SENIOR LADY: BRING PLANTS INSIDE!

 

I made plenty of mistakes when I chose gardening

as my new hobby. I started out buying indoor plants.

I bought plants that looked pretty.  Some plants died

because my rooms had insufficient light or because

I just forgot to water them. I didn't have a watering 

schedule and didn't read the plant care tags.

I took friends' advice and set some of my house

plants outside. My Snake Plants and Peace Lilies

flourished.  I was told to bring them inside when

weather turned cold.  I did bring the plants inside

after temperature dropped below forty degrees.

Unfortunately, my den became a flying bugs haven.

Bugs flew up my nose and crawled on my face. My

nights were spent swatting those  bugs. I complained

to one of my gardening friends. She said, "I forgot to

tell you,  to change the dirt before you bring them

inside." I yelled, "tell me how to get rid of these bugs!!"

She didn't have any advice for my problem.

I did research online and learned that these bugs

were mealy bugs, aphids, or fungus gnats. 

MY STEPS TO EXTERMINATE PLANT BUGS:

** SPRAYED MY DEN PROFUSELY WITH BUG SPRAY,

CLOSED DEN DOOR, BOYCOTTED DEN FOR 2 DAYS. 

** HUNG UP STICKY FLY STRIPS

**  CHANGED INFESTED SOIL IN MY POTTED PLANTS.

I still place certain houseplants outside until winter

 arrives.  I even figured out some new bug proofing 

methods. I sprinkle a dusting of Seven Dust Bug Killer

 on the soil of my houseplants. Changing the soil in my

 large houseplants was getting expensive. The bug dust

 powder was a great solution.  I can no longer tolerate

 strong odors\ chemicals due to respiratory issues. 

I also use Houseplants Insect Traps (available at some

Dollar Stores). The aphids and other small bugs are

really attracted to the traps.

Here is image of the traps:

Gardening can be fun whether I'm doing it outside or

 inside.  I've discovered that bug issues can also

come from soil I buy at the store.  I try to examine

the soil before I place it in my planters. Some bugs

can also be in the soil of  plants I  buy from the stores

 too. I always put my new plants in new soil. I shake

off all traces of the old soil from my new plants. 

 There are always new challenges and trends popping

 up in the gardening world. I'll keep on trying to learn

new gardening hacks yearly.