My plant has bugs. Which one, and what to do?
Four common houseplant pests. Identify, then treat.
Indoor plants get four main pests. Look closely under leaves and where the stem meets the soil.
Work through these.
- 01
Spider mites
Fine webbing, yellow stippling on leaves. Thrive in dry air.
FixShower the plant under lukewarm water. Spray neem oil on leaf undersides weekly for 3 weeks. Raise humidity.
- 02
Mealybugs
White cottony clumps in leaf joints and stems. Sticky residue.
FixDab each bug with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol. Repeat every 4 days for 2 weeks.
- 03
Fungus gnats
Tiny black flies around soil. Larvae live in wet soil.
FixLet soil dry out completely between waterings. Top with a 1 cm layer of sand. Sticky yellow traps catch adults.
- 04
Scale
Brown bumps on stems and leaves that don’t wipe off easily.
FixScrape off with a fingernail or soft brush. Follow with neem oil spray every week for 3 weeks.
Plants that commonly show this.
Look up your plant by name.
Every species has its own care guide with light, water, humidity, and toxicity details.