From swatting away fungus gnats to wrapping your pots in bubble wrap, find out how to stop your indoor plants from throwing a leafy tantrum.
Now that we’ve all started to wander the great indoors, we have more time to take stock of our drooping alocasias and frizzy maidenhair ferns. What’s the deal?
Lots of indoor plants start to sulk in winter sometimes due to neglect, but more often than not because of too much love. We break down some of the common issues plants face and what you can do about it.
Common Winter Pests
Fungus gnats
Did you sprawl out on the couch only to be bombarded by a hoard of miniature flies? Those annoying little creatures in your face are fungus gnats — and yes, they are attracted to carbon dioxide, so they like to hover around your nose!
The adult gnats will not harm your plants, but they do lay eggs in moist soil. The resulting larvae will feast on plant roots, and, if you have a big enough infestation, your plant will start to decline in health.
Fungus gnats are easily eradicated with a three-step solution that will catch them at every stage of their life cycle.
Try:
1. Watering only when the top 2 inches of your pots are dry
2. Using yellow sticky traps
3. Using products such as Eco Neem Oil, a 4:1 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, diatomaceous earth or T-Drops.
Spider mites
Fine webs, yellowing or bronzed leaves, or twisted new growth are classic signs of a spider mite infestation. These tiny pests look like moving specks and are easy to miss until your plant starts showing damage.
Still unsure? Try this: hold a white sheet of paper under a leaf and gently tap it. If tiny dots fall and start crawling, you’ve found your culprit.
To treat spider mites, thoroughly wash and wipe every leaf, top and underside. Early action is key to stopping them from spreading.
Try:
1. Brushing each leaf with a healthy dose of diatomaceous earth (making sure to wear a mask for dust inhalation)
2. Occasionally spritzing plant leaves with water to deter spider mites
3. Using products such as wettable sulphur, Eco Neem Oil, or miticides.
Scale
Those small, brown bumps on your spider plant or ficus tineke aren’t part of the plant’s charm. They’re scale insects; sap-sucking pests that cluster along leaf veins, stems, and the undersides of leaves.
If left untreated, scale will continue feeding on your plant and secrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which can attract ants and lead to black sooty mould.
If left unchecked, scale can take over your entire plant. The resulting black sooty mould blocks sunlight from reaching the leaves, preventing your plant from photosynthesising.
Try:
1. Scraping them off with your fingernail
2. Using soapy water or isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush to gently scrub them off
3. Using products such as Eco Neem Oil, Eco-Oil, Eco Pest Oil.
Thrips
Few things are more frustrating than a thrip infestation. If you’re seeing mottled or silvery leaves, chances are these tiny pests have moved in. Thrips can spread quickly and do serious damage. Some plant enthusiasts would go so far as to say, “If you’ve got thrips, toss the plant before they take over your whole collection.”
While drastic, the warning isn’t without reason—early detection and fast action are crucial to keeping your indoor jungle safe.
Try:
1. Dusting the top of your pot soil with diatomaceous earth
2. Checking the leaves every day for eggs and removing them manually
3. Using products such as Eco Neem Oil, Eco-Oil, Eco Pest Oil
4. Using yellow sticky traps to target adults
Common Winter Diseases
Root Rot
Yellowing or wilting leaves, a foul, musty odour coming from potting mix and mushy, slimy roots (instead of healthy, white roots) are all red flags for root rot. Plant roots require oxygen to thrive, and persistently wet or soggy soil can lead to suffocation and decay.
Try:
1. Reducing your watering regimen over winter
2. Removing any affected roots and repotting your plant in the appropriate potting medium
3. Ensuring your pot has adequate drainage holes
4. Using products such as Anti-Rot, Rid-a-Rot
Crispy Leaves
If your plant has been thriving all through the warmer months only to start crisping up in winter, it might be a sign of either underwatering or exposure to draught. Make sure your plants are well away from heatpumps and fireplaces and give them a good drenching.
Try:
1. Taking notice when your plants require water
2. Moving plants away from air conditioners, wall heaters or fireplaces
3. Purchasing a humidifier to increase humidity in winter.
Leaf Fall
Sometimes, despite your best intentions, plants can sulk and shed their leaves in the cooler months. It’s a sure sign of stress brought on by the sudden change in temperature, humidity, access to light and inability to soak up nutrients.
Try:
1. Taking note of plants that require humid conditions and spritzing them with water or purchasing a humidifier
2. Wrapping plant pots with bubble wrap before placing them in their decorative pots to create a warmer environment
3. Moving plants according to winter light angles or purchasing grow lights
4. Providing strengthening tonics such as Seasol.
Recommended products
Tackling pests and diseases requires not just trial and error but also persistence and multiple approaches to attack pests at every stage in their life cycle. We recommend trying the following products:
