Houseplants: Proper Care and Management of Pest Problems
Houseplants: Proper Care and Management of Pest Problems
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Table 1. Some insecticides available to homeowners for control
of insect and arthropod pests of houseplants
Active Ingredient
Insecticide Class Trade Name(s)
Azadirachta indica Dyna-Gro Neem Oil, Bon Neem Insecticidal X X X X X
Botanical insecticide from Soap (Neem often is combined with
neem tree grown in India insecticidal soap to enhance its efcacy.)
Bacillus thuringiensis Gnatrol X
subspecies israelensis
Microbial insecticide
Bifenthrin Ortho Rose & Flower Insect Killer X X X X X X X
Pyrethroid
Capsaicin Bonide Hot Pepper Wax Concentrate X X X
Insect repellent
Botanical insecticide
Horticultural oil Bonide All Season Horticultural & X X X X X
Petroleum or parafn Dormant Spray Oil, Sunspray Ultrane
based oil Horticultural Oil
Imidacloprid Bayer Advanced Garden 2-in-1 Insect X X X X X
Neonicotinoid Control Plus Fertilizer Plant Spikes,
All-In-One Rose & Flower Care Concentrate
Imidacloprid Bayer Advanced Garden 3-in-1 Disease X X X X X X X X
Neonicotinoid & Mite Control Ready-to-Use /Concentrate
Imidacloprid and Bayer Advanced Dual-Action Rose & X X X X X X
beta-cyuthrin Flower Insect Killer Ready-to-Use
Neonicotinoid and
pyrethriod
Insecticidal soap Concern Insecticidal Soap, X X X X X X X X X
Made of potassium salts Safers Houseplant Insecticidal Soap,
of fatty acids Schultz Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap
Malathion** Malathion X X X X X
Organophosphate
Permethrin Bonide Eight Garden & Home Insect Control, X X X X X X X
Pyrethriod Spectracide Bug Stop Multipurpose Insect
Control Concentrate
Pyrethrin Schultz Expert Gardener Houseplant & X X X X X X X
Made of extracts of Garden Insect Spray, Schultz Garden Safe
chrysanthemum owers Houseplant & Garden Insect Spray,
Spectracide Houseplant & Garden Insect Spray
Note: Mention of any trade names does not imply endorsement of one product over another nor discrimination against any product
by the North Dakota State University Extension Service o r the authors.
**Potentially sensitive plants: Boston, Maidenhair and Pteris ferns, Crassula, Gloxinia, Saintpaulia (African violets),
Begonias, Dieffenbachia (dumb cane), Schefera
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Diseases of Houseplants
Houseplants rarely suffer from infectious plant diseases
because the indoor environment is typically too dry
for plant diseases to develop. Cultural, environmental
or insect problems are more common than disease
problems in houseplants, and some symptoms that
are caused by disease are similar to those caused
by noninfectious disorders or insect injury. Disease
problems can be prevented or minimized by purchasing
healthy, vigorous, disease-free plants; using pasteurized
potting soil or media when repotting; using clean pots
sanitized in a 10 percent bleach solution; and avoiding
overwatering.
Diseases of indoor houseplants are caused by plant
pathogens, which are microscopic living organisms
such as fungi, bacteria, nematodes and viruses. Plant
pathogens can cause disease on indoor plants only
if three conditions are met: 1) if the plant pathogen is
present, 2) if the plant is susceptible to infection by a
particular plant pathogen and 3) if the environment
is favorable for disease development. Since indoor
environments are typically too dry, diseases on
houseplants rarely develop.
Root and Crown Rot Diseases
Symptoms of root rot or crown rot diseases are usually
noticeable rst on the foliage. Wilting of foliage, typically
followed by yellowing or browning of the leaves, may
indicate that a root or crown rot disease is present.
These diseases are caused by various fungi, including
species of Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora,
Verticillium, Sclerotium and Pythium.
Overwatering can lead to the development of root rot
diseases, which can be worsened by heavy potting
soils or poorly draining pots. Since several factors can
cause wilitng in houseplants, examine roots by carefully
removing the plant from the pot while keeping the plant,
roots and soil intact as much as possible. Healthy roots
appear white to cream colored and are vigorous, while
roots suffering from a root rot disease are typically
discolored brown to dark brown. Many root rot diseases
cause the roots or crown to become water-soaked,
brown and mushy, and the outer sheath of the root may
slip off the central root cortex easily in severe cases.
If the entire root system is brown and mushy, the
plant cannot be saved, but propagating a new plant
from cuttings may be possible for some species
of houseplants (see publication H-1257, Home
Propagation Techniques). If some of the roots are still
white and vigorous, the plant possibly may be saved if
the brown roots are cut out with a sharp, clean knife.
The plant should be repotted in a new pot with clean,
pasteurized potting medium.
Foliar Diseases
Diseases of the leaves of houseplants are rarer than
root rots. However, if the foliage of an indoor plant is
subjected to high humidity or frequent misting, disease
problems on the foliage can occur. Symptoms of
common foliar diseases can include leaf spots, lesions,
blights or dieback, with or without water-soaking,
yellowing, browning or defoliation of leaves. If detected
early and diagnosed correctly, cultural practices of
removing and destroying infected material often can
lead to satisfactory management of the disease.
Fungicides are available for some foliar diseases.
Leaf spots and lesions on indoor plants more often are
caused by environmental factors, insect or arthropod
injury, phytotoxic aerosols or other factors. They rarely
are caused by pathogens in the indoor home
environment. Table 2 summarizes a few foliar
diseases that may be encountered in
houseplants, along with their causes,
symptoms, plants affected and corresponding
management strategies.
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Table 2. Common foliar diseases of houseplants and management strategies
Disease Pathogen Symptoms and Plants Affected Management Strategies
Anthracnose,
Colletotrichum
leaf spot
Fungi; species of
Colletotrichum
Symptoms of anthracnose vary from one host
to another. On some hosts, circular lesions are
tan to dark brown, sometimes in the shape
of a bulls-eye; these lesions can coalesce
to form larger areas of dead tissue on some
hosts; on other hosts, lesions are angular and
restricted to areas between leaf veins. Under
wet conditions, a pinkish ooze might be visible
in the lesions.
Nearly all foliage plants are susceptible
to infection by a fungus that causes an
anthracnose disease
Remove and discard diseased
leaves. Reduce frequency of
misting of leaves. Do not mist
leaves when symptoms are present.
Increase ventilation around plants.
Chlorothalonil is reportedly an
effective fungicide that can protect
leaves from infection by anthracnose-
causing fungi.
Other
leaf spots:
- Alternaria leaf spot
- Cercospora
- Fusarium
- Ascochyta blight
- Bipolaris leaf spot
- many others
Various fungi Lesions vary by pathogen and host. Remove and discard diseased
leaves. Reduce frequency of misting
of leaves. Do not mist leaves when
symptoms are present. Increase
ventilation around plants. Fungicides
are available.
Powdery Mildew Oidium species White to grayish dusty growth that initially
can rub off leaf surfaces is visible. Stems and
buds also can be affected. Severe infections
can cause shoot deformation. Indoor plants
affected by this genus are primarily African
violet and grape ivy.
Remove and discard diseased leaves
in an enclosed plastic bag to minimize
spread of the pathogen. Reduce
frequency of misting of leaves. Do
not mist leaves when symptoms
are present. Increase ventilation
and reduce relative humidity around
plants. Fungicides are available.
Grey Mold,
Botrytis Blight
Fungus,
Botrytis cinerea
Lesions are initially small and water-soaked,
and they expand to cover large areas that later
darken from light brown to nearly black. Under
high humidity, characteristic fuzzy grayish-tan
dusty growth of the fungus becomes apparent
on the dead and dying plant tissue.
Plants affected include Lipstick vine, grape
ivy, Dracaena, ferns, English ivy, Peperomia
species, African violet, many other foliage and
owering plants
Since this disease develops only
under high-moisture conditions, it
typically is not observed in most
indoor home environments. Prevention
includes keeping foliage dry. Under
favorable environmental conditions,
fungicides are available to protect
foliage from infection. Infected foliage
should be removed and discarded
immediately in an enclosed plastic
bag to minimize the spread of the
pathogen.
14
Bacterial
Leaf Spots
Bacteria, such as
Erwinia carotovora
and Xanthomonas
campestris
Symptoms vary by pathogen and host. Pin-
point, water-soaked, irregularly shaped
angular lesions that may or may not have a
yellow margin can expand into larger blotches
of rotting tissue.
Remove and discard diseased
material. If infection is systemic, plant
should be discarded. Keep foliage
dry and avoid causing wounds. No
chemical treatments are available for
bacterial diseases of houseplants.
Streptomycin usually does not offer
satisfactory control for most bacterial
diseases on houseplants, and
phytoxicity, when using streptomycin
sulfate at 200 parts per million, has
been reported on some hosts.
Table 2. Common foliar diseases of houseplants and management strategies (continued)
Disease Pathogen Symptoms and Plants Affected Management Strategies
Nematode
diseases of roots
Microscopic plant
parasitic nematodes
Stunted, unthrifty appearance of foliage;
wilting; discoloration resembling nutrient
deciency
Examine roots for small lesions or
galls. Discard infected material. For
some plant hosts, new plants free
from root-infecting nematodes can be
started from cuttings.
Virus diseases Few viruses are
serious problems
in an indoor plant,
if present, they
are incurable and
sometimes fatal
Symptoms are variable, depending on the
virus, and they include ringspot, mosaic,
stunting, leaf crinkling and color breaking.
These diseases are rare on indoor
houseplants. Some viruses, such as Tobacco
Mosaic Virus (TMV), can be mechanically
transmitted by contaminated hands and tools.
Other viruses require an insect or arthropod
vector to spread from one plant to another.
Purchase disease-free plant material.
Virus diseases in plants cannot be
cured, but they seldom cause serious
harm on houseplants. To prevent
potential spread, consider discarding
symptomatic plants or quarantining
them to see if the plant recovers. To
prevent mechanical spread of certain
viruses, wash hands and tools
frequently and refrain from smoking
when handling plants. Manage insect
and arthropod pests.
15
Photo credits for Insects and Arthropod Pests
Aphids (Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org)
Adult fungus gnat (Johny N. Dell, Bugwood.org)
Mealybugs (U.S. National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs Archive, USDA ARS, Bugwood.org)
Close up of longtailed mealybug (David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org)
Scale insects (U.S. National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs Archive, USDA ARS, Bugwood.org)
Armored scale insects (U.S. National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs Archive, USDA ARS, Bugwood.org)
Springtails (Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org)
Adult and nymph - western ower thrips (Jack T. Reed, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org)
Close up of western ower thrips thrips (Jack T. Reed, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org)
Whiteies (Clemson University USDA Cooperative Extension Slider Series, Bugwood.org)
Close up of adult greenhouse whitey (David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org)
Twospotted spider mites (David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org)
Close up of twospotted spider mite (David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org)
Stippling injury to leaves caused by spider mites (Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org)
Using Fungicides to Manage Plant
Diseases Caused by Fungi
Several effective fungicides are available for managing
diseases on indoor plants, but they differ in how they
are used, where they can be used, on what plants they
can be used safely and for which diseases they control.
Most often, the cost of purchasing a fungicide is greater
than replacing the plant itself. If choosing a fungicide,
be sure it is labeled for the intended use and be sure to
read, understand and follow the instructions on the label
to avoid causing harm to the plant, the environment or
yourself.
Compounds such as chlorothalonil (Fungonil),
tebuconazole (for example, Bayer 3-in-1 Insect, Disease
and Mite Control), neem oil (Triact 70), thiophanate
methyl (Clearys 3336), potassium bicarbonate
(GreenCure) and fungicidal soap are available for use
as fungicides on indoor houseplants.
Always read
and follow the
manufacturers
directions
before using
the product
and always
use the labeled
rates. Mention
of any trade
names does
not imply
endorsement
of one
product over
another nor
discrimination
against any
product
by North
Dakota State
University
Extension
Service or the
authors.
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