What caused the bugs on my Snake Plants?
Bugs may attack your Snake Plant for several reasons. Always remember that bugs are looking for points of weakness.
They are more likely to attack a plant that is in a poor condition than one that is in good shape.
No plant is more resilient than the Snake Plant because its leaves are so tough that they can generally withstand most insect attacks.
Below are a few more reasons why you may be dealing with unwanted pests.
Humidity
When the humidity level becomes too high, the leaves of your plant tend to become flaccid and this makes them easier for sap-sucking insects to penetrate with their tiny piercing mouthparts.
At the same time, if the humidity levels are too low it opens the door for attack from spider mites who thrive in very dry indoor conditions.
Wet conditions
A Snake Plant that is overwatered is an unhappy houseplant, and this is certainly true in the case of this plant. The fungus gnats have already shown wet soil to be a breeding ground.
Also, it opens the door for numerous other health issues, and some of these will soon see your plant becoming weak.
It will lose its leathery texture as the leaves progressively turn to mush, which means that the leaves will be susceptible to insect invasion.
Make sure to let the top two inches of soil dry out before giving the plant water again, and to use a container with adequate drainage.
Poor ventilation
Healthy plants need adequate airflow, and, as we’ve already discussed, they resist insect infestations better than unhealthy plants.
Furthermore, many of the insects we have examined are so small that even simple air movements will make it hard for them to establish themselves.
Opening a window for a few hours each day allows enough air circulation to keep plants in peak condition.
Lighting
Most plants have specific lighting requirements to remain healthy. However, Snake Plants may take incorrect lighting better than most house plants.
However, prolonged direct sunlight exposure will be detrimental to it.
These conditions can lead to sunburn for extreme cases, and wilting in minor ones, resulting in weaker leaves susceptible to pests.
Snake Plant Bugs – How to handle them naturally
Most pests you encounter attacking Snake Plant will undoubtedly die from toxic insecticide sprays available in the industrial market.
If you expose your health and those of your family or pets to toxic chemicals that you have little knowledge about, are you making a choice that is not in your best interest?
In this chapter, we will take a look at a few natural remedies that can be made at home for significantly less cost and risk.
There are plenty of free ones out there, many of which are just as effective as their commercial counterparts.
Neem Oil
Houseplant cultivators will hear about this all the time if they begin cultivating serious house plants.
A type of tree found in Southeast Asia called Azadirachta indica, these plants contain medicinal oils which have antifungal and anti-pest properties. Therefore, you can use the essential oil in your household.
It can be wiped on your Snake Plant with a soft cloth, and if used once a week, will provide an effective preventative measure, and it will also eliminate bugs that are already present.
The leaves can be burned by it, so it is best applied at night, and it can only be used in indirect light.
Garlic
More and more uses for garlic are being realized, including its ability to deter pests.
Use this plant as a spray by crushing it, mixing it with water and spraying it on the problem area.
In this case, you have two options: you can use a mild mixture as a deterrent, or you can use a strong mixture against pests already in place.
You can use six cloves combined with one gallon of water to make a weaker version or two cloves combined with one cup of water to make something much stronger.
Regardless of whether you are using garlic powder or garlic spray, allow it to soak in water overnight and filter it before using it.
I would strongly advise staying away from this remedy because of its obnoxious odor.
Herbal Water
A broad spectrum of herbal water products may fall under the term herbal water.
Houseplants are protected by a number of powerful compounds found in various edible herbs.
To create a natural pest repellant spray, rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme, basil, and mint can all be mixed with water and filtered.
The leaves will produce the best results if you boil and steep them for twelve hours.
The exact amount of herbs to use depends on what you have on hand. A couple of handfuls of herbs in a sauce pan of water will get you the desired results.
The beauty of these options is that they are much less potent than garlic, which means they can be used within buildings, though they won’t offer the same level of protection.
You can also add some essential oil to water instead of herbs if you cannot gather them locally.
Chili Peppers
Chili peppers can be really hot, which explains why sap-sucking and leaf-munching bugs don’t really like to eat them.
To grow chili plants, you can soak crushed chilies overnight, filter them, and then spray them onto your plants.
The solution will adhere to the leaves more readily if you add a few drops of liquid soap to it.
Wash hands well after using this mix and be careful not to get this in your eyes.
Pyrethrin
You might want to try a pyrethrin-based commercial spray if making your own seems like too much work.
Contact insecticides like this one are toxic to all of the insects we have examined thus far.
Although it is made from chlorophyll-rich Chrysanthemum daisies, that does not mean that they aren’t toxin-free, although in this case only mildly so.
It shouldn’t be used around pets or aquatic animals, and it shouldn’t be applied to the skin.
Diatomaceous Earth
At the moment, this product appears to be on the rise in popularity.
Phytoplankton is crushed into powder from mined and preserved fossilized phytoplankton.
In contrast to other pest control agents, it behaves more as a physical barrier than a toxicant or deterrent. You mix 1/8 cup of the powder with one gallon of water. It is then applied to leaf surfaces.
There, it will leave a fine layer of barely visible dust that pests hate. That said, I find it hard to believe that it does indeed work well.
Vegetable Soap
This is my go-to pest treatment. I use soap made largely from olive oil, but there are many other options. I mix it with water and spray or wipe my plants clean once a week.
The leaves look good and pests hate the taste. Furthermore, any pests that are on the leaves are washed off during the weekly treatment.
Tips to Prevent Bugs on Snake Plant
Although you have now seen that Snake Plants can be controlled with numerous pesticides.
The ultimate solution is to keep them out of the house in the first place. Here are a few things you can try to make sure that this doesn’t happen.
- Remove pests by closely examining your plant frequently to prevent them from becoming established.
- Your plant will be happier and more able to thrive when placed in the ideal position.
- You need to ensure that the plants have sufficient humidity but the air around them should be free flowing.
- Whenever you suspect that there may be a bug problem, isolate the plant from the rest of the collection.
- The most important thing is to establish a good watering regimen to prevent overstress.
- Remember that a well-maintained plant will be the bug’s biggest obstacle.
Conclusions
This list of pests should not discourage you or leave you feeling as if you ought to avoid this plant altogether due to the sheer number of bugs.
Despite its tough exterior and inability to withstand even the most extreme invasion, the Snake Plant is hardy enough to withstand virtually any challenge.
Keep your plant healthy, and its naturally leathery leaves will be too much for bugs to consume, so you will certainly be rewarded by keeping it pest-free.
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