Imagine coming home to a bedroom full of plants, so alive, dreamy, and natural. But, the bugs. Plants come along with bugs. Some plants, for that matter. Indoor greenery adds up to the aesthetic and ambience of your homes. Also, plants help purify the air; hence leaving you with fresh air circulating in your space. However, bugs can be fatal when they start to swarm around your indoor plants, because little did you know, the plant you chose has a bug best friend. 

On a brighter note, there are ways how to control these pests. Although, some of these pests are there for your plant, not you. Hence, it is not likely for them to get out of their comfort zone and crawl to your bed and bite. Nothing good comes out of that, for pests. 

There are houseplant pests such as mealybugs or aphids that are not at all harmful to you. These pests only habituate plants. But, if the idea of having pests inside your bedroom keeps you awake at night, here are some tips. 

How To Handle and Choose Bedroom Plants

Look For Healthy Plants

Healthy plants are free of bugs. Before purchasing a plant, it is important to closely look at its leaves and all the other parts. If the plant has some brown spots splattered all over its leaves, it’s a clear-cut sign that the plant has some issues. 

Also, the most concrete indicator if the plant is a pest magnet is pale foliages, spotting patterns on its leaves, and some slightly missing leaf parts.  Additionally, it is crucial to look under each leaf. Some pests are experts hiding behind those leaves. 

If you see some white powdery creatures behind the crannies of the plant, those are mealybugs. Spider mites, on the other hand, are hard to spot. However, if you see anything crawling and sticking to the leaves. It’s a sign that you must not buy that plant. 

How To Shop And What To Avoid

It is inevitable for plants, even the healthy ones, to have bugs lying around their leaves. Alocasia Stingray, for example, is a gorgeous plant with a very unique facade. But, this plant is a magnet to spider mites. Regardless of how much effort you put in to keep it healthy and far from pests, this plant will attract them. 

Another example is Hoya Compacta, another one-of-a-kind looking plant where mealybugs are very comfortable to dominate. Hence, watch out for these kinds of plants. No matter how beautiful they would look on your bedside table, these plants always have bugs around them. 

How To Deal With Indoor Plants

If you have a new plant, it is best to isolate it inside your bathroom. This way, the pests that live in it will have the chance to crawls away before placing it in your bedroom. 

If you have a plant that has mites, make sure to separate it from all your other plants to prevent the spread. 

If the pests are too rampant, you can use anti-pest sprays. (Make sure to use the organic or natural product only to avoid damaging your plant.)

Plants and human are meant to live together in harmony. The same goes for plants and pests. Indoor plants bring amazing benefits to your home, with or without bugs. If you want to live in harmony with your co-habitants in your bedroom, as much as possible, eradicate or control them in little to no damage possible.