How to Get Rid of Bugs on Indoor Plants
- 1). Use rubbing alcohol to treat mealy bugs, which are small oval bugs that leave cotton masses on the underside of the leaves. These cotton masses are the eggs. A cotton ball soaked in alcohol can be rubbed on the leaves to get rid of these types of bugs.
- 2). Treat plants that contain spider mites with a mild soapy solution rubbed on the plant's leaves with a washcloth. Spider mites are tiny insects that feed on the flowers and cause the plant's leaves to turn yellow. Small holes may accompany yellowing leaves.
- 3). Treat flying gnats by allowing the soil to dry out completely. Gnats will lay eggs under the soil's surface when the soil is moist. Drying out the soil will kill the eggs. Drenching the soil will kill gnat larvae that are hatching in the soil. Hang the plant outside and continue to pour warm water on the soil until it runs continually out of the bottom of the pot. Allow to dry in the house.
- 4). Use a soft toothbrush to remove scale, which is sticky and looks like dots on the leaves. After removing scale with the toothbrush, use a soapy washcloth to wash the plant's leaves.
- 5). Inspect the houseplants for aphids on new plants or young flowers. Aphids are orange, brown, green and white. Treat plants that have aphids with mild soapy water in a spray bottle. Spray the soapy solution directly on the leaves and flowers. Repeat if necessary in a week.
- 6). Use a mild soapy solution to clean the plant's leaves to get rid of white flies, which will fly from plant to plant, so you may have to treat all of your indoor plants. White flies lay eggs on the leaves that look like white dots. Re-treat the plant in a week with the soapy solution to make sure the white flies are gone.
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