficult, just wash the plant with soapy water and then clean. If aphids have thoroughly settled on a flower, it is treated with special solutions, such as "Inta-sup," "Karate" or "face". You can also apply poisons of plant origin: the infusion of wormwood or tobacco. Regular treatment will help you to avoid the attack of these insects.
Whiteflies
This type of pest is very similar to the winged aphids. Whiteflies are very small, about three millimeters. They attack the inside of the leaves and drink the juice from them. If time does not take action, the leaves wilt, turn yellow and fall off. Since whitefly comes from the tropical countries, their habitat - it is very warm and humid. The most likely victims of these insects are plants with thin leaves and flowering plants such as azalea, primrose, hibiscus.
Good prevention of whiteflies is airing the room, as well as lowering the temperature. You can handle the plant insecticide solution: this should be done once a month. It is desirable to prevent infection of the flower, as to fight with the pest is difficult.
Weevils and caterpillars
These insects have a length of about one and a half centimeters and rigid wings. They are especially dangerous for begonias and azaleas. Combine edges of the leaves, weevils cause irreparable harm to plants, and their larvae feed on the roots. These pests attacking flower on both sides, so the plant stops in development, quickly weakens, and eventually dies.
Fight weevils must be in the same insecticide. If the infection was strong, the procedure must be repeated again in about a week.
About these pests know everything. Track - a butterfly larvae, which feed on the foliage of trees and plants. In the garden, on the veranda or on the balcony of your flowers at risk of becoming food for them. If time does not notice the pests, the plants can remain without leaves. Fight treads lightly, they just need to remove and destroy arms. However, prevention of insecticide will be just as effective.
Scale insects and Quadraspidiotus perniciosus
It's really a disaster for all houseplants. With them it is quite difficult to deal with because they multiply rapidly, replacing several generations per year. Insects are protected by armor, like a mussel shell. Forming on the leaves and stems of fixed columns, scale insects suck sap from the plant.
This category includes pests and Australian mealybugs (false ladybugs). They differ from scale insects just that sometimes move through the plant. At home, mealybugs perfectly acclimatized, since their development is optimal room temperature.
Root scale insects, mealy relatives, a little smaller. They live and reproduce in the roots. Particular danger of these pests pose to plants with thick leaves, highlighting the dew, which forms burns. Due to the fact that the scale insects and mealybugs spread rapidly, they can bring irreparable damage to the plant. On stems cracks appear, the leaves turn yellow and then die off branches and flower dies.
To deal with these insects in several ways. First we need to clean the damaged areas with a solution of alcohol and wait twenty minutes and remove the pests from plants moist cotton swab. Next, you need to spray insecticide flower. Fighting the root scale insects require replanting in a new land. The roots before transplanting should be thoroughly rinsed with running water. And within three months watering plant half with dilute insecticide.
Miners and TRIPS
Miners - a kind of flies. They lay on the leaves and stems of the eggs and larvae burrow long tunnels there. If larvae little - it just spoils the look of the plant, and when the infection is strong, the flower ceases to grow and develop. As miners rare guests in houses and apartments, process plant poison is not necessary, simply remove the damaged sheet as soon as you notice the traces left minelayers.
Thrips - very small insects no larger than a millimeter. Attack can be confused with thrips attack spider mites, but this pest does not leave the plant web. Very good breed in warm rooms. Despite the fact that thrips are a pair of tiny wings, they are inactive. The damage is applied not only adults, but also insect larvae. Drink the liquid from the leaves of the plant than provoke a stop of the leaves wither, because they do not have enough moisture and air. Buds, corrupted data pest subjected to deformation, they formed white spots, and the flower dies, and not having to be dismissed.
Thrips do not like the smell of mothballs, so some of his balls around do not prevent the most vulnerable plants such as cyclamen and begonia near. If the infection is still there, it is necessary to process a flower remedy for aphids, repeat this procedure five or six days. You can also spray the plant extract of garlic or onion (1 teaspoon to 1 cup water). Flowers that can not be sprayed, are treated as follows: finely chopped garlic placed around the plants and cover the flower with the "medicine" polyethylene two-three hours.
And finally ...
Conclude from this article can be only one - the pests of indoor plants are quite a few, and their appearance is a real nightmare for the avid grower. However, this is not as scary as you may be submitted, because all they have developed effective methods of struggle. And if the time realized it, the plant is fully restored, and will long to please you.
Growing indoor plants - a very exciting hobby. But to achieve some success in this lesson will help only knowledge, and, of course, patience. The most important thing is to remember Florist - prevention never hurts. Regularly inspect their pets, check every leaf, every twig. The sooner you find traces of pests, the easier and faster to combat them.
Development and flowering potted plants depends on their master. Treat your colors, as best friends, understand them, and sometimes even talk. Believe me it is better than to pour fertilizer plants, because they will not help unless there is proper care, concern and love!