How do I tell what’s wrong with my houseplant?
If the leaves on your plant are turning brown, it’s almost always a dehydration issue, but check for bugs and bacteria anyway. Bugs will be visible if you hold your plant up to the window and look under the leaves, especially where the leaf meets the petiole. Bacteria tends to appear in spots. Brown tips or margins to the leaves may indicate over or more likely under-watering, which can be assessed by checking the roots. They may also be a sign of too dry an atmosphere, or poor ventilation in a greenhouse or conservatory. Over-watering often causes browning in the middle of the leaves.
How do I identify what’s wrong with my plant?
Look at the foliage (leaves) and examine the color, shape, and size. An off color may indicate a nutrient problem (which may be easy to correct), insect damage, or damage from too much or too little water. Small, stunted, or misshapen leaves can also indicate a pest or nutrient problem, or improper care. Some plants may turn yellow or brown if they have been overwatered, while others may begin dropping their leaves. Another sign of overwatering can be a wilted plant. Learning how to identify the signs of an overwatered plant can help you in your mission to save it quickly before too much damage is done.
What can I spray my indoor plants with?
Use a mild dishwashing liquid or Castille Soap. Natural Hand soap can be used too. Add 1 tsp of dishwashing liquid soap to 1 Litre of water. Place in a spray bottle and gently spits your houseplant, covering the top and bottom of the leaves. If you want to mist your houseplants, use a clean spray bottle that produces a fine mist. You don’t want a lot of big, fat water droplets, says Hancock. Fill the spray bottle with water and use it to gently mist your plants, creating a fine layer of moisture.
What is the best insect control for indoor plants?
Horticultural oils are probably the most effective spray. Bifenthrin, found in many houseplant insecticide preparations, can also be effective for spider mite control. Insecticidal soaps are marginally effective. In large indoor plantings, using predator mites may be considered. Mix one teaspoon of dish soap with a liter of water, put it into a spray bottle, and go to town! Spraying this solution on your houseplants will kill insects on contact. Test it out by spraying one leaf first to make sure the plant isn’t sensitive to the soap.Vinegar. If you have a bottle of vinegar lying around, it could be the perfect pest control solution! Start by adding one cup of vinegar to three cups of water, then mix it in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on your houseplants and the strong scent will irritate the insects enough that they’ll find food elsewhere.Foliar sprays of horticultural oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap are some of the most effective treatments available to homeowners to control spider mites. It is important to get thorough coverage of the undersides of leaves and to treat two to three times at 5-day intervals.Application Instructions: Garden Safe Brand Neem Oil Extract Concentrate is an effective fungicide for the prevention and control of various fungal diseases including powdery mildew, black spot, downy mildew, anthracnose, rust, leaf spot, botrytis, needle rust, scab and flower, twig and tip blight, and alternaria.
What can I spray on my plants to get rid of mites?
You may want to spray your plants with a mild, unscented soap-based cleanser, hort oil, or insecticidal soap to kill any pests that may be hiding. Baking Soda for Fungal Disease Control How to Use: Mix 1 tablespoon of soda with 1 gallon of water, a drop of dish soap, and optionally a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Spray this solution on affected plants early in the day to allow for drying.Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of vinegar in a large jug filled with water. Then, spray the solution over the entire plant to prevent fungi and pests while helping the leaves become greener and healthier.Do try lemon juice or vinegar for more stubborn buildup. If your leaves have a buildup of residue that’s hard to wipe off, then mixing water with either lemon juice or vinegar can be a great solution. The key here is to keep it pretty weak as you don’t want to damage your plant’s leaves.Baking soda is one of the most commonly used and seen indoor plant fungus treatments. For this, you will need one tablespoon of baking soda, mixed with a gallon of water and two and a half tablespoons of vegetable oil. Once the mixture is ready, add it to a spray bottle, shake the contents and spray the affected areas.You just need to use a few drops of dish soap and a table spoon of vinegar for each cup of water. With this these destructive gnats will parish with just a few spritz of your new chemical weapon. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about this solution harming your indoor plants.