I’ve been itching for a week since I found aphids out in my veggies, got me terrified for my indoor babies. Ruined my entire garden. Only got lettuce and beans left.
I had so many fungus gnats and I didn't know what to do. So I watered my plants with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts of water. I also sprinkled cinammon powder on the top of the soil. I also changed the soil of the really infected plants and my problem is solved. 5 of plants went to trash before I find the solution to my problem. I hope this helps guys
will this work for any type of gnats? bc i have no idea what type my plants have but they are ridiculous. i have tried a spray and powder insecticide and the Dead Bug Brew spray and it did not get rid of them. i have repotted stuff and have tried a water/peroxide spray. i’m still seeing them 😭
I had spider mites on 2 of my ficus... badly. I took them out of the pots I had, took all dirt off, rinsed reallllllllllllly well under running water (as high pressure as I could without damaging the plant). Replanted and let it dry. After it dried I used a neem mixture I bought from a seller on Etsy. Let it dry, and waited a couple days. As a precaution I sprayed again a couple days later. This was about 2-3 months ago. Nothing since... knock on wood. My plants are starting to bounce back and they look so much happier!
If my plants get dry I get spider mites.. wet, I get fungus gnats!!! I seem to notice them if it's rainy because I keep mine under my covered carport in the summer
I have them in all of my plants and I just recently repotted them. I don’t know what to do. I bought a seis cheese plant yesterday and I noticed brown spots on the bottom leaves and I was desperate because I haven’t seen them around. I don’t know what to do I think it’s fungus gnats and spider mites because of the webs but I see little black bugs in my soil
I found gnats in my miracle grow soil. I mixed 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar, few drops of dish soap, half a cup of warm water. In a container near my plants. They were attracted to it and drowned. It worked great. For now on I leave my soil bag outside to freeze in the winter which kills them.
I seen someone boil water and pour it into their soil (they put the soil in a a big bucket with a lid), mix it to let it cool, and let it sit overnight cooling before they used it for their plants. She said it was to kill whatever bugs were harvested in the soil. It seems like a good idea but just wondering if that would do anything to the nutrients in the soil? Things that make you go hmmmmm.
Ahh! I know I'm late to your comment but I've had this happen to me as well with miracle grow! Sounds odd but the only soil I trust now is from the dollarstore with added perlite! I've had no bug issues for 6 years since switching
Mealy bugs have been extra ruthless with my succulents this year and I can't explain why. It's been super frustrating and makes me want to go back to a systemic pest control.
Ruthie's Succulent Obsession same, Ive lost about a dozen succulents and cactus. it’s so sad when you lose a plant you’ve had for years to those little suckers!
@@blondietehdino I'm so sorry to hear that. What are you doing to battle them? My plant bestie sent me these aqua brushes that I can put alcohol into and brush the succulent leaves with that. I need to pull out all thr big guns because I am tired of these critters.
@@Greggorys2 the best is bonide systemic annual tree and shrub. It’s the interproclomid (sp) that kills them. Dose it once and completely gone. I haven’t seen one in 6 months now.
@@abbysanders6986 I buy it in pick form and i just always keep a pick in my watering jug, each one lasts at least a month. The water needs to sit with the puck for 24 hours first. You could also keep a puck in a bucket of water if you need more than one jug a day :)
@@abbysanders6986 If you have a fungus gnat infestation, you need to use the Mosquito Bits or Mosquito Dunks soil drench weekly for a minimum of 6-8 weeks to break their lifecycle. Even if you think they are gone after a few applications, continue to use it! I personally use it preventatively at least once a month year round. Like the other person commented, I prefer the Dunks (pucks or donut shaped version) because you can reuse them for a long time. Much less messier than trying to create a soil drench with the Bits. Hint: Do not apply the Bits to the soil as they tend to grow mold! In addition to treating with the Mosquito Dunks soil drenches, make sure to always keep yellow sticky traps near your plants. First, it gives you a quick visual guide to monitor the level/concentration of gnats and can alert you quickly to a sudden infestation before you happen to notice them. They also trap and kill the adults which prevents them from laying more eggs that will then turn into larvae. The Mosquito Dunks only kills the larvae form which is why you need to apply it for at least 2 months to break the lifecycle.
@@mollycatcolorado9252 perfect comment, you said everything, Mosquito bits or dunks are 100% effective, it is the BTI bacillus thurigiensis israelensis in it that destroys the larvae in the soil ! You can find also BTI in other products like GNATROL
One trick I've learned for preventing fungus gnats is to introduce springtails to your potted plants to outcompete the fungus gnats. Like fungus gnats, they'll eat fungus that grows in your planter which can actually be beneficial to your plants, but they don't fly so you don't have to worry about them being a nuisance. They have an added benefit that they burrow into your substrate and can help clear any harmful fungus that may take hold in your planter. I used springtails to help save a bird's nest fern from root rot and it worked very well.
Great video! My philodendron is also the thrippy culprit and neem oil isn’t cutting it! I’ve been working systematic into my soil for a couple of weeks now and just placed an order for captain jacks. With 62 plants all squeezed into my bedroom, it’s worth it to protect them as they are all likely affected by the thrips !
Great tips Nick! Wow...400 plants phew! That's a full time job alright!!!! Makes sense to have the lacewings to help with that. I am still thinking of using beneficials but atm I have a manageable number of plants so will wait and see how I do. Thanks for the great info 👍🏼
LOVE the Bromide Systematic granules. I have ordered them about 4 times. When I went to order them the 5th time (this is over a period of years), I was informed they no longer ship the product to Connecticut ... probably due to some environmental restriction. Rats !!!
Nick, awesome info. I am a small plant collector and really dislike the idea of the bugs in my house. I now feel I have more options than neem oil. I enjoy your videos. Thank you 💚🌱
I use mineral oil, a tsp per gallon to spray on the plant and pests. The NEEM just interrupts the reproductive cycle of most pests, doesn't actually kill them. :)
Great video Nick! I love your videos because I'm a "plant nut" too. I had to comment on your suggestions for pest control. I learned of a natural cure many years ago that I have used many times. It is a nicotine spray made with chewing tobacco. Nicotine is toxic to all insects and this works great! Combine one handful of cheap chewing tobacco with 4 cups boiling water. Let steep until cool. Strain and pour liquid into empty 1 gallon container. Add 1 tsp of dish SOAP not detergent (I use organic) then fill the rest of the way with fresh water. You spray this all over the affected plant and let it dry. ANY bug that goes for a drink of plant juice will get a lethal dose of nicotine and croak. I only use this indoors as I wouldn't want to kill any pollinators. It will eventually lose it's effectiveness, that's when I reapply. The spray lasts for quite a while in the bottle too. Just make sure you strain it thoroughly when mixing up a batch, or it might clog your sprayer. Keep up the excellent work Nick, I eagerly await your installments as they are always interesting and informative. Pete the Plantman
it's funny :) both of my parents used to smoke for years and always collected the butts in a jar with water to later use as spray against aphids. It worked like a miracle. Now my mom doesn't smoke anymore so I guess she uses something else in her garden, you reminded me that I need to ask her about it.
I always wondered if you dealt with pests considering the amount of plants you have. I've got less than 100 plants in my house and was always bug free (asides from fungus gnats) but recently found thrips on a few of my plants. I used Bonide systemic and it works so well! I tried neem in combination with it but you're right about the smell. I couldn't describe it but rotten oranges is exactly how it smells when you've got over 50 plants to spray down. It's awful! I love that Bonide doesn't have a scent.
How do you use it for indoor plant? I’m a plant newbie and just found thrips, did research but not many people are giving detailed instruction on how to use Captain Jack on indoor plants.. *Captain Jack’s DeadBug Spray Questions for Indoor Plants:* - Should I spray layers? Like spray once, let dry, then spay again? - Would I spray like 3 times a week? (I don’t have many plants) - should I rinse the spray medium off after letting it sit? - how long should I let it sit? - is the spray bad to use on the soil?
One layer should be fine. Spray once a week unless the infestation is really bad, then every 3-4 days. Do not rinse it off. Spray until the plant is soaked and dripping and then let it air dry. Don’t wipe any of it off. You can spray it in the soil, that’s fine.
My pothos has mealy bugs and I have been trying to use it to get rid of the bugs, and it hasn’t been working. So I’m glad you posted this video, because I was starting to get frustrated. Thank you!
Totally agree with the awful smell of Neem oil and thank you so much for addressing fungus gnats! I have tried letting my plants dry out a LOT over and over and still have them. I'm going to try the mosquito bits and hope it will help. Thanks!
Thanks for posting this Nick. You are one of the only plant people that I have heard that uses something other than neem oil. As plant owners, we each get to decide what works best for our situation. Thanks for the information on how you deal with pests and what you use.
Omg, I hit that “Buy Now” button so fast upon listening to you talk about these products. My worst fear is spider mites. Right now I consider myself lucky that I really only have a few gnats flying around one of my plants. BUT I WANNA BE PREPARED TO FIGHT THE SPIDERS.
The systemic works VERY well, but that is because it is VERY toxic. I use it, so I am not saying don't, I am saying be very careful (not nonchalant) when using it. Wear plastic gloves when handling, avoid breathing in the dust (I wear a cheap dust mask bought at Lowes) and when watering the plant, do not get the pot bottom runoff from the plant on your skin (wash it off immediately.) As with any chemical product that actually works, there is real potency to it and real caution needs to be exercised in it's use. I am very glad you mentioned treating the plant during regular watering schedules (when the plant is dry.) So many give advice (especially with organic soap recipes) to spray a plant weekly to control bugs. That would involve getting the pot soil wet way too frequently, resulting in root rot. Sure, you can tip the plant to spray just the foliage, but when you up-right it again, a lot of that moisture runs down the stems and wets the soil anyway. .
I just use a blast of non organic bug spray. As l don’t have more than 20 plants atm l very, very rarely have to use it. It’s great going organic and all that, but l don’t want to play around trying different organic products and home remedies while my plants get munched. The pesticide is localised to my plant pots anyway. I’d guess that many who use organic pesticides drive cars (l don’t), and what damage do they do to trees, plants and lungs...? I’ve checked Captain Jacks... And in the UK it’s £27! Waaay too much for a bug spray imho. Thanks for the vid as always, Nick 🙏🏻
This is the first video I’ve seen of yours and I subscribed before even finishing the video. Very informative and so wholesome please continue to be wonderful!
Thank you for discussing neem oil I found it never worked for me either. I started using dr Bronners soap, peroxide minimum 3% and water also when I’m watering my plants I rub the top edge of the pot with rubbing alcohol careful not to get in the pot. I think this keeps bugs from wanting to go in the pot I also brought a few lady bugs in and out then in the plants
Neem oil absolute waste. In fact no organic pesticide gets rid of mealybugs. They simply continue to thrive. Only method that helps is spraying plants with garden hose. But cant do this in winter so often go to sink.
So informative thanks! Do adult/winged thrips look similar to fungus gnats? I thought I was having a fungus gnat issue but found thrips (ugh) on succulents and now I'm wondering because lots of them died in my empty 'yellow' laundry basket and I know gnats like yellow 😆
Great and informative video.... I absolutely HATE bugs but I LOVE my plants.... So, even though I want my home to look like a jungle, I can’t lol... I’ll contend with living vicariously through my UA-cam plant family’s jungle homes. ♥️
jmarie1719 i’m with you girl! My place went from looking like a beautiful jungle to dark, baron & pest free! I’m not spending another dollar or minute of my time on this bug business. …I think I’ll invest in a new vacuum c instead! Maybe fake plants!
I just bought bonide spray today hoping it'll work on my new thrip problem and just now I find this video. You speak to me! The thrips just took out my philo silver sword so now I might just have to buy a ton of lacewings to save the rest of my babies!
I discovered my first ever Thrips infestation on my huge Philodendron Selloum today... it's so huge (w/pot 50 lbs) that my husband had to carry it to the walk in shower where I sprayed it thoroughly with insecticidal soap. It's too much work to spray it often due to its size. I ordered Bonide granular which I am happy you recommend! Bugs freak me out! I didn't notice any on any other plants... thanks for the tip on the lint roller tape 🤣 it works!
Well, i have been using neem oil with coconut oil and i never had any problems with pest(knock in wood), on the other hand, i grow all my plants in semihydro which is not so predisposed to pest....and you are right, neem oil smell awful but helped me a lot especially in my garden, because i had pest there. Lovely video 😊💚 and thank you for the info.
Very helpful video, thank you for sharing your experience with us. In regards to the lacewings, do they die once the pests are gone and do they work for spider mites as well? I'm always worried that I don't have enough pests to sustain them so I end up holding off. I must admit that when I ordered some for mealy bugs and when I saw a lacewing munching down on one it was the best feeling and it got me totally hooked on beneficial insects!
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for that Captains Jack's recommendation. You may have just saved my precious orchids from thrips. I couldn't bring myself to use neem. The smell gives me migraines, and I was concerned about getting oil on my orchids roots. I try to avoid systemics, because I have pets and small kids. I've had houseplants for years, but this is my first battle with thrips. They were accidentally brought in on an African violet. 😬🤦
finally someone mentions white flies and ahids! they are hard to deal with. but never seen a mealybug or thrips in my life. probably i'd scream on top of my lungs if i see one of those... just ugh... that would be the day i start question my need to keep plants.
What i do: mealybugs = water/small amount rubbing alcohol mix and spray. fungus gnats = use flystrip spider mites = rubbing alcohol water mix spray it and repot in pot with drainage holes and keep the soil dry between watering. Thrips = for houseplants use special store bought pest spray, spray the soil, stem and leaf, keep your infected plants in isolation form other healthy ones.
Plant mom since Oct. 2019 here and yes, it's disheartening as a new indoor gardener! But folks like you give me hope. I had already started using cotton swabs w/rubbing alcohol but it was so much work to go leaf after leaf. So I went to my local nursery. The gardener talked me out of neem oil because of the smell and also it's expensive. She recommended Bonide Houseplant Systemic also, which is very easy to use indeed and very helpful! Now I just need to get on the spider mites and fungus gnats! The yellow sticky traps only catch a few gnats. I think they're on to me... I recently made my own organic bug spray using water + baking soda + mild liquid soap + drops of pure essential oils: clove, tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint (again because I don't want to use neem). Time will tell on effectiveness as I have only sprayed yesterday, but others swear by it.
Great video! I've had mealys and thrips and also find neem oil ineffective so I use systemic on every plant as well as Capt. Jack when needed. SNS used as a drench eradicated thrips on one of my large philodendrons. Also, alcohol kills mealys instantly if the plant can take it.
Hi Nick, how long do the beneficial bugs live? what happens to them over time? Lots of great information on how to take care of annoying pests, I know as a plant parent we have all had to deal with one or more of these bugs at any given time. I'm just glad that there are things we can do to kill them and get them under control, and hopefully they won't return.
Hi Nick! This spring I got ladybugs at my local nursery and picked 3 and put them randomly in my plants. No insects this year and cute ladybugs🐞 seen here and there. I haven't seen them lately though. 🤪lol. I'm thinking my birdie thought they were toys for him. For wonderful gnats I always keep a small bowl of water in my kitchen sink if there's floating gnats in the morning I know they are on a plant somewhere. I used Raid house and garden spray and I've never had gnats again. I didn't use it when I had my ladybugs of course!
Hi Nick, does captain jacks still work for you? Have you tried to use the concentrate? Have you noticed that the concentrate is a lot stronger than the ready-made spray? Would be interested to know your thoughts
Best plant pest video yet ! So glad to hear something different than alcohol suggested . Yes . Alcohol will kill a few Mealybugs and their eggsacs . But they’re back in a few days . And it burns the leaves of my succulents ( or dries them out . Ugly either way ). It’s maddening. I use the Bonide Systemic that you use. Did ya know you can buy a much bigger container that’s not labeled “ House Plant “ , but contains the same ingredient. .22% Imidacloprid. It’s a much better value . I have some Monterey brand Spinosad . I’ll try it . I think I have thrips on my succulents. I have over 200 plants . Gonna do green lacewings after the Spinosad has had time to settle down . Do you use the Captain Jack Dead Bug Brew on succulents at all ? Just curious if it burns their leaves or messes up the farina . And , does the Bonide Systemic kill the green lacewings? Thanks for the video.
We have the same nemesis: thrips and spider mites. Many of my babies died of thrips. I tried neem oil and dish soap but it didn't work. Do i went for the big guns: insecticide pyretherin. They went away but now I have spider mites. Man! It never ends. But thanks for sharing how you deal with them.
This is perfect! I’ve started an ivy collection (I have 4 now) and I’m terrified of spider mites. It got them once this summer, but I caught it early and just washed them off. Hopefully I can collect them in peace!
I hate Thrips. I even somehow got them in my grow tent growing hydroponic peppers lol. Dont ask me how it happened. I can only think its from having my patio screen door open. Captain Jacks is awesome stuff though. Really knocks the thrips out and is non toxic to humans. They also Make Capt Jacks in a Powder. I agree with u on neem oil I think that stuff is overrated
Thank you so much for this video!! It’s the best pest control video I’ve seen so far, and really helpful :D also, your pointy teeth are absolutely adorable
thank you for pointing out the price difference of buying larva vs eggs. I bought eggs and well, I don't even know if they hatched. I will buy larva next time for sure!!!
Thanks Nick for the info. Right now I have been noticing a few fungus knats here and there but nothing serious. I did go out and buy an organic insecticide called Fungicide 3 from Lowe's. I do have to admit that I have been too afraid to use it because I am afraid of harming my plants. I will read carefully and consider using it though.
Nick, will the lacewings then breed/lay eggs and create more lacewings thus providing a constant supply of these beneficial bugs? Or do they simply die off and if so, how long is their life span? Very curious to know . .
Thank you so much for all of this information I just brought in tons of my plants to winter them and de-potted and washed over 100 of my plants and I still have to bring in a lot more but I don’t won’t to depot and clean them all it’s a lot of work, what do you use if you’re bringing an outdoor plant inside?
I've been loving your videos lately! I never used to care about houseplants but lately, I've been more into them and bringing more home. I just realized that thrips were attacking my Monstera Deliciosa. I tried a spray (not Captain Jack but I'll look for him next time). If that doesn't work I'll try the lacewings. Do they stick around for a long time? Or just kinda die off eventually? Thanks!
Great video Nick. I was looking for something to control thrips on African Violets and didn't want to use Neem Oil. I am ordering some Captain Jacks instead. Thanks for all your tips, looking forward to checking out your other videos. Subbed
Thanks so very much for posting this. I was wanting to know about the granuals instead of the powder. Does the Bonide Systemic Insecticide granuals damage the soil. I watched a vid by a lady who said to never use it because it kills the microbes in the soil that feeds your plants.
I have the dead bug spray, and I've used it for thrips. How fast do you typically see it working? If I used it and still see the thrips in 24 hours, do you suggest reapplying? Thanks so much! I love your videos!
I would re-apply once a week (maybe once every four days at the most) until you notice the population going down. Remember you'll most likely never completely be rid of them and it's really more about control than eradication. Applying spray too often can cause burns on your plants, especially if they're sensitive to chemicals. If you notice the pest population going back up then I would go back to applying once a week until it's more controlled. Hope that helped!
I found a really early thrips infestation on my philo selloum that is now the reason behind my daily panic attack! I’m a big plant toucher so before I was aware of said infestation I unknowingly spread it to all my favorite plants (At least 8) *crying*
I’ve done the exact same thing with the exact same plant. How odd. I noticed thrips on only my philodendrons. First it was the selloum, then my philodendron little hope and then my philodendron Xanadu. Sprayed neem oil routinely and it’s not done anything to rid the pests. Ended up binning the Little Hope and Xanadu. I’ve then handled my favourites and passed them on - Philodendron Prince of orange and Alocasia Frydek. Miffed off
@@DopeyIan88 feel for ya, man. I tried what felt like everything under the sun and finally had to resort to using systemic granules (brand: bonide) since all my plants are indoor-only and don’t come into contact w pollinators. It’s the only thing that’s worked for me, and it works fast, too. Highly recommend, but it’s only available in certain countries.
I have many plants and I too found them in my huge Philodendron Selloum!!! I am not finding them on any thing else but I don't want them period! I've been using Bonide granules and using insecticidal spray. I'm going to order Captain jacks... how are your plants doing now?
My calathea recently got thrips and it's not doing too well at the moment. It's frustrating but glad that I saw your vid! I am currently trying to rid my fear of bugs and insects-.- Thanks so much for sharing!
I've had green lacewings coming in from outside in spring. They're cute and never do any harm so I just leave them alone. Never knew they were good for pests tho. Gonna move them from the walls to my plants from now on.
Thanks for all the great tips and advice for past control. I have had a terrible time with mealies and slugs this summer. I saw a few knats too but think it may have been due to worm castings.
Ruthie's Succulent Obsession I just added worm castings to about a third of my plants and now I have fungus knats everywhere. I thought it was a fluke but maybe not.
Great video, thanks Nick. I have some Encarsia wasps coming to dry to deal with Spider Mites. I've found them to be very variable in their effectiveness as I think they tend to die quickly in summer heat but it's getting cooler here (in the UK) now so hopefully they'll do the job and clean up my giant (too large for the shower) Alocasia.
I had been watching a few of your videos and decided to check and see what your advice on getting rid of spider mites was. Of course, I had been using a spray made up of neem, dish soap and water. I only saw the mites on one plant but it freaked me out so much that I first decided to treat only it and the plants surrounding it. Soon, though, I found myself treating all my plants. I thought I had a lot of plants..,.40-50, but I pale in comparison to you, lol. It's been a lot of work because I also decided that it would be a great time to repot many of them because I've been too ill to care for them properly for so long. Anyways, gonna try the products that you recommended. I'm still a bit leery about the mites even though I treated many of the plants twice, already. On another note...but keeping to the business of plant pests.....I wanted to mention how every time I repotted plants, I ended up with fungus gnats. I have since come to learn that MiracleGro products, which I often bought, come with the 'bonus' gnats. I don't know about other commercial soils, though. Btw, learning lots by watching.....umm, actually, binging..... your videos so I have also subbed!
Thank you for this information! I tried neem oil because everyone swears by it...but I'm still have issues. I just went and got the Capt. Jacks in concentrated form! Tomorrow is plant maintenance day! So here is too hoping!
So many of these products are not sold in Canada... I have a thrips infestation and I'll be trying my luck with insecticidal soap. The neem oil I see more as a preventative than a treatment option
Thanks for the great info & explanations! I'm a beginner with houseplants & have trouble trying to identify what kind of pest is squirming around in there... any helpful hints on identifying?
I use neem for mealy bugs, but each time my plants had them, I caught them early and the infestations were not very bad. I make my own concoction with neem, hydrogen peroxide, soap and water. I used it on my roses and tomatoes, too when they got some weird bug I haven’t been able to id. It worked. But, I don’t have 400 plants! The mosquito bits and sticky traps are great for fungus gnats.
Very interesting and a good alternative. I don’t know where I get spider mites from…I haven’t introduced any new plants and it gets very frustrating. The last plant I purchased had mealy bugs…I caught it before they got to spread to my other plants.
Yes, the crappy Walmart and Home Depot and Lowe’s hydrophobic Neem oil mixed with other chemicals variations aren’t cutting it here in El Paso. I don’t know what I have, I got the spider mites under control but something else is devastating my pepper plants yet my watermelons are thriving
Just wonder if you could help me out. I have a small, so far, fungus gnat infestation. Can the mosquito bits and systemics be used at the same time? Thanks!
It’s interesting that so many people have not had success with Neem oil. Last year I had a major infestation of scale on my big shefflera plant, and was ready to toss it. I took it outside on the deck, trimmed off the worst branches, and sprayed the crap out of it with a mix I made of Neem oil, dish soap and water, then repeated when it dried. I continued to spray it every few days for a couple of weeks and no more scale with the bonus of shiny leaves. It looks great now! I am currently dealing with my first incident of mealy bugs and man did they spread before I caught them-I didn’t know what they were. Using selective pruning and my Neem oil spray now to address that, and it seems to be working but still early days. From now on I will be using Neem oil prophylactically to repel pests. I think I hit critical mass last year with the number of plants I have which is resulting in pests. Another vote here for Mosquito bits tea to deal with fungus gnats. I used Miracle Gro potting soil. :(
Hi I have a question. So I suspected my indoor plants had thrips so I bagged the pots leaving the leaves and branches out and I washed them down with my hose and sprayed them down with Captain Jacks Dead Bug Brew Insecticide spray (I think I used the whole spray bottle on 8 plants) and left them to dry. Now the leaves look dull and puffy and my monstera leaves looks slightly discolored. Is there such a thing as overwatering leaves? Or maybe I used too much of the insecticide ? Or maybe the combination of the watering them down first then adding the spray was too much ? Did I kill my plants by doing this ?
Such good info! Thank you! I'm new to plants and know what mealy bugs and spider mites look like, but how do I know if I have thrips or scale? Any tips or tell take signs?
The damage caused by thrips looks similar to spider mite damage, i.e. distorted/curling leaves or silvery gray patches, sometimes tiny puncture marks (put a light behind the leaf). If you don't see any webs, then it is probably thrips rather than spider mites, especially if you see tiny black dots under the leaves which are the excrement left by the thrips. Thrips have narrow stick-like bodies but are so small they are hard to see. Scale insects are round blobs (usually brown) which don't move. They often look like a natural part of a stem. A good sign you may have scale is if you feel stickiness anywhere on your plant. It's the honeydew they leave behind. Aphids also leave a sticky residue but they are easy to spot with the naked eye.
What is your recommendation for products to use on plants that will produce fruits or vegetables that I plan to eat, I am growing a few plants indoors that will produce fruits and vegetables I plan to eat, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers plants. I don’t have mosquito bits because I’m from Canada and for some reason Canada doesn’t have access to mosquito bits, what’s an alternative that works to get rid of fungus gnats
Hi Nick. I don't think my question is related to this video, but i just remembered that you have a deliciosa, if i am not wrong, with some varigation, but you've said is not a borsigiana albo. I have found an adansonii, with the similar pattern or discoloration, but not yellow and everyone is saying that is the mosaic virus. The seller told me that she had the plant for 8 months and virus or not she doesn't care because the plant looks fine....and it was expensive as well. Besides that I've bought from her another 5 plants with the adansonii, but apparently this virus you can transfer it from a plant to another only by touching the infected plant. Any thoughts?
I use the Bonide systemic treatment (for fungus gnats) every two months and it works for me. I only have 15 plants though, and I find it a bit of a production. I can't imagine doing it every two months on 400 plants!
Hi! I've also heard about using predatory mites to deal with thrips. Is that the same thing as green lacewings? I would love your opinion between the two if you have one :)
I might of missed it but did you say the green lace wings help with getting rid of spider mites? New to house plant hoarding (usually just have 1 or 2 plants about but somehow ended up with 50). Having an issue with Thrips and spider mites. I’ve sprayed the affected plants with neem oil multiple times and nothing changes at all
Good info. Anyone always get itchy when we talk about plant pests? Never fails 😂
Yeeesssss!!! Every single time!
I’ve been itching for a week since I found aphids out in my veggies, got me terrified for my indoor babies. Ruined my entire garden. Only got lettuce and beans left.
Mannnnn so funny. I’m over here itching then i see your comment 🤦🏽♀️😂😂😂
I’m itching right now and I looked down and seen this comment. 🤣
i just discovered spider mites on my bird of paradise and i cant shake the itchy feeling
I had so many fungus gnats and I didn't know what to do. So I watered my plants with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts of water. I also sprinkled cinammon powder on the top of the soil. I also changed the soil of the really infected plants and my problem is solved. 5 of plants went to trash before I find the solution to my problem. I hope this helps guys
A layer of sand on top of the soil as well
will this work for any type of gnats? bc i have no idea what type my plants have but they are ridiculous. i have tried a spray and powder insecticide and the Dead Bug Brew spray and it did not get rid of them. i have repotted stuff and have tried a water/peroxide spray. i’m still seeing them 😭
I had spider mites on 2 of my ficus... badly. I took them out of the pots I had, took all dirt off, rinsed reallllllllllllly well under running water (as high pressure as I could without damaging the plant). Replanted and let it dry. After it dried I used a neem mixture I bought from a seller on Etsy. Let it dry, and waited a couple days. As a precaution I sprayed again a couple days later. This was about 2-3 months ago. Nothing since... knock on wood. My plants are starting to bounce back and they look so much happier!
If my plants get dry I get spider mites.. wet, I get fungus gnats!!! I seem to notice them if it's rainy because I keep mine under my covered carport in the summer
I have them in all of my plants and I just recently repotted them. I don’t know what to do. I bought a seis cheese plant yesterday and I noticed brown spots on the bottom leaves and I was desperate because I haven’t seen them around. I don’t know what to do I think it’s fungus gnats and spider mites because of the webs but I see little black bugs in my soil
I found gnats in my miracle grow soil. I mixed 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar, few drops of dish soap, half a cup of warm water. In a container near my plants. They were attracted to it and drowned. It worked great. For now on I leave my soil bag outside to freeze in the winter which kills them.
Omg I had a HORRIBLE infestation in my miracle grow soil and had to take the actual bag of soil out to my patio because it had so many gnats!!! Ugh
Me too man
I seen someone boil water and pour it into their soil (they put the soil in a a big bucket with a lid), mix it to let it cool, and let it sit overnight cooling before they used it for their plants. She said it was to kill whatever bugs were harvested in the soil. It seems like a good idea but just wondering if that would do anything to the nutrients in the soil? Things that make you go hmmmmm.
Ahh! I know I'm late to your comment but I've had this happen to me as well with miracle grow! Sounds odd but the only soil I trust now is from the dollarstore with added perlite! I've had no bug issues for 6 years since switching
Miracle-Gro is notorious for Fungus Gnats...I switch to Shultz and haven't had any problem! Avoid Miracle-Gro if you can!
Mealybugs have wiped out tons of my plants lately this video is perfect timing
what product do you recommend for Mealybugs?
Mealy bugs have been extra ruthless with my succulents this year and I can't explain why. It's been super frustrating and makes me want to go back to a systemic pest control.
Ruthie's Succulent Obsession same, Ive lost about a dozen succulents and cactus. it’s so sad when you lose a plant you’ve had for years to those little suckers!
@@blondietehdino I'm so sorry to hear that. What are you doing to battle them? My plant bestie sent me these aqua brushes that I can put alcohol into and brush the succulent leaves with that. I need to pull out all thr big guns because I am tired of these critters.
@@Greggorys2 the best is bonide systemic annual tree and shrub. It’s the interproclomid (sp) that kills them. Dose it once and completely gone. I haven’t seen one in 6 months now.
I use mosquito bits in my work as a biologist, they are incredible to control mosquitos in watersheds. So effective and so safe!
I’m so glad this worked for you! I want to try this, how often should I water my plants with these bits?
@@abbysanders6986 I buy it in pick form and i just always keep a pick in my watering jug, each one lasts at least a month. The water needs to sit with the puck for 24 hours first. You could also keep a puck in a bucket of water if you need more than one jug a day :)
@@abbysanders6986 If you have a fungus gnat infestation, you need to use the Mosquito Bits or Mosquito Dunks soil drench weekly for a minimum of 6-8 weeks to break their lifecycle. Even if you think they are gone after a few applications, continue to use it! I personally use it preventatively at least once a month year round. Like the other person commented, I prefer the Dunks (pucks or donut shaped version) because you can reuse them for a long time. Much less messier than trying to create a soil drench with the Bits. Hint: Do not apply the Bits to the soil as they tend to grow mold!
In addition to treating with the Mosquito Dunks soil drenches, make sure to always keep yellow sticky traps near your plants. First, it gives you a quick visual guide to monitor the level/concentration of gnats and can alert you quickly to a sudden infestation before you happen to notice them. They also trap and kill the adults which prevents them from laying more eggs that will then turn into larvae. The Mosquito Dunks only kills the larvae form which is why you need to apply it for at least 2 months to break the lifecycle.
@@mollycatcolorado9252 perfect comment, you said everything, Mosquito bits or dunks are 100% effective, it is the BTI bacillus thurigiensis israelensis in it that destroys the larvae in the soil ! You can find also BTI in other products like GNATROL
"mites are not insects" omfg thank you Nick
One trick I've learned for preventing fungus gnats is to introduce springtails to your potted plants to outcompete the fungus gnats. Like fungus gnats, they'll eat fungus that grows in your planter which can actually be beneficial to your plants, but they don't fly so you don't have to worry about them being a nuisance. They have an added benefit that they burrow into your substrate and can help clear any harmful fungus that may take hold in your planter. I used springtails to help save a bird's nest fern from root rot and it worked very well.
Great video! My philodendron is also the thrippy culprit and neem oil isn’t cutting it! I’ve been working systematic into my soil for a couple of weeks now and just placed an order for captain jacks. With 62 plants all squeezed into my bedroom, it’s worth it to protect them as they are all likely affected by the thrips !
How are they now? I found a trip yesteday and I trashed that plant n sprayed all plants wirh captain jacks. Will do weekly for two months to be safe
Great tips Nick! Wow...400 plants phew! That's a full time job alright!!!! Makes sense to have the lacewings to help with that. I am still thinking of using beneficials but atm I have a manageable number of plants so will wait and see how I do. Thanks for the great info 👍🏼
Hi Nick, how often do you spray the Captain Jack’s when you are fighting off an infestation?
LOVE the Bromide Systematic granules. I have ordered them about 4 times. When I went to order them the 5th time (this is over a period of years), I was informed they no longer ship the product to Connecticut ... probably due to some environmental restriction. Rats !!!
Nick, awesome info. I am a small plant collector and really dislike the idea of the bugs in my house. I now feel I have more options than neem oil. I enjoy your videos. Thank you 💚🌱
I use mineral oil, a tsp per gallon to spray on the plant and pests. The NEEM just interrupts the reproductive cycle of most pests, doesn't actually kill them. :)
How often should I spray my plants with this solution?
Great video Nick! I love your videos because I'm a "plant nut" too. I had to comment on your suggestions for pest control. I learned of a natural cure many years ago that I have used many times. It is a nicotine spray made with chewing tobacco. Nicotine is toxic to all insects and this works great! Combine one handful of cheap chewing tobacco with 4 cups boiling water. Let steep until cool. Strain and pour liquid into empty 1 gallon container. Add 1 tsp of dish SOAP not detergent (I use organic) then fill the rest of the way with fresh water. You spray this all over the affected plant and let it dry. ANY bug that goes for a drink of plant juice will get a lethal dose of nicotine and croak. I only use this indoors as I wouldn't want to kill any pollinators. It will eventually lose it's effectiveness, that's when I reapply.
The spray lasts for quite a while in the bottle too. Just make sure you strain it thoroughly when mixing up a batch, or it might clog your sprayer. Keep up the excellent work Nick, I eagerly await your installments as they are always interesting and informative.
Pete the Plantman
it's funny :) both of my parents used to smoke for years and always collected the butts in a jar with water to later use as spray against aphids. It worked like a miracle. Now my mom doesn't smoke anymore so I guess she uses something else in her garden, you reminded me that I need to ask her about it.
What happens to the lacewings when they become adults? Do they fly around the house? Do they die? Lol
I always wondered if you dealt with pests considering the amount of plants you have. I've got less than 100 plants in my house and was always bug free (asides from fungus gnats) but recently found thrips on a few of my plants. I used Bonide systemic and it works so well! I tried neem in combination with it but you're right about the smell. I couldn't describe it but rotten oranges is exactly how it smells when you've got over 50 plants to spray down. It's awful! I love that Bonide doesn't have a scent.
How do you use it for indoor plant? I’m a plant newbie and just found thrips, did research but not many people are giving detailed instruction on how to use Captain Jack on indoor plants..
*Captain Jack’s DeadBug Spray Questions for Indoor Plants:*
- Should I spray layers? Like spray once, let dry, then spay again?
- Would I spray like 3 times a week? (I don’t have many plants)
- should I rinse the spray medium off after letting it sit?
- how long should I let it sit?
- is the spray bad to use on the soil?
One layer should be fine. Spray once a week unless the infestation is really bad, then every 3-4 days. Do not rinse it off. Spray until the plant is soaked and dripping and then let it air dry. Don’t wipe any of it off. You can spray it in the soil, that’s fine.
I use hydrogen peroxide and water to treat Fungus gnats. and I use Alcohol + dish soap + water for Spider Mites
How do u apply it. What are measurements
I need a Q&A with your roommate lol
YES !!!
My pothos has mealy bugs and I have been trying to use it to get rid of the bugs, and it hasn’t been working. So I’m glad you posted this video, because I was starting to get frustrated.
Thank you!
Totally agree with the awful smell of Neem oil and thank you so much for addressing fungus gnats! I have tried letting my plants dry out a LOT over and over and still have them. I'm going to try the mosquito bits and hope it will help. Thanks!
Thanks for posting this Nick. You are one of the only plant people that I have heard that uses something other than neem oil. As plant owners, we each get to decide what works best for our situation. Thanks for the information on how you deal with pests and what you use.
Omg, I hit that “Buy Now” button so fast upon listening to you talk about these products. My worst fear is spider mites. Right now I consider myself lucky that I really only have a few gnats flying around one of my plants. BUT I WANNA BE PREPARED TO FIGHT THE SPIDERS.
For the first time in years I finally came in contact with spidermites, on 2 of my ivy plants...I didnt even bother I threw them right out 🤮
@@heroblok6 spider mites are the easiest pest to get rid of!
The systemic works VERY well, but that is because it is VERY toxic. I use it, so I am not saying don't, I am saying be very careful (not nonchalant) when using it. Wear plastic gloves when handling, avoid breathing in the dust (I wear a cheap dust mask bought at Lowes) and when watering the plant, do not get the pot bottom runoff from the plant on your skin (wash it off immediately.) As with any chemical product that actually works, there is real potency to it and real caution needs to be exercised in it's use.
I am very glad you mentioned treating the plant during regular watering schedules (when the plant is dry.) So many give advice (especially with organic soap recipes) to spray a plant weekly to control bugs. That would involve getting the pot soil wet way too frequently, resulting in root rot. Sure, you can tip the plant to spray just the foliage, but when you up-right it again, a lot of that moisture runs down the stems and wets the soil anyway.
.
Honestly another reason why I like neem oil. It's residual.
I just use a blast of non organic bug spray. As l don’t have more than 20 plants atm l very, very rarely have to use it. It’s great going organic and all that, but l don’t want to play around trying different organic products and home remedies while my plants get munched. The pesticide is localised to my plant pots anyway. I’d guess that many who use organic pesticides drive cars (l don’t), and what damage do they do to trees, plants and lungs...?
I’ve checked Captain Jacks... And in the UK it’s £27! Waaay too much for a bug spray imho. Thanks for the vid as always, Nick 🙏🏻
This is the first video I’ve seen of yours and I subscribed before even finishing the video. Very informative and so wholesome please continue to be wonderful!
"Gnawing type of fashion" cracked me up for some reason. Thank you for the informative video!
Hilarious!
Thank you for discussing neem oil I found it never worked for me either. I started using dr Bronners soap, peroxide minimum 3% and water also when I’m watering my plants I rub the top edge of the pot with rubbing alcohol careful not to get in the pot. I think this keeps bugs from wanting to go in the pot I also brought a few lady bugs in and out then in the plants
Neem oil absolute waste. In fact no organic pesticide gets rid of mealybugs. They simply continue to thrive. Only method that helps is spraying plants with garden hose. But cant do this in winter so often go to sink.
So informative thanks! Do adult/winged thrips look similar to fungus gnats? I thought I was having a fungus gnat issue but found thrips (ugh) on succulents and now I'm wondering because lots of them died in my empty 'yellow' laundry basket and I know gnats like yellow 😆
Great and informative video.... I absolutely HATE bugs but I LOVE my plants.... So, even though I want my home to look like a jungle, I can’t lol... I’ll contend with living vicariously through my UA-cam plant family’s jungle homes. ♥️
jmarie1719 i’m with you girl! My place went from looking like a beautiful jungle to dark, baron & pest free! I’m not spending another dollar or minute of my time on this bug business. …I think I’ll invest in a new vacuum c instead! Maybe fake plants!
Mosquito bite have been the most effective for me! Thanks for all the helpful tips! ❤️🌱
Nick is really cute when he talks about plants!
I just bought bonide spray today hoping it'll work on my new thrip problem and just now I find this video. You speak to me! The thrips just took out my philo silver sword so now I might just have to buy a ton of lacewings to save the rest of my babies!
I just moved and had all my plants in bins together and discovered one or two had thrips. Im in for it now. Thanks for the helpful video Nick!
My mom always liked to use tobacco water to spray plants. Tobacco is a natural insecticide.
I discovered my first ever Thrips infestation on my huge Philodendron Selloum today... it's so huge (w/pot 50 lbs) that my husband had to carry it to the walk in shower where I sprayed it thoroughly with insecticidal soap. It's too much work to spray it often due to its size. I ordered Bonide granular which I am happy you recommend! Bugs freak me out! I didn't notice any on any other plants... thanks for the tip on the lint roller tape 🤣 it works!
Well, i have been using neem oil with coconut oil and i never had any problems with pest(knock in wood), on the other hand, i grow all my plants in semihydro which is not so predisposed to pest....and you are right, neem oil smell awful but helped me a lot especially in my garden, because i had pest there. Lovely video 😊💚 and thank you for the info.
Very helpful video, thank you for sharing your experience with us. In regards to the lacewings, do they die once the pests are gone and do they work for spider mites as well? I'm always worried that I don't have enough pests to sustain them so I end up holding off. I must admit that when I ordered some for mealy bugs and when I saw a lacewing munching down on one it was the best feeling and it got me totally hooked on beneficial insects!
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for that Captains Jack's recommendation. You may have just saved my precious orchids from thrips. I couldn't bring myself to use neem. The smell gives me migraines, and I was concerned about getting oil on my orchids roots. I try to avoid systemics, because I have pets and small kids. I've had houseplants for years, but this is my first battle with thrips. They were accidentally brought in on an African violet. 😬🤦
finally someone mentions white flies and ahids! they are hard to deal with. but never seen a mealybug or thrips in my life. probably i'd scream on top of my lungs if i see one of those... just ugh... that would be the day i start question my need to keep plants.
What i do:
mealybugs = water/small amount rubbing alcohol mix and spray.
fungus gnats = use flystrip
spider mites = rubbing alcohol water mix spray it and repot in pot with drainage holes and keep the soil dry between watering.
Thrips = for houseplants use special store bought pest spray, spray the soil, stem and leaf, keep your infected plants in isolation form other healthy ones.
Plant mom since Oct. 2019 here and yes, it's disheartening as a new indoor gardener! But folks like you give me hope. I had already started using cotton swabs w/rubbing alcohol but it was so much work to go leaf after leaf. So I went to my local nursery. The gardener talked me out of neem oil because of the smell and also it's expensive. She recommended Bonide Houseplant Systemic also, which is very easy to use indeed and very helpful! Now I just need to get on the spider mites and fungus gnats! The yellow sticky traps only catch a few gnats. I think they're on to me... I recently made my own organic bug spray using water + baking soda + mild liquid soap + drops of pure essential oils: clove, tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint (again because I don't want to use neem). Time will tell on effectiveness as I have only sprayed yesterday, but others swear by it.
Athenal0ve hi, how is it? Did your spray work?
Great video! I've had mealys and thrips and also find neem oil ineffective so I use systemic on every plant as well as Capt. Jack when needed. SNS used as a drench eradicated thrips on one of my large philodendrons. Also, alcohol kills mealys instantly if the plant can take it.
Hi Nick, how long do the beneficial bugs live? what happens to them over time? Lots of great information on how to take care of annoying pests, I know as a plant parent we have all had to deal with one or more of these bugs at any given time. I'm just glad that there are things we can do to kill them and get them under control, and hopefully they won't return.
Hi Nick! This spring I got ladybugs at my local nursery and picked 3 and put them randomly in my plants. No insects this year and cute ladybugs🐞 seen here and there. I haven't seen them lately though. 🤪lol. I'm thinking my birdie thought they were toys for him. For wonderful gnats I always keep a small bowl of water in my kitchen sink if there's floating gnats in the morning I know they are on a plant somewhere. I used Raid house and garden spray and I've never had gnats again. I didn't use it when I had my ladybugs of course!
Love the idea of lacewings taking care of the bad bugs. I have a huge burle Marx also. It’s one of my many favs. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Nick, does captain jacks still work for you? Have you tried to use the concentrate? Have you noticed that the concentrate is a lot stronger than the ready-made spray? Would be interested to know your thoughts
Nick, I love you. You have just saved my plant collection!
So funny how I got here 😂 because the neem oil don’t work for me 😅 . Thank you for this very helpful video
Best plant pest video yet ! So glad to hear something different than alcohol suggested . Yes . Alcohol will kill a few Mealybugs and their eggsacs . But they’re back in a few days . And it burns the leaves of my succulents ( or dries them out . Ugly either way ). It’s maddening. I use the Bonide Systemic that you use. Did ya know you can buy a much bigger container that’s not labeled “ House Plant “ , but contains the same ingredient. .22% Imidacloprid. It’s a much better value . I have some Monterey brand Spinosad . I’ll try it . I think I have thrips on my succulents. I have over 200 plants . Gonna do green lacewings after the Spinosad has had time to settle down . Do you use the Captain Jack Dead Bug Brew on succulents at all ? Just curious if it burns their leaves or messes up the farina . And , does the Bonide Systemic kill the green lacewings? Thanks for the video.
Thank you! This video addressed all my questions! 🎉
We have the same nemesis: thrips and spider mites. Many of my babies died of thrips. I tried neem oil and dish soap but it didn't work. Do i went for the big guns: insecticide pyretherin. They went away but now I have spider mites. Man! It never ends. But thanks for sharing how you deal with them.
Thanks going to pick up some Bonide systemic tomorrow. Mealybugs
This is perfect! I’ve started an ivy collection (I have 4 now) and I’m terrified of spider mites. It got them once this summer, but I caught it early and just washed them off. Hopefully I can collect them in peace!
I hate Thrips. I even somehow got them in my grow tent growing hydroponic peppers lol. Dont ask me how it happened. I can only think its from having my patio screen door open. Captain Jacks is awesome stuff though. Really knocks the thrips out and is non toxic to humans. They also Make Capt Jacks in a Powder. I agree with u on neem oil I think that stuff is overrated
Thank you so much for this video!! It’s the best pest control video I’ve seen so far, and really helpful :D also, your pointy teeth are absolutely adorable
thank you for pointing out the price difference of buying larva vs eggs. I bought eggs and well, I don't even know if they hatched. I will buy larva next time for sure!!!
Thanks Nick for the info. Right now I have been noticing a few fungus knats here and there but nothing serious. I did go out and buy an organic insecticide called Fungicide 3 from Lowe's. I do have to admit that I have been too afraid to use it because I am afraid of harming my plants. I will read carefully and consider using it though.
I use this brand. So far so good and hasn’t harmed any of my plants.
Nick, will the lacewings then breed/lay eggs and create more lacewings thus providing a constant supply of these beneficial bugs? Or do they simply die off and if so, how long is their life span? Very curious to know . .
Thank you so much for all of this information I just brought in tons of my plants to winter them and de-potted and washed over 100 of my plants and I still have to bring in a lot more but I don’t won’t to depot and clean them all it’s a lot of work, what do you use if you’re bringing an outdoor plant inside?
I've been loving your videos lately! I never used to care about houseplants but lately, I've been more into them and bringing more home. I just realized that thrips were attacking my Monstera Deliciosa. I tried a spray (not Captain Jack but I'll look for him next time). If that doesn't work I'll try the lacewings. Do they stick around for a long time? Or just kinda die off eventually? Thanks!
Great video Nick. I was looking for something to control thrips on African Violets and didn't want to use Neem Oil. I am ordering some Captain Jacks instead. Thanks for all your tips, looking forward to checking out your other videos. Subbed
Thanks so very much for posting this. I was wanting to know about the granuals instead of the powder. Does the Bonide Systemic Insecticide granuals damage the soil. I watched a vid by a lady who said to never use it because it kills the microbes in the soil that feeds your plants.
I have the dead bug spray, and I've used it for thrips. How fast do you typically see it working? If I used it and still see the thrips in 24 hours, do you suggest reapplying? Thanks so much! I love your videos!
I would re-apply once a week (maybe once every four days at the most) until you notice the population going down. Remember you'll most likely never completely be rid of them and it's really more about control than eradication. Applying spray too often can cause burns on your plants, especially if they're sensitive to chemicals. If you notice the pest population going back up then I would go back to applying once a week until it's more controlled. Hope that helped!
I mostly deal with mealybugs and I just use an alcohol spray. It takes a while for them to go away completely but it works eventually
4:03 this is what I was really curious about and you answered it yay!
I found a really early thrips infestation on my philo selloum that is now the reason behind my daily panic attack! I’m a big plant toucher so before I was aware of said infestation I unknowingly spread it to all my favorite plants (At least 8) *crying*
I’ve done the exact same thing with the exact same plant. How odd. I noticed thrips on only my philodendrons. First it was the selloum, then my philodendron little hope and then my philodendron Xanadu. Sprayed neem oil routinely and it’s not done anything to rid the pests. Ended up binning the Little Hope and Xanadu.
I’ve then handled my favourites and passed them on - Philodendron Prince of orange and Alocasia Frydek. Miffed off
@@DopeyIan88 feel for ya, man. I tried what felt like everything under the sun and finally had to resort to using systemic granules (brand: bonide) since all my plants are indoor-only and don’t come into contact w pollinators. It’s the only thing that’s worked for me, and it works fast, too. Highly recommend, but it’s only available in certain countries.
Me2. I’m freaking out
I have many plants and I too found them in my huge Philodendron Selloum!!! I am not finding them on any thing else but I don't want them period! I've been using Bonide granules and using insecticidal spray. I'm going to order Captain jacks... how are your plants doing now?
My calathea recently got thrips and it's not doing too well at the moment. It's frustrating but glad that I saw your vid! I am currently trying to rid my fear of bugs and insects-.- Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for explaining the lace wings I did have a question. How long do they last on your plants..
I've had green lacewings coming in from outside in spring. They're cute and never do any harm so I just leave them alone. Never knew they were good for pests tho. Gonna move them from the walls to my plants from now on.
Just going through my first round of fungus gnats... thanks for the tips!
Yep getting ready to dose it all with Jacks Dead Bug. I switch with bonide systemic and the green bottle insecticidal soap.
AND YES NEEM IS USELSS! I am convinced! Lmfao!
So right Nick! The neem oil inside one's home is really noxious.....And it was too agressive for my plants. Giving the Deadbug brew a try today.
Thanks for all the great tips and advice for past control. I have had a terrible time with mealies and slugs this summer. I saw a few knats too but think it may have been due to worm castings.
Ruthie's Succulent Obsession I just added worm castings to about a third of my plants and now I have fungus knats everywhere. I thought it was a fluke but maybe not.
Great video, thanks Nick. I have some Encarsia wasps coming to dry to deal with Spider Mites. I've found them to be very variable in their effectiveness as I think they tend to die quickly in summer heat but it's getting cooler here (in the UK) now so hopefully they'll do the job and clean up my giant (too large for the shower) Alocasia.
I had been watching a few of your videos and decided to check and see what your advice on getting rid of spider mites was. Of course, I had been using a spray made up of neem, dish soap and water. I only saw the mites on one plant but it freaked me out so much that I first decided to treat only it and the plants surrounding it. Soon, though, I found myself treating all my plants. I thought I had a lot of plants..,.40-50, but I pale in comparison to you, lol. It's been a lot of work because I also decided that it would be a great time to repot many of them because I've been too ill to care for them properly for so long. Anyways, gonna try the products that you recommended. I'm still a bit leery about the mites even though I treated many of the plants twice, already.
On another note...but keeping to the business of plant pests.....I wanted to mention how every time I repotted plants, I ended up with fungus gnats. I have since come to learn that MiracleGro products, which I often bought, come with the 'bonus' gnats. I don't know about other commercial soils, though.
Btw, learning lots by watching.....umm, actually, binging..... your videos so I have also subbed!
Thank you so much,you saved me so much money just getting into this!
Thank you for this information! I tried neem oil because everyone swears by it...but I'm still have issues. I just went and got the Capt. Jacks in concentrated form! Tomorrow is plant maintenance day! So here is too hoping!
So many of these products are not sold in Canada... I have a thrips infestation and I'll be trying my luck with insecticidal soap. The neem oil I see more as a preventative than a treatment option
Thank you! This is exactly what I needed.
Thanks for the great info & explanations! I'm a beginner with houseplants & have trouble trying to identify what kind of pest is squirming around in there... any helpful hints on identifying?
how long do the lacewings live for usually?
I use neem for mealy bugs, but each time my plants had them, I caught them early and the infestations were not very bad. I make my own concoction with neem, hydrogen peroxide, soap and water. I used it on my roses and tomatoes, too when they got some weird bug I haven’t been able to id. It worked. But, I don’t have 400 plants! The mosquito bits and sticky traps are great for fungus gnats.
Very interesting and a good alternative. I don’t know where I get spider mites from…I haven’t introduced any new plants and it gets very frustrating. The last plant I purchased had mealy bugs…I caught it before they got to spread to my other plants.
Yes, the crappy Walmart and Home Depot and Lowe’s hydrophobic Neem oil mixed with other chemicals variations aren’t cutting it here in El
Paso. I don’t know what I have, I got the spider mites under control but something else is devastating my pepper plants yet my watermelons are thriving
I’m glad I found your channel. This video was very helpful, I wish I could like it a bunch of times.
VERY informative video!! You covered all the options🤗🤗🤗
Just wonder if you could help me out. I have a small, so far, fungus gnat infestation. Can the mosquito bits and systemics be used at the same time? Thanks!
It’s interesting that so many people have not had success with Neem oil. Last year I had a major infestation of scale on my big shefflera plant, and was ready to toss it. I took it outside on the deck, trimmed off the worst branches, and sprayed the crap out of it with a mix I made of Neem oil, dish soap and water, then repeated when it dried. I continued to spray it every few days for a couple of weeks and no more scale with the bonus of shiny leaves. It looks great now! I am currently dealing with my first incident of mealy bugs and man did they spread before I caught them-I didn’t know what they were. Using selective pruning and my Neem oil spray now to address that, and it seems to be working but still early days. From now on I will be using Neem oil prophylactically to repel pests. I think I hit critical mass last year with the number of plants I have which is resulting in pests. Another vote here for Mosquito bits tea to deal with fungus gnats. I used Miracle Gro potting soil. :(
For mealy bugs - no better than the bonide annual tree and shrub. Dosed once and totally gone in a week.
Hi I have a question. So I suspected my indoor plants had thrips so I bagged the pots leaving the leaves and branches out and I washed them down with my hose and sprayed them down with Captain Jacks Dead Bug Brew Insecticide spray (I think I used the whole spray bottle on 8 plants) and left them to dry. Now the leaves look dull and puffy and my monstera leaves looks slightly discolored. Is there such a thing as overwatering leaves? Or maybe I used too much of the insecticide ? Or maybe the combination of the watering them down first then adding the spray was too much ? Did I kill my plants by doing this ?
What an awesome video. So informative. Thank you!
Such good info! Thank you! I'm new to plants and know what mealy bugs and spider mites look like, but how do I know if I have thrips or scale? Any tips or tell take signs?
The damage caused by thrips looks similar to spider mite damage, i.e. distorted/curling leaves or silvery gray patches, sometimes tiny puncture marks (put a light behind the leaf). If you don't see any webs, then it is probably thrips rather than spider mites, especially if you see tiny black dots under the leaves which are the excrement left by the thrips. Thrips have narrow stick-like bodies but are so small they are hard to see.
Scale insects are round blobs (usually brown) which don't move. They often look like a natural part of a stem. A good sign you may have scale is if you feel stickiness anywhere on your plant. It's the honeydew they leave behind. Aphids also leave a sticky residue but they are easy to spot with the naked eye.
What is your recommendation for products to use on plants that will produce fruits or vegetables that I plan to eat, I am growing a few plants indoors that will produce fruits and vegetables I plan to eat, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers plants. I don’t have mosquito bits because I’m from Canada and for some reason Canada doesn’t have access to mosquito bits, what’s an alternative that works to get rid of fungus gnats
Definitely getting mosquito dunks and pellets! Have the systemic, yellow stickies and spray. Hate fungus gnats!
Hi Nick. I don't think my question is related to this video, but i just remembered that you have a deliciosa, if i am not wrong, with some varigation, but you've said is not a borsigiana albo. I have found an adansonii, with the similar pattern or discoloration, but not yellow and everyone is saying that is the mosaic virus. The seller told me that she had the plant for 8 months and virus or not she doesn't care because the plant looks fine....and it was expensive as well. Besides that I've bought from her another 5 plants with the adansonii, but apparently this virus you can transfer it from a plant to another only by touching the infected plant. Any thoughts?
Do you have to rinse off or wipe of the captain jacks? I’ve seen conflicting information about this 😭
I use the Bonide systemic treatment (for fungus gnats) every two months and it works for me.
I only have 15 plants though, and I find it a bit of a production. I can't imagine doing it every two months on 400 plants!
Hi! I've also heard about using predatory mites to deal with thrips. Is that the same thing as green lacewings? I would love your opinion between the two if you have one :)
I might of missed it but did you say the green lace wings help with getting rid of spider mites?
New to house plant hoarding (usually just have 1 or 2 plants about but somehow ended up with 50). Having an issue with Thrips and spider mites. I’ve sprayed the affected plants with neem oil multiple times and nothing changes at all