How to prevent pests in flowers and plants? Sharing practical control methods

Besides dealing with pests once they appear, are there ways to prevent them in advance? Actually, there are. The principle is still to give plants a healthy environment, and to control water and fertilizer application properly, so as to increase resistance to pests.

Inspect first when buying plants

The first step in prevention is not bringing pests home. Pests in particular hide on the undersides of leaves, at the base of roots, among flowers, and even under the pot in places that are hard to see, so remember to check carefully before buying a plant.

Keep it ventilated

When the environment is well ventilated, tiny pests find it hard to breed. So prune overly dense branches and leaves to let the foliage get good airflow.

If your home has only potted plants, leave some space between the pots, and do not let the branches and leaves of each plant touch too closely; keep the air circulating, and pests will naturally have nowhere to hide.

Apply insect repellents regularly

Using neem oil, citronella oil, or homemade garlic and chili water can all help drive insects away, and applying them regularly can reduce the emergence of insects.

Unfermented organic fertilizer

Insects like to eat nutritious things too, so if you mistakenly apply organic fertilizer that is not fully fermented, or kitchen leftovers such as fallen leaves and fruit peels, you may attract pests. When applying organic fertilizer, it is also best to cover it with soil to avoid the smell attracting insects.

Grow plants with few pests

When food is placed in front of us, there will always be things we like and dislike, and the same goes for plants and insects. Some plants produce latex, or contain alkaloids or aromatic compounds, or even have structures that are too hard or bear thorns, so they are not what insects like to eat. Of course, this does not mean these plants definitely have no pests, but rather that they have relatively fewer than other plants.

• Succulents: those with thorns and hard skins, or types that contain latex, make it hard for pests

to get a grip.

• Thick-leaved orchids: among orchids, plants such as Dendrobium and Cattleya have thick, hard leaves, and pests rarely attack them.

• Herb plants: such as rosemary and Mexican mint marigold, whose emitted scents insects do not necessarily like.

• Densely fuzzy plants: some plants have branches and leaves densely covered with fine hairs, such as Cuban oregano, making it hard for pests to cling to them.