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With fall here and freezing temperatures approaching, potted plants should be brought indoors. Do not bring them straight inside. You may bring unwanted pests along with them. Sprinkle a granular systemic insecticide on the soil. Spray the foliage with insecticidal soap and keep the plant in a protected area outdoors or in the garage. Do not leave in the sun. After a few days, bring indoors.
The most common insects affecting interior plants are aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, mites and scale. Aphids work on the stems and underside of the leaves. The leaves can become sticky showing a black, sooty mold. The leaves will curl, disfigure and turn yellow.
Whitefly is a small white, winged, sucking insect that works on the underside of the leaves. Infestation can occur quickly with masses of eggs. The plant will turn yellow and have a mottled appearance.
Mealybugs are white, wooly masses like a ball of cotton. They will appear at nodes and the undersides of the leaves. The plant will have a faded yellow appearance. They can be controlled by dipping a Q-tip in alcohol and swabbing the insect and removing from plant.
Mites look like very small spiders on the bottom side of the leaves. They suck the plant juices causing the plant to become a faded yellow. The best way to see the mites is to hold a piece of white paper under a leaf. Flick the leaf and then move your finger over the paper. You should see streaks of red.
Scale in the mature stage attacks the stems and leaves of plants. They look like small white, gray or brown lumps. The leaves turn yellow and the plant will lose vigor. Maintaining a clean environment can control them. They can be removed by rubbing with a soap solution.
All the above pests can be treated with insecticides labeled for indoor plants. It is important to keep a watchful eye on your plants as the pests can quickly take over. Some of the home improvement centers have a foliar feed that is made from worm castings and will do wonders for the plants with a weekly misting. Healthy plants will help with the winter doldrums.
Linda Sargent, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas AgriLife Extension Service