Repeat this process a couple of times for the best results. Spray with Insecticidal Soap: Before bringing your plants indoors, thoroughly spray their leaves, stems, and trunks with insecticidal soap to eliminate any remaining pests.
Mix one tablespoon of castille soap with one litre of water, and pop it into a spray bottle. Spray the whole plant with the mixture: the tops of leaves, bottoms of leaves and even the stem. Wipe the plant down gently and let excess water drain out.
Soak Them in a Bath
To really make sure you've eradicated all pests and to decontaminate the containers, soak your potted plants in a bucket or tub of warm water mixed with a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid for about 15 minutes.
Start with “soft” pesticides, such as insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or neem oil. If those don't help, chemical insecticides are available as a last resort.
Hot pepper spray is a great solution if you have problems with mites. Simply mix 2 tablespoons of hot pepper sauce, a few drops of biodegradable dish soap and 1 quart (0.94 liters) of water and let it sit overnight. Use a spray bottle to apply the spray to infested plants.
For a thorough cleanse, fill a large tub with water and submerge the plant's pot for several hours. Any insects or pests will float to the top or be eliminated. Make sure the soil drains fully before bringing the plant inside.
Use one part vinegar (apple cider or white) to three parts water to create a sprayable solution. Add a few drops of mild dish soap to help the solution stick. Add to a sprayer bottle and apply to the base of infested plants. Treat the leaves directly if heavily infested.
Combine garlic, onion, eucalyptus oil, salt spray, powdered chilli or citric oil diluted in water and mix well. Store in a watering can or spray bottle. These ingredients are also well known for their pungent smell, which also lends itself as a repellent to most insects.
Give it some space from your other plants for a couple of days to let it settle in and minimise the risk of spreading any diseases. To ensure that your houseplant doesn't bring any unwanted mites or bugs into your home, you can spray it with an insecticide at the top and bottom and all around the leaves.
Saturate the soil with 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide 3% per 1 litre water. Put wet soil in a watertight container and leave overnight before planting. This kills pathogens such as fungi and bacteria including insect eggs and nematodes (roundworms).
When should I start bringing them in and what do I need to do to prepare them for the move? Houseplants/tropicals need to come inside when night temperatures are below the low- to mid-50s or approximately one month before you normally turn on the heat in your house.
The best time of day to spray pesticides for effective pest control is typically in the morning or evening. Many insects are most active during these times, making it optimal for pesticide application. Applying pesticides at the wrong time can have adverse effects.
I yoink the plant out of its pot/substrate right away outside if I can. Drown that plant in a container with water and a few drops of either neem, insecticidal soap or peppermint Castile soap for about 10-15 minutes. I do dip the roots, but don't submerge them. And repot after the treatment.
Herbicide. One of the most common uses for household vinegar is as an all-natural weed killer. You have to be careful when spraying it around certain plants as it may be harmful to some, but when used on those pesky hard-to-kill weeds, they will disappear in two to three days' time.
You can puree two garlic bulbs with one tablespoon of vegetable oil and let it sit overnight. You can then strain it, add one teaspoon of mild liquid soap and four cups of water. Put your mixture in a spray bottle to use. Store this mixture in the fridge until needed.
Prevent Fungal Disease
MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.
Plants have also developed smart strategies to defend themselves from animal attacks. Some plants have evolved protective structures like thorns and thick leaves, while others have produced defensive chemicals. Together, plant protection mechanisms can reduce or prevent the damage that plant predators may cause.
If you decide to use insecticides, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), neem oil (azadarachtin) or spinosad, which are derived from natural ingredients, can be effective against beetles or caterpillars. For soft-bodied insects such as aphids or whiteflies, try insecticidal soap, Neem oil, or other horticultural oils.
Try soap and water
Pour 1 quart of water into a spray bottle and add 4 teaspoons of the detergent to reach a desired 2% percent concentration, and give each plant a good spray. This mixture won't take care of all houseplant pests, but it will successfully dehydrate some of the soft-bodied bugs living on your plants.
If severe cutting and cleaning doesn't rid the plants of the pest, you can apply a spray or soil treatment, such as diluted Castile soap or garlic barrier (an extract of garlic mixed with water and sprayed on plants).