Controlling Pests

Alcohol in a Spray Bottle

Common household rubbing alcohol instantly kills insects and it won’t harm plants. Simply fill a standard spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spray your plants. Be sure to wet all the surfaces of the leaves and don’t forget the stems, soil and Florafelt.

Repeat 4 Days in a Row

Alcohol in most cases will not kill the insect’s eggs. So you will need to repeat the alcohol spray for 4 days in a row. Most insects have a 4 day hatching cycle so you’ll be sure the stop all living insects within that period.

Alcohol Treatment

  • Spray rubbing alcohol on leaves, stems and felt once a day for 4 days.

  • Repeat treatments everyday for 4 days in a which should be longer than their hatching cycle.

Rubbing Alcohol Alternative

If you don’t like the odor you can try using cheap vodka, or top shelf brand if you fancy a particular fine smelling infusion.

Other Sources for Insects

Don’t be so quick to blame it on the living wall. Also check for other obvious sources for gnats outside the living wall such as garbage or fruit sitting out.

Carnivorous Plants

To control flies in general, keep carnivorous plants. Carnivorous plants like to grow in boggy moss and perlite and will need part sun or keep under a bright grow light on a 12hr daily timer.

Suggested Carnivorous Plants

  • Butterwart

  • Venus flytrap

Common Insects on Houseplants

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are small white insects that look fuzzy on your leaves. They can be easily killed by simply wiping them off with a rag. You can use a small bristle paint brush to get in the tighter areas. A light spray of alcohol will also kill them. Treat the entire plant daily for 4 days in a row to wipe out young ones and end their breeding cycle.

Soil Gnats and other Insects

Soil Gnats are a common problem with interior plants. They lack the natural predators indoors which allows for them to take hold. Fortunately they are easily controlled. Soil gnats typically thrive in moist soils. So your first line of defence is to dry out the soil by reducing irrigation frequency and/or run times.

Neem Oil Concentrate

Neem Oil Extract is also a great way to control common pests naturally. Also a good way to prevent fungus from forming on the felt surface. You can buy in a ready-to-use spray or concentrate. Use it in a spray bottle with water or use a pressure sprayer for larger walls. It will make the floor sticky so be sure to first cover surfaces with a paper you can throw away or use towels or a large tarp you can wash. Neem oil is completely non-toxic and labeled organic for gardening.

Neem Oil Downsides

Neem Oil can create a sticky mess so shield all areas prior to application. Also it can have a strange smell. Not necessarily bad. But not for everyone. Test a small area to make sure everyone is ok with it. The smell will dissipate after a few days. Honestly, we prefer the Alcohol method.

We Can Help

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