What’s Wrong with My Houseplants?

January 27 , 2022

What’s Wrong with My Houseplants?

When wintry weather tucks us indoors , it ’s also mighty comfy for louse that burst like clouds on our houseplants . And what about those yellowing leaves , brown sharpness , or mysterious hole ? Passionate industrial plant parent Chloe Phea zooms in on common job and what we can do about them , commemorate from dwelling where she ’s mom to ( at least ) 200 houseplants!On Instagram as the popular@monsteramaven , she chats with fellow indoor gardeners about everything from flora propagation to lighting and watering . right on now , one of the top questions : pesky insects like fungus gnat . swarm of these tiny worm ( about 1/16 to 1/8 - inch long ) infest our plants , flying into our dying facial expression . They also multiply like crazy . “ Once you ’ve spot some adults , you already probably have century , if not grand , of larvae in your substrate ( soil / growing medium ) , ” Chloe tells us .

How do we prevent them ? Slow down on the watering ! Overwatering create an ideal breeding land . “ If your substratum is allowed to dry out more evenly and thoroughly between waterings , guess what , there ’s no suited habitat for those gnats to lay their eggs and then develop larvae and keep that oscillation buy the farm . ”To drink down survive larva , add a few Mosquito Bits to the territory . Chloe use the larger Mosquito Dunks . She breaks one in half and dissolve in a Imperial gallon of water . Let it soak for an hr before lachrymation . Catch grownup fungus gnat with yellow sticky tape or traps . Chloe also likes to use a gnat backstop that employ ultraviolet light and a sticky trap inside . “ I just run away it at night on a timekeeper and it basically fascinate any piffling unearthly flying itty bitties go away around , ” she notes . whitefly , common pest indoors and outside , cause serious problems . Thanks to viewer Tina Williams who coincidently air this picture as Chloe and I plan this segment!These are pierce , sucking insects that puncture leave of absence . Not only do they disrupt nutritious uptake , they can stick in disease . Whitefly secretions lead to honeydew , a sticky substance that creates a fungal disease ( like sooty mold on our outside industrial plant due to whitefly and aphids).First refutation : If possible , take stirred plants alfresco and blast them with a water hosiery , including under the leave of absence . Whether you could do that or not , pass over down leaves ( top and underneath ) and stems with insecticidal soap , neem oil color , or horticultural oil . It ’s all important to keep on top of it , since alertness and repetition are the only ways to get control . take out affected leaf and cast aside them in a tightly - tie bag in the outside trash bin .

So , what about yellow leaves ? There are countless reasons and we could n’t perchance play plant police detective on this one . Here are the most unwashed : want of humidness in our heated winter homes can also go to yellow leave , mysterious golf hole , and browned leaf edges . Chloe recommends commit in a humidifier : “ You do n’t have to move it all day , but a mates of hours a twenty-four hours makes all the difference in foreclose damage . ”

woman with houseplants

And remember , it IS winter , and many tropical plant life plainly slow down down . Chloe advises taking a recondite breathing place . “ You ’re not a bad works parent because your plants have yellow leave of absence . You ’re not a bad plant life parent because things die back . flora will develop back if there ’s a client , if there are source , if there is light , and even some plants , they pullulate in the swarthiness . There ’s so much resilience and flexibility . So , give yourself a break and be prepared for spring!”Connect with Chloe on Instagramfor one - on - one consultation , live chat , and more .

Watch her past CTG section ongrowing semi - hydro plants . learn more houseplant summit on CTG !

Lindsey Mayer and Melissa Hagen , Tillery Street Plant CompanyMelissa Hagen ’s indoor gardenDiagnose indoor succulent problems with Monique Capanelli , Articulture DesignsDividing houseplants with John Dromgoole , The Natural GardenerDividing ferns , propagating pothos and flame nettle with John Dromgoole , The Natural GardenerOrchid tips with Lucy Newton and Sheryl HawkinsOrchids made easy with Jessica Robertson

fungus gnats