Using natural pest control for houseplants is much healthier for us and our plants. There are lots of home remedies that work great to kill bugs on houseplants! So skip the toxic chemical pesticides, and try these methods instead.
It can be frustrating to find bugs on a beloved houseplant. But if you have indoor plants, at some point you will likely have to deal with houseplant pests. It’s no fun – trust me, I know!
But there are lots of natural home remedies you can use to kill bugs on indoor plants, so you can skip the harmful chemical pesticides.
First, let’s talk about why it’s best to use natural methods rather than synthetic chemical pesticides on indoor plants.
Why Use Natural Pesticides For Indoor Plants?
The obvious reason to use natural pesticides on indoor plants rather than synthetic ones is because they are much healthier for us. I mean, who wants to spray all those toxic chemicals inside of their house anyway. Not me.
But, not only are they dangerous to you, your family, and your pets, they’re expensive. Plus they don’t always work to kill bugs on indoor plants anyway.
Most common houseplant pests are resistant, or can quickly build up resistance to chemical pesticides. And using them will only make your problem much worse in the long run.
So, skip the synthetic chemical pesticides (also known as insecticides), and use these safer, more effective natural remedies for bugs on plants instead…
Houseplant scale infestation on an indoor plant
Natural Pest Control For Houseplants
Below you’ll find several remedies to try. Depending on the pest, and the size of the infestation, some will work better than others.
So, it’s best to know which type of houseplant bug you’re dealing with in order to choose the best method to get rid of it.
Also, you may find that combining a few of these methods will work the best. So be sure to experiment with the different remedies.
Whichever one you choose, you must be persistent with it. You can’t get rid of an infestation with only one or two treatments. It can take some time.
Soapy Water
Soap kills bugs on contact. It’s easy to make your own natural bug killer for indoor plants. My homemade bug spray recipe is one teaspoon mild liquid soap to one liter of water.
Use it in a spray bottle, or to wash the leaves of heavily infested plants (test it on a leaf first to make sure the plant isn’t sensitive to the mixture).
Organic insecticidal soap also works great as a natural insecticide for houseplants.
Insecticidal soap natural houseplant bug spray
Rubbing Alcohol
Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to kill and remove insect pests from the plant.
This can be a bit tedious, but it works great to remove large clusters of pests like aphids, scale, or mealybugs from a plant.
Neem Oil
Organic neem oil is a natural pesticide for indoor plants, and it’s very effective for controlling and eliminating common houseplant pests.
It also has a residual effect, so you don’t have to treat the plant every day like you would with other methods.
If you have issues with recurring infestations, I highly recommend buying some. Learn how to use natural neem oil insecticide here.
Neem oil natural pesticide for houseplants
Soil Covers
Cover the soil of an infested houseplant with a gnat barrier top dressing, or a try sand soil cover to control fungus gnats.
Topping the soil with diatomaceous earth could also help control fungus gnats and other pests that live and breed in houseplant soil.
Yellow Sticky Traps
Yellow sticky traps are inexpensive, non-toxic, and work great to capture adult flying houseplant bugs like fungus gnats, aphids and whiteflies.
Non-toxic sticky traps kill flying houseplant bugs
It will take several treatments to eliminate any houseplant pest infestation, so persistence is key. Once you start treating a houseplant for bugs, continue to do so at least once a day until the infestation is under control. Don’t despair, we can win this battle and keep our houseplants naturally pest free.
Up next, learn exactly how to get rid of houseplant bugs naturally.
If you’re tired of battling bugs on your indoor plants, then you need a copy of my Houseplant Pest Control eBook. It has everything you need in order to get rid of those nasty bugs FOR GOOD! Download your copy today!
More Posts About Houseplant Pest Control
- Where Do Houseplant Pests Come From?
- How To Debug Houseplants Before Bringing Them Indoors
- How To Keep Cats Out Of Houseplants
- How To Get Rid Of Thrips On Houseplants
Leave a comment below and share your favorite home remedies and methods of natural pest control for houseplants!
Mariaan says
I have heard that sprinkling Cinnamon over the soil will rid your plant of fungus gnats, which I have done just now before reading your article. They do seem to be dying and disappearing and even a small worm scurried out of the soil. Would you agree on this method or will it end up harming my plant?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It shouldn’t hurt your plant. I have never heard of or tried this method before, so I can’t tell you whether or not it will work – and honestly I’m not sure how/why it would work. But let me know if it’s successful for you. 🙂
Alocasia says
I’m treating an infestation of thrips, mealybug, scale and possibly spider mites with green lacewing larvae.. After all these years I have no idea where this mess came from. Hope they do the trick. My question is do you know offhand if I sprayed with a mix of Dawn liquid dish soap will it kill the lacewing larvae as well?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, unfortunately any type of soap you use to treat the pest insects will also kill the lacewings. The best thing to do is wash all of the bad bugs off the plant first, and then let the lacewings do their thing.
Em Agnew says
I was horrified to find that my Kentia palm had developed mealybugs and have been researching the best and most natural method of treatment. I’ve just applied the mild soap and water mix for the first time and am keeping my fingers crossed. I’m guessing it will take multiple applications, how often would you recommend? Once per day / week? I don’t want to go OTT but also don’t want to go too easy and risk losing my leafy friend!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear that your houseplant has bugs, that’s no fun. Yes, it will take several treatments to get rid of them, for sure. They are a tough opponent. Treat your plant with the soapy mix at least weekly, though mixing a few different methods usually works the best. I’m not sure what OTT is, but definitely do not give in to the temptation to use synthetic chemical pesticides. They do not work on these types of bugs, are bad for humans and pets, and can only make the problem worse over time. Here are a few blog posts that will help you out, with more details about using all-natural pest control remedies…
How To Get Rid Of Mealybugs On Your Houseplants, For Good!
How To Use Neem Oil Insecticide On Houseplants
Laura says
How can I treat my soil from gnats when I move around the soil in the plant you see these gnats flying around
Amy Andrychowicz says
Here’s a post that will give you detailed tips and instructions… How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats In Houseplants Soil.
John Douglas says
I’ve tried everything 2 or three times I’m just so tired of those fungus nats, I’m almost at the point of getting rid of my plants period, it’s just so difficult to kill them and there larvae without harming my plants, there’s always build up of what ever I use that’s harmful to plants
Amy Andrychowicz says
They are super frustrating and difficult to get rid of, I 100% agree! They live and breed in moist soil, so the main key is to make sure you’re not overwatering.
TW says
Would applying unscented hypoallergenic dish soap be a safe soap to use in the neem oil mix?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It sounds like the soap you’re asking about would be mild enough to use. However, I can’t say for sure if I’ve never used it myself. So, I always recommend testing any types of sprays on a few leaves before using them on the whole plant. Let it sit on the test leaves for a week, and if there’s no damage, then it’s safe to use on the whole plant.
Lisa says
I have seen somewhere saying mixing hydrogen peroxide with water and water the soil down once a month can help kill all larvae hiding in the plant soil. Have you heard of it?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have also heard that before, but I have never tried it myself. There are several people who have left comments on my post about fungus gnats, so you can go there to read the discussions if you’d like to learn more… How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats In Houseplants Soil. Just scroll down to the comments section, and search for the word “peroxide” to see all the related comments.
John Douglas says
I’ve tried the poroxide water bath’s several times the thing the two cycles fungus nats last two weeks so how do I not over water them,I really want to sue the store I bought plant soil from that was infested I never even heard of them until maybe a year ago and I’ve been at war with those bugs ever since
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the peroxide isn’t working, then stop using it. I definitely recommend reading my detailed guide on how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants. There are TONS of comments from readers sharing their tips and experience too, so be sure to read those.
Aliza says
Would using a soapy water spray on a regular basis (like once or twice a day) be a good preventative measure or would that be overkill? I recently had a bad outbreak of everything (scale, mealybugs, and spidermites) they all just hit at once it seemed and I lost a few of my long time favorite houseplants. I sterilized all my pots via dishwasher, and washed and repotted the ones that were healthy. my goal is to do better prevention before anything starts, this website has been so helpful in dealing with this outbreak and the aftermath.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, all of those houseplant pests attacked at one! Yikes! That is super frustrating. Spraying the plants with soapy water multiple times a day is definitely overkill. I don’t blame you for wanting to do that though, I have been in your shoes, and I would have done anything to keep the bugs from coming back too!
Have you tried using organic neem oil yet? It does have a residual effect that will help to keep the bugs away. Here’s more info about that… How To Use Neem Oil On Indoor Plants.
But, if you’ve been able to get rid of all the bugs, then I would just monitor the plants very closely for a while, inspecting them daily. After a few months, if you don’t see any signs of bugs, then you should be in the clear.
And I’m so glad to hear you’re finding lots of help on my site, that’s fantastic. So happy to help!
fotomatt says
Can I use the Pure Castile soap to spray my container veggies (tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and herbs)? Thanks from Colorado…
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can use castile soap to kill pests on veggies, just be sure to dilute it as I mentioned above. I also recommend using one that doesn’t contain any essential oils. I use Dr. Bronners Baby Mild liquid soap. Also, I always recommend testing it on a leaf first to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage before spraying the whole plant. Some plants are more sensitive to sprays than others.
Mar McLerran says
When I looked at the ingredient list for Dr Bonners Baby Mild liquid soap, it lists essential oils but you recommend one that doesn’t contain any essential oils. I have Mrs. Meyers dish soaps with essential oils. Will that be ok?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’ve never tried that brand myself, so I can’t say for sure. The best you can do is test it on a few leaves to make sure there’s no damage (let it sit for at least a week). If all is good, then it’s safe to treat the whole plant.
Ann Hooper says
Can I use a natural homemade spray for the little. Fruitfly looking bugs around my african violets? They have just started to appear about a week ago. So far there aren’t many but I want to stop the progress now
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, those are called fungus gnats and they are very common. They come from the soil, and don’t feed on the leaves. So you’ll need to treat the soil of your African violet plant. Here’s how to get rid of fungus gnats.
Leslie says
None of the bugs listed are what I am having a problem with. Mine are tiny black bugs coming from the soil that are fast and scramble every where when I touch the pot the plant is in. I have treated the soil with the soap mixture when I potted it but it seems to have only gotten rid of the fungus gnats.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Those are baby fungus gnats (the larvae). The adults are the ones that fly. Here’s how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants soil.
Hilary says
How do you mix/apply the neem oil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It depends on the type of neem oil you buy. The neem oil that I recommend above needs to be mixed with a soapy water solution, and I use this organic liquid soap to mix mine. Some other types of neem oil come pre-mixed and don’t need any extra mixing, but be careful because not all of them are organic, and could be mixed with other chemicals. Here’s more information about neem oil and how to use it.