When you start to bring houseplants into your life, you can quickly get addicted to being surrounded by lush greenery. And once you get the hang of the watering and the light, you can get pretty geeky about the textures, colors, shapes, and sizes of the foliage you’ve invited into your space.
So it can be kind of a bummer when you observe misshapen or holey foliage on your plants… or see flying insects around your house plants. There are a few ways that indoor plants do attract bugs into your home. Let’s go over them.
What attracts bugs to houseplants?
There are a few ways your plants might find themselves victims of a vicious pest attack! Sometimes it’s the soil they came in. Retail chains selling plants inexpensively can be a good way to build your collection, but they’re more likely to have a few problems, such as root overgrowth and lower-quality soil. But all nurseries are more vulnerable to pests because of the large numbers of other plants and open-air space.
Another way that pests find their homes in your plants is through the same small cracks and nooks that the bugs outside your home use to get inside from time to time. It’s just part of living in a home and owning plants!
Should I worry about bed bugs and houseplants?
Don’t worry. Houseplants pose no risk to you at all as far as bed bugs are concerned. Bed bugs are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and (gross) blood. They are not attracted to things like grime or dirt. However! If you do get bed bugs, you’ll want to protect your plants from any treatments. Ask your pest control professional about how to prep your plants for service.
Are there specific houseplants that attract bugs?
Well, most plants are vulnerable to bugs in the right conditions — such as the humidity and warmth of Georgia and Florida! — but there are a few that are more resistant to bugs than others. For example:
- Snake plants
- Chinese evergreens
- Bromeliads
- Cast iron plants
- Grape ivy
- Herbs
- Catnip
How do I keep bugs out of my indoor plants?
There are all kinds of home remedies for plant pests. Planting a clove of garlic, for example, or solutions of rubbing alcohol and dish detergent. Routine checks on your plants — like with the other maintenance tasks around your home — will ensure they’re healthy and pest-free.
Concerned about other bugs and critters around the house? Give us a call. Dixon Pest Services provides the peace-of-mind pest control you and your family deserve.