Pests and diseases are much easier to deal with when they are caught early, while numbers are small. The simplest habit you can build is a short, regular look at each plant.
Once a week, often when you water, take a minute per plant. Turn a few leaves over, because most pests hide on the undersides. Look into leaf joints, along stems and at the newest growth and flower buds, where aphids and mealybugs gather. Glance at the surface of the mix and around the pot.
Two small tricks help. Tap a leaf or shoot over a sheet of white paper and watch for tiny moving specks, which can reveal mites. And touch the leaves: a sticky, shiny coating called honeydew means sap-feeding insects are nearby.
A hand lens or a phone camera zoomed in makes the job much easier. Note anything unusual in your plant notes so you can see whether it changes.
Key points
- Check each plant weekly; early problems are easier to fix.
- Look under leaves, in leaf joints and on new growth.
- Sticky leaves mean sap-feeding insects nearby.
Try this
Do the paper-tap test on one plant today: hold white paper under a shoot, tap it, and look for moving specks.
Check yourself
Read more in the reference
Sources
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