4 Mistakes That Cause Bug Infestations in Your Houseplants—and How to Avoid Them

Caring for houseplants indoors and out can almost feel like a meditative experience. Since much of our waking hours are spent, well, staring at screens, noticing the ways in which a small seedling transforms into a strong living thing feels grounding and personal—which is why plants continue to be so popular. Susan Nock, owner of Thistle by Susan Nock Garden Design, totally gets it. 

“I have been gardening professionally for the last nine years but have loved gardens my whole life,” she says. “I grew up with parents and grandparents who surrounded me with beautiful gardens. As soon as I had my first apartment, I covered its tiny balcony with pots, and with each move, my garden space grew.”

But if there’s an overarching tricky obstacle to keeping a plant alive, it’s helping it to avoid infestations. Unfortunately, we do occasionally slip up and make some mistakes that invite creepy crawlies to your houseplants. Here, an expert shares the four mistakes you should avoid making to prevent an infestation—and solutions for side-stepping a bug takeover and caring for your plant if they do.

You're Not Inspecting Your Plant at the Store

As is true with all shopping, the items that end up in your in-person cart deserve a closer look. Whenever Nock is perusing the plant aisles, she makes sure that the ones she intends to purchase look and feel healthy in the store.

“I check carefully for any signs of infestation so that I don’t bring anything into my home,” she notes. If you do notice tell-tale signs of worry, like creepy crawlies in soil and yellowing leaves, be sure to tell a store worker so that they can attend to the problem quickly. 

You're Not Buying the Right Plant for Your Home

Plants will thrive in environments that are well-suited to their particular needs, so you’ll want to do some reading on the best greenery for your present living situation. Do you have a dry and open corner with low light? Or, is it a spot that gets lots of moisture and direct sun?

Lastly, which other types of plants does your intended purchase get along with? Buying a plant that complements your space will go far in keeping it healthy, making infestations rare. “I keep plants that have the same light needs together so that they will be happy,” Nock says. “The more you learn about the needs of your plant—light and water—the better you can care for it.”

You're Not Giving Your Plants Enough Attention

Water and sunlight are obvious necessities, but your plant requires more than the bare minimum to thrive. Notice the amount of water in the soil, and if a few leaves need to be pruned. If you’re caring for an indoor plant, then you’ll want to routinely dust its leaves. An outdoor plant will likely need fertilizer, too.

Completing this small checklist is all part of the quiet serenity of plant care, but the job has a secondary benefit, too. “I take the time to inspect a plant’s leaves on the top and bottom so that I can catch an infestation as soon as it happens,” Nock says. 

You're Not Treating an Infestation Quickly

A plant infestation often comes with the territory of ownership, so don’t beat yourself up too much if this happens. As soon as you spot one, separate the plant from any others to keep it from spreading. You might want to read up on the type of infestation you have, Nock says, but notes that she usually treats the plant with a solution of water and insecticidal soap. 

“I’ll also wipe down the leaves and stems to remove the infestation and spray the plant with either the same water and insecticidal soap combination or a neem oil product,” she says. You’ll want to treat the tops and bottoms of the leaves and prune off any damaged ones, just to be thorough.  

“It’s important to keep the plant isolated for about a month, as it is common for the pests to reemerge, and you’ll need to retreat the plant if so,” Nock says. Don’t worry—that time will pass as your plants continue to grow.