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Which insecticides/miticides can I use on indoor plants?
Which insecticides/miticides can I use on indoor plants?
Quick Reference Guide of Insecticides/Miticides for Controlling Common Pests of Indoor Plants
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Chemical (a)
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Type
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Controls
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Additional Comments
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Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis
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Biological
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Fungus gnat larvae
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Use as a soil drench to control larvae, will not control adults.
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Pyrethrins
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Botanical
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Spider mites aphids, thrips, mealybugs, whiteflies
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Contact spray with short residual. Attacks the nervous system of the pest.
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Oil Sprays
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Horticultural
Oils
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Spider mites, scale, aphids,
mealybugs, whiteflies
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Controls a wide variety of insects and insect eggs primarily by smothering and suffocating them. Excellent for scale.
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Soap Products
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Insecticidal
Soaps
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Spider mites, scale (crawlers), aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies
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Contact action. Breaks down the protective layer of the insect. Short residual.
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Permethrin
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Synthetic
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Spider mites, scale, aphids, thrips, mealybugs, whiteflies
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Contact and stomach poison. Up to four week residual
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Imidacloprid
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Synthetic
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Aphids, mealybugs, scale, thrips, whiteflies, fungus gnat larvae
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Systemic-Indoor plant products are granular formulations placed into the soil. Chemical is absorbed by the roots and translocated throughout the plant. Up to eight weeks control. Do not use on herbs!
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(a) For a complete listing of common brand names of any of these chemicals in Gardening Help select the appropriate pesticide on the Pesticides page. You can also use the Gardening Help Search box or select a specific chemical from the Site Index. Some products from these pages with an indoor plant label:
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- Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis: Gardens Alive Knock Out Gnats Granules, Gnatrol
- Pyrethrins: Earth-tone Insect Control, Schultz Houseplant & Gardens Pyrethrin Insect Spray, Ferti-lome Red Spider and Mite Spray
- Oil Sprays: Earth-tone Horticultural Oil, Natria Multi Insect Control, Ferti-lome Oil Spray
- Soap Products: Earth-tone Insecticidal Soap, Natria Insecticidal Soap, Schultz Houseplant Insecticidal Soap, Concern Insect Killing Soap, Safer Houseplant Insecticidal Soap
- Permethrin: Bonide Eight Garden and Home, Hi Yield Indoor/Outdoor Broad Use Insecticide, Hi Yield Kill-A Bug II
- Imidacloprid: Bayer Advanced 2 in 1 Insect Control + Fertilizer Plant Spikes, Bonide Systemic Houseplant Granules, Hi Yield Systemic Insect Control Granules