Question
QUESTION: Hi Will,
I just read your answer, to someone else, about house plant sapping caused by scale insects and it was Very Helpful!
The plant that is sapping is sitting next to and touches my, blooming, orchids in a kitchen bay window.
Should I , and can I safely, also treat the orchids and a bamboo in this area with the alcohol mixture?
Thank you so much!

ANSWER: Hi Kerry,

Some Orchid species can be sensitive to sprays of any kind, so proceed with caution.

If your Orchid does not actually have scale insects, then I do not recommend spraying it with anything other than plain water. Mere contact with a scael infested plant does not necessarily mean the Orchid is now infested. If you see evidence of scale insects on your Orchid, then spray it with the alcohol/soap/water solution and then rinse it with plain water after about a minute. I do not recommend using Brand X on Orchids or ferns. It can be used on Lucky Bamboo, but not true Bamboo.

I have written an article on identifying and treating indoor plant pest problems that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again for the thoughtful and thorough answer Will!

I am also curious, how did my plant get this pest when it does not go outside?

Best,
Kerry

Answer
Hi Kerry,

Most insect pests that are found on indoor plants do not live outdoors in non-tropical regions and would quickly die due to cold temperatures. So they usually don't come in from outside.

Because indoor plant pests materialize seemingly out of nowhere, people often wonder where they came from. There is no single answer. Some pests are transported and introduced via other plants or by people.

In my experience, the vast majority of plant pests were on the plant at the time of acquisition. However, they are so tiny and in such limited numbers that they are virtually invisible to the layperson. Those few critters may stay semi-dormant for years at a time waiting for favorable conditions for them to start to reproduce rapidly. For example, spider mites reproduce rapidly in hot, dry, still air. Most plant pests seem to multiple rapidly when a host plant is under stress and its natural immune system is low. Thus, the presence of a pest infestation may be symptomatic of another problem that is stressing the plant, such as inadequate light or improper watering. Often a plant's decline is blamed on insect pests when in fact it is some other environmental factor that is causing both.

There is no 100% way to prevent all indoor plant problems. If you keep a lot of houseplants for many years, sooner or later you will have a pest problem. Here are some things you can do to minimize plant pest infestations:

*Learn how to identify the most common indoor plant pests - spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs, fungus gnats, white flies and aphids.

*Inspect all leaf and stem surfaces carefully before bringing a new plant into your home.

*Learn the specific care requirements for each of your plants so you can keep them healthy and resistant to pests and disease.

*Check all of your plants regularly for early signs of pest infestations.

*Treat pest problems thoroughly as soon as they are discovered.

I have written an article on identifying and treating indoor plant pests that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com