It happens again and again that vermin nest in the flower pot. This applies to the pots that are on the terrace, balcony or even in the room. In any case, countermeasures are required to prevent spread.
How do I remove pests from the flower pot?
To get rid of pests in the flower pot, you can use simple home remedies such as sulfur for fungus gnats or flooding the pot for worms and snails. Chemical agents should be avoided to protect beneficial insects and human he alth.
What vermin can occur?
With the abundance of native insects, there are many species that like to settle in flower pots. Some examples are:
- Sad gnats
- leather fly
- Spider mites
- Centipede
- worms
- Rose beetle larvae
- Snails
All of these animals can live unhindered in the garden soil, they just have no place in flower pots or containers. The insects will always cause harm to the plants cultivated there.
Fighting pests
It is usually not the adult animals that cause plant damage, but rather the larvae that live in the soil. Once hatched, they feed on the roots of cultivated plants. If the infestation is severe, they die within a short time. Worms and rose beetle larvae are beneficial insects that do helpful work in the garden as they feed on dead plant material and contribute to the formation of humus. In the flowerpot, however, their living space is far too small and they cannot find food. So they also eat the roots of the plants.
If there are pests or beneficial insects in the potting soil, they must be removed for the benefit of the cultivated plant. You should avoid using chemical agents, as the poison they contain always kills useful animals. In addition, the chemicals are not recommended for humans either.
Easy way to get rid of residents in the flower pot
Many home remedies are suitable for removing pests and uninvited guests from the potting soil.
Sad gnats don't like sulfur. They die if you stick 6 - 8 matches, sulfur head first, into the potting soil. If the infestation is severe, replacing the potting soil helps. The old soil is completely removed (including the roots) and disposed of with residual waste. If the flower pot is to be used again, it must be washed out with vinegar water as there could still be mosquito eggs somewhere.
The larvae of leaf miners cause leaf damage. The affected leaves are collected. To prevent them from spreading, it is best to burn the leaves or dispose of them in the trash.
Many insects don't like water. If the entire flower pot is flooded for some time, worms, centipedes, snails or rose beetle larvae will come to the surface. The animals can be collected and relocated.
