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Learn to identify bugs on plants

Indoor pests are small, sometimes almost microscopic. You may not be aware of the little creatures until your favorite plant takes a turn for the worse. A routine inspection, should nip most pest problems in the bud. If you do find pests, eradicate them as quickly as possible. Plants do not always recover even if all the pests are destroyed.

There are two approaches to pest control: one is direct, involving physical removal of the pests; the other requires using pesticides, which is less direct and not always beneficial to the plant. The direct approach is to remove pests by hand or to wash them off with water from a hose or under a water faucet. Some gardeners have been successful using a mist sprayer.

An advantage this approach offers is that it can be repeated as often as needed to control pests. Most insecticides require a certain waiting period between doses. The chief problem with this method is that you might miss eliminating insect eggs in the soil.

Spraying plants with insecticides can be almost as harmful to some house plants as the pest infestation itself. Always read and carefully follow the directions on the label of all pesticides.

Be sure the insecticide will effectively eliminate the specific pest attacking your plant and that it is recommended for use on house plants.

If you use a spray specifically formulated for house plants, be sure it is recommended for use on your particular plant. Some tender plants, such as ferns, may succumb to the spray itself. It's best to spray plants outdoors. When you do, any spray residue will be dispersed outside in the open air, and you can be sure to cover the leaf surfaces, both top and bottom, without worrying about damaging furniture surfaces.

The push-button containers of house plant insecticides are best for the indoor gardener, both in ease and economy. Other types of sprays need to be mixed, a time-consuming and messy process that requires special equipment, and these insecticides are available only in large quantities.

Your first step is to identify your plant problem as a pest infestation.

Some pests, such as mealybugs or aphids, will be visible on the plant or in the container; others, too small for visual identification, can also cause extensive plant damage. Once you've determined a pest problem, isolate the infected plant immediately to prevent infection of other plants.

Aphids have soft, round or pear-shaped bodies, usually green, reddish, or black. They may have wings. They tend to cluster on buds or on new plant growth.

Though large enough to be spotted easily, mealybugs normally cluster on leaf stems or in branch crotches out of the light, making them difficult to detect.  Mealybugs cause stunted growth, eventually killing house plants. They also secrete a honeydew that gives leaves a shiny, sticky surface and forms a base on which black mold can grow. Remove bugs by touching them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, washing them off with water from a hose or a spray mister, or spraying them with petroleum oils.

Scale exists in many varieties. Usually brown or gray with a round or oval-shaped body, scale insects have a hard-shell covering in their adult stage. Some types attack plant leaves; others attack stems.

They can be especially difficult to detect on fern fronds because they resemble spores.

• There is more information about bonsai tree care and what type of trees are easy to care for on this page. If you haven't chosen a tree yet go to our main page about bonsai trees, if this is your first time buying a bonsai look at your selection on this page about bonsai trees for beginners.

Aphids suck plant juices, causing poor growth, stunted plants, or curled, distorted leaves or flowers. Their honeydew secretions give leaves a shiny appearance and may form a base for the growth of a sooty mold.  Wash aphids off with water from a hose, with a mist sprayer, or in a soapy (not detergent) solution. Pyrethrum or rotenone can also be used.