Which pest is on your plant?
Start with where the insects are and what they do: flying around the pot, tiny on the leaves, or stuck to stems. Name the pest before you treat it. Many problems that look like pests are watering or light problems, and the right control depends on which insect you have.
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Flying around the pot
Tiny pests on leaves
Stuck to stems and leaves
Before you spray
Start with the steps that carry the least risk. If you do use a product, these checks come first.
- Name the pest. A product that works on one insect can miss another. Confirm what you have with a close look or a paper tap test first.
- Try the low-risk steps. Move the plant away from the others and follow the steps in that pest’s guide before any product.
- Check the label. Use only a product labeled for houseplants indoors and for the pest you have. For plants outdoors, the label must cover that plant and that site.
- Follow the product label. The US EPA puts it plainly: “the label is the law.” Never mix products together.
- Keep pets and children away. Follow the label’s directions on when treated plants are safe to touch and how to store the product. If a person or pet is exposed, follow the label’s first-aid section, and call poison control, your vet or an animal poison control line.
- Ask when unsure. A local nursery or extension service can confirm the pest and suggest the least-toxic control.
The EPA’s introduction to pesticide labels explains what the label covers and why it is legally binding.
Not sure it’s a pest?
Spots, yellowing and drooping often have other causes. Start with the symptom guides or the plant rescue checklist.