Q: I have a cactus in a pot that I will plant in the spring. What do I spray it with before I bring it into the house for the winter to make sure I am not bringing in bugs?

A: I wouldn’t spray it with anything unless you actually see insects on the cactus. One of my pet peeves is the indiscriminate use of pesticides against imagined pests. Tons of insecticide are used against lawn grubs each year, when this insect is a very minor pest in most landscapes. Other folks douse their homes repeatedly with insect poison against invisible bugs they are convinced are biting them, only to make themselves sick from the effects of the insecticide. Cacti are not likely to have any insects pests on them. A quick spray from a hose would loosen any creature that has temporarily taken up residence.