GARDENING WITH THE EXPERTS
The world's finest share their tips for success
Luckily they are not prone to many, but there are a few to look out for…
The key to pest control is prevention, so regularly checking over your plants will help you to spot when you have any unwanted visitors. It’s a good idea to mist and wipe the leaves with soapy water, on both sides, to keep them both clean and pest free.
Mealy bugs
One of the most commonly seen pests is mealy bug, which is a white, fluffy, crawling insect just a few millimetres in length. It often goes unnoticed on the popular phalaenopsis which many people grow on their windowsills. Once it gets a hold it is hard to get rid of. When you first spot it, remove any infested flowers and then liberally paint neat methylated spirits over the leaves and into the nooks and crannies where the mealy bug may be hiding, including under the rim of the pot. Do this outdoors or in a well-ventilated area and on a weekly basis. The meths will evaporate quickly and won’t hurt the leaves.
If you still have mealy bugs, then repot the plant in fresh bark and a clean pot, removing all the old bark and washing the roots. Also check other plants, pots and saucers in the surrounding area. If it still persists, spray with an insecticide on a regular basis.
Aphids
The new, lush leaf shoots and succulent flower buds are the most tender parts of the plant and are the most tasty to sap-sucking insects such as aphids. They may seem quite harmless but they can damage the cells, killing off patches in new leaves or distorting the flowers as they open. They will multiply quickly and so will easily spread and cause problems for many of your other houseplants as well. As the weather warms up in spring and we start opening the windows more often, the aphids make their way indoors.
Using soapy water to wash the insects off
