Question
I have a large rice paper plant that I purchased at a nursery 2 summers ago. It was small at the time and bring it outside in the summer.It has since grown 4ft high with large beautiful green leaves.Considering I live in Windsor , Ontario every winter I bring it in due to the cold winter. I always make sure I remove all the dirt and soak the plant in water for a couple hours,then use new potting soil and repot the plant. The plant has been fine all winter,although I have just recently noticed bite makes one one leaf,almost looks like taking a bite out of a sandwich.
tried to look at night what was eating the lower leaf ,although could not see.What should I do?  thanks richard

Answer
Richard,

Your insect could be any kind of catepiller of a moth or even a vole (a different kind of mouse). I would set a mouse trap and maybe get some of the pantry pest traps that you can get in the insecticide department in large hardware stores or grocerys.  If it is only affecting 1 or 2 leaves I would not worry a lot about it affecting the plant a lot. I have over a hundred plants outside every summer and I live in norther Indiana so I too must bring my plants in for the winter. I never take the time to repot and change the soil. If I am concerned about a particular plant I spray it and water it with a 50/50 mix of water and isopropyl alcohol. That will kill any insects in the soil or in the plant and not harm the plant. You could spray the entire plant with that now and it won't hurt you or the plant but the insect may have crawled up under the rim of the pot and turned into a chrysalis waiting to turn into a moth that goes after flour or pet food etc. Good luck.

Darlene