Winter Houseplant Care
Your houseplants are growing well, helping to keep the air clean and providing greenery indoors. Then one day you notice that one of the members of your green family isn't doing so well. What's going on? Well, it's cold outside and just like you, critters are looking for a warm, safe place to spend their winter days. If you suspect that some of them have taken up residence in your houseplants or changed their address to yours, here is a quick guide to some of the more common pest problems for winter houseplants.
Fungus Gnats are often seen flying over the soil in potted houseplants. Rather feeble flyers, they'll usually stay near the soil surface or under leaves of plants. Adults do not cause damage, but can be a nuisance. Larvae which are white with shiny black head capsules, feed on decaying organic matter and, under certain conditions, may feed on root hairs or roots of seedlings. The easiest way to attack a fungus gnat infection is simply to let the top 1/2" to 1" of your soil dry out. When the soil is dry, the environment becomes inhospitable and the larvae cannot survive. If this is unsuccessful, then drench the soil with an appropriate insecticide.
Aphids are probably the second most commonly found critter. They are minute, soft bodied insects which are easily recognized by their pear like body shape. Most are green however some are brown, reddish or black and adults may have wings or be wingless. They tend to cluster on the underside of leaves, buds, and other tender plant parts. Damage is caused when they suck plant juices causing poor growth and distorted leaves. Aphids secrete a sticky substance called honeydew which is one easy way to tell if they are present. The honeydew can develop into a black sooty mold which is another way to spot them. The best way to combat an aphid attack is to use a good systemic insecticide which will work through the entire capilary system of the plant. This will not only kill off a current infestation, but work towards preventing further problems.
Thrips are very small, cream to dark brown winged insects, though the immature forms are wingless. Damage results in the leaf surfaces becoming whitened and speckled. Leaf tips wither, curl up and die. Buds will fail to open normally. The problem with thrips is that they are so small that it is practically impossible to spot them with the naked eye. To diagnose, put a white sheet of blank paper underneath of the plant which you think may be infested. Tap gently. Usually you will be able to spot the thrips running on the paper. The best treatment for a thrip infestation is Capt'n Jacks. Our trick is to add a little table sugar to the mix before applying. Thrips have a notorious sweet tooth and the sugar helps to draw them out of the tight flower buds or from under leaves to feed, making your insecticide much more effective.
Yellowing leaves or browning of leaves are often present during the winter months and can be caused by many things. Some of the more common things to try to revive your plant would be moving it's location. These problems can be caused by hot air, dry air, drafts, over-watering, under-watering or too much or too little light. It's a bit of a trick to find just the right spot to make every plant happy, so a good bit of it is trial and error. Remember- plants are like people -- neither like wet feet, so especially watch the watering during the winter months. If you suspect a watering problem, turn your plant on it's side over some newspaper and gently tap it out of the pot. Healthy roots should be firm and white. If yours are brown or non-existant, you are probably overwatering.
Though January and February seem to be a popular time to repot houseplants, it's really not the best time. A larger pot usually means that you're going to be giving it more water and end up with root rot. Wait until March when the temperatures moderate, the days are getting longer, and the growing season begins, both indoors and out!
For answers to your other questions about winter houseplant care, visit the "Got Questions? Ask Vic!" section of our website by clicking here. |
