How to keep your houseplants free from diseases and pests.

An established houseplant will normally only contract a disease because the growing conditions have changed for the worse or it is now being under or over watered.

Correct the growing conditions and most plants will recover from the disease.

Pests are a different matter and can come from many different sources. The list of pests that can harm your houseplant is huge and beyond the scope of this website. Do a little research and find out which bugs are prevalent in your part of the world and the most effective way to get rid of them.

Use the following tips to help you reduce the chance of introducing diseases and pests to your houseplants:

• Catch the problem soon enough and it can be solved fairly easily. A serious pest infestation is nearly always impossible to treat.

  Isolate any diseased or pest ridden plants quickly. Trim and destroy any part of the plant that has been virus infected.

• Try to get rid of bugs without resorting to insecticides that have to be sprayed, some insecticides will kill certain houseplants.

  You can make your own spray by mixing a little dishwashing detergent, garlic and methylated spirits with water.

• Use one of the following two methods to sterilize soil from outside before you use it in a potting mix:
  • Spread the soil not more than four inches deep in a non-plastic container and cover the container tightly with aluminum foil.

    Heat the soil to at least 180°F for 30 minutes. Do not allow the temperature to go above 200°F as high temperatures may produce plant toxins.

    After heating, let the container cool and remove it from the oven. Leave the aluminum foil in place until you are ready to use the soil as the heated soil gives off an odor.

  • If you only have a small amount of soil to sterilize, place the soil in a microwave dish and microwave the soil at full power for 90 seconds per kilogram (2.2 pounds). Don't use metal containers and aluminum foil when using a microwave.
• Thoroughly wash any pots and garden utensils prior to re potting.
• Keep new houseplants well isolated from your indoor garden until you are certain they are disease and pest free.
• Fungal inflections can be treated and to a large extent prevented with spray fungicides such as Serenade Garden Organic Pesticide

  Serenade is a certified 100% organic biofungicide which covers a broad spectrum of fungal and bacterial plant diseases (including black spots, leaf spots, powdery mildew, rust, bacterial blight, scabs, sour rot, molds, and more).

  It is non-toxic to beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs, causes no injury to foliage or blooms, and is non-irritating to skin and lungs, unlike sulfur products. It is ideal for spraying houseplants.