Flea beetles are found both on houseplants and in flower pots in the garden. They are real pests and should definitely be fought as they cause damage to the plants.
How do you effectively combat flea beetles in flower pots?
To combat flea beetles in flower pots, environmentally friendly agents such as rock dust, algae lime, rye flour, grass clippings mulching or matches can be used. Chemical insecticides should only be used in extreme emergencies as they can cause environmental damage.
What are flea beetles?
Although the word “flea” appears in their name, flea beetles are not real fleas. These are small beetles from the leaf beetle family. They grow up to 4 mm in size and have a blue metallic or reddish color. The beetles are herbivores and love vegetables. When it comes to indoor, balcony and terrace plants, they prefer young plants and damage roots, stems and leaves. The damage can be recognized by small, round holes. The beetles themselves are difficult to spot.
Fighting beetles
If you care for your plants regularly, you will immediately notice irregularities. As soon as the flea beetles are discovered, combating them must begin immediately to avoid damage. You can choose between chemical control or natural control.
Use of chemicals
Various insecticides with the following active ingredients are available:
- Cypermethrin
- Chlorpyriphos
- Deltamethrin
- Cyhalothrin
- neonicotinoid agents
However, these agents should only be used in extreme emergencies, as the active ingredients cause environmental damage and kill bees, among other things. There are non-toxic options that can be used with good success in the home garden, on the terrace or balcony.
Use of environmentally friendly means
Flea beetles can also be combated with non-toxic, natural means, for example:
- Rock flour
- Algae limestone
- Rye flour
- Mulch the soil around the plants with grass clippings
- Spraying with garlic or onion broth
- Glue traps and yellow boards
- Matches
The leaves of the plants can be dusted early in the morning with rock dust (€17.00 on Amazon), algae lime or rye flour. This measure is also suitable for houseplants. In the garden, if large plant pots are infested, you can apply a layer of mulch made from grass clippings. The moisture stays in the soil longer and drives away the beetles.
Spraying with plant broth is only recommended in the garden.
Yellow boards or glue traps are placed between the flower pots and changed regularly. The use of matches is interesting. Since flea beetles supposedly don't like sulfur, a few matches are stuck into the potting soil with the sulfur head facing down. The sulfur is supposed to drive away the fleas. It is definitely recommended to try out this home remedy before using stronger remedies.
