Thrips is a plant disease that particularly affects indoor plants. But there are home remedies that can be used to combat thrips.
When houseplants are infested with pests, thrips could be the culprit. Luckily, there are ways to easily defeat them.
What exactly are thrips and how do you recognize an infestation?
Thrips, which are also known as blistered feet, thrips or thunderstorm animals, usually only infest indoor plants. The insects, which belong to the Thysanoptera family, are about one to three millimeters long and have a typical black-brown colour.
In addition, variants with a black and white striped pattern and wings are also known. The larvae, on the other hand, are green to yellowish.
The thrips prefer to settle on the underside of the leaf. From here, the pests work the leaves and wear away the surface with their chewing tools.
An infestation can only be recognized relatively late due to the small size. A clear feature, however, are tiny little droppings, which deposit the pests or stunted shoots that just seemed he althy. In the worst case, the plant will die. Typical signs of an infestation are also silvery-white spots on the leaves and growth retardation of the plant.
Their propagation is particularly insidious, as the eggs lie within the substrate and the hatched larvae then move onto the plant. Therefore, both prevention and control of thrips is essential.
Which plants are most affected?
The pests choose specific plant species to attack. Houseplants most affected include:
- rubber tree
- Club Lily
- Knight Star
- Cyclamen
- Dragon Tree
- palm trees
- Flamingo Flowers
- Gloxinia
- Passion Flowers
- Orchids
Prevent thrips
In order to generally protect plants from thrips, certain measures can be taken. The best way to do this is as follows:
| Measure | Explanation |
| Examination | Especially during the heating period, it is advisable to examine the plant closely. The undersides of the leaves should be checked in particular. |
| Spray | The pests become more immobilized by a humid environment. Lime-free rainwater is ideal for this. |
| humidity | If it is increased, the pests do not like it. A bowl of water near the radiator works wonders. As an alternative, a wide saucer can be used under the flower pot. |
| Avoid waterlogging | It makes the plants more vulnerable and therefore more attractive to the pests. |
| Neem Oil | Even at an early stage of infestation, the oil can drive away the pests while protecting against reinfestation. To do this, the shoots of the plants are rubbed gently with the oil using a cotton swab. |
In case of an infestation - How to get rid of the thrips again
Once an infestation has occurred, only other measures can help. But even these are relatively easy to do, as the ingredients can be found in almost every kitchen or garden. These three measures offer first aid:
➔ Separate plants
In order to take targeted action against the infestation, the affected plants should always be isolated. This also prevents the malware from spreading further.
➔ Rinse thoroughly
Since water immobilizes the pests anyway, it is advisable to rinse the plant with soapy water. Soft soap is suitable for a suitable lye. Eight grams of it mixed with 500 milliliters of water is ideal. This process is repeated regularly in the following treatment.
➔ Alternative to spraying
Instead of the soft soap mixture, there is an olive oil dishwashing liquid solution. To do this, four tablespoons of olive oil are mixed with a few splashes of washing-up liquid and added to two liters of warm water. The plant is simply sprayed with this mixture every three to four days. However, it should only be used for larger plants and not for sensitive plants.
Further measures are also possible, which can then also be considered for long-term treatment.
Prepare garlic and nettle stock
Garlic and nettles are two things that work well against thrips. A brew is prepared from them, which is then poured over the plant. In detail you need the following:
- 500 grams of fresh nettles
- 150 grams of pressed garlic
- 2 liters of warm water
All the ingredients are mixed together and left to infuse for twelve hours. Then you simply fill the brew into a watering can and can use it immediately. When watering, however, it is important to leave a little space between the individual treatments.
Use blueboards
So-called blue panels are provided with glue and immobilize the vermin. It is important here not to use the yellow traps that are also available on the market. These are not as effective against thrips. However, both versions are easily available from a garden center or online, for example from Amazon.
Ideally, the blue panels are positioned close to the substrate. This not only catches the pests on the plant, but also those on the ground.
Bluetraps help immensely in combating this, but should not be used as a sole measure.
Use of beneficial insects against thrips
If you don't mind using another insect against thrips, you can take advantage of the natural properties of predatory mites. They are the natural enemy of thrips and gradually eat them up.
The following species are counted among the beneficial insects in relation to the control of thrips:
- lacewing larvae
- Steinernema feltiae (Nematodes)
- Amblyseius cucumeris (Cucumeris mite)
- Amblyseius californicus (predatory mite)
In the course of their use, however, the problem arises that the respective beneficials need the right conditions to survive. For example, nematodes prefer a temperature of at least twelve degrees and moist soil. The advantage: they are completely harmless to the plants.
Changing the substrate
An additional measure that should be taken with every fight is to change the substrate used. Thanks to the exchange, eggs already laid in it will be destroyed. However, it is not necessary to renew all the substrate.The top layer is decisive.
» Attention: No roots should be damaged. The removed substrate is best disposed of with household waste and a new layer is placed in the pot.