Common Pests & Fixes

Prevention First

Inspect new plants before bringing them home. Quarantine for 2 weeks. Maintain good air circulation.

Common Pests

Fungus Gnats

Look like: Tiny black flies hovering around soil.

Fix: Let soil dry more. Use yellow sticky traps. Beneficial nematodes kill larvae.

Spider Mites

Look like: Tiny dots on leaf undersides; fine webbing.

Fix: Increase humidity. Spray with water. Apply neem oil weekly for 3–4 weeks.

Mealybugs

Look like: White cottony fluff in leaf joints.

Fix: Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab. Spray with diluted neem oil.

Scale

Look like: Brown bumps on stems; sticky residue below.

Fix: Scrape off manually. Apply horticultural oil.

Treatment Protocol

1. 1Isolate the affected plant immediately
2. 2Remove heavily infested leaves
3. 3Treat with appropriate method
4. 4Repeat every 5–7 days for 3–4 cycles