Pest Library

Identify the Pest, Then Treat It

Most pest problems become manageable once you match the symptom to the insect. Start with what you can see, then open the right treatment guide.

Check Spider Mites Check Fungus Gnats

First pest move

Isolate the plant before spraying anything. Then inspect under leaves, stems, and the top inch of soil.

Start Here

Match the clue to the likely pest

Use these quick checks when you notice bugs, webbing, sticky residue, or damaged leaves.

Webbing Spider mites

Fine webs and speckled leaves usually point here.

White fluff Mealybugs

Cottony patches collect in joints and crevices.

Black flies Fungus gnats

Tiny flies near soil usually mean wet mix.

Silver scars Thrips

Silvery damage and black dots need fast action.

Quick Identifier

If you see this, start here

Use the visible clue first. Then open the matching guide for the treatment plan.

Fine, silky webbing under leaves Spider Mites → Tiny white cotton-like fluff in crevices Mealybugs → Hard, unmoving brown bumps on stems Scale Insects → Tiny black flies buzzing around the soil Fungus Gnats → Clouds of tiny white moth-like insects Whiteflies → Small green or black bugs on new leaves Aphids → Silvery leaf damage with tiny black dots Thrips → Slime trails and ragged holes in leaves Slugs & Snails → A struggling plant with no visible bugs Root Mealybugs →

Guide Library

The Ultimate Guide to Identifying and Eliminating Common Houseplant Pests

Pick the guide that matches the job in front of you.

Leaf Pests

Sap-sucking pests

These pests drain leaves and stems, often leaving stippling, sticky residue, or distorted growth.

Spider Mites

Tiny arachnids that feed on plant sap and can cause widespread stippling damage.

Open guide →

Mealybugs

Find and eliminate the stubborn, white, cottony pests that hide in leaf nodes and crevices.

Open guide →

Scale Insects

Small, armored pests that feed on plant sap and can cause serious damage to young or sensitive plants.

Open guide →

Aphids

Clusters of small, sap-sucking insects on new growth that leave behind a sticky residue. Learn how to wash them away.

Open guide →

Thrips

Tiny, slender insects that scrape the surface of leaves and suck out the cell contents, leaving behind characteristic silvery damage.

Open guide →

Whiteflies

Tiny, slender insects that scrape the surface of leaves and suck out the cell contents, leaving behind characteristic silvery damage.

Open guide →

Soil Pests

Soil and root pests

When the plant struggles but leaves look bug-free, check the pot and root zone.

Fungus Gnats

Small, dark-bodied flies that feed on plant roots and can cause serious damage to young or sensitive plants.

Open guide →

Root Mealybugs

Small, white, cottony pests that hide in leaf nodes and crevices.

Open guide →

Chewing Damage

Leaf-chewing pests

These leave visible holes, ragged edges, trails, or larger pests you can often remove by hand.

Slugs & Snails

Nocturnal mollusks that feed at night and hide during the day.

Open guide →

Caterpillars

The cause of large, ragged holes in leaves. Identify their telltale droppings (frass) and learn how to remove them.

Open guide →

Keep Going

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Jump to the next library when the question changes.

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