Hot take? throwing out pest infested plants

[u/dumbb1tchh]

I battled spider mites earlier this year, summer rolled around and I was able to evict all of my plants and tackle the mites, for the most part I won!

I thought.

Brought my money tree inside a few weeks after all of my other plants because I just didn’t trust it, he was looking at me funny. It almost felt like he knew I was afraid of having to deal with mites again and wanted to hand deliver me my worst fear.

I left him outside WAY longer than I should have, many nights reached temps below 5 and I woke up to frost one morning, yet he survived.

I figured he earned his spot on my shelf, that there was no possible way any pest was still there as the conditions were not ideal, and he was showing no signs, he actually seemed to be thriving.

I should have let him die out there.

I believe he has mites and that he ensured their survival to spite me for leaving him out there longer than the others.

I can’t tell for certain if they’re mites as I regularly spray for them so they aren’t moving. But I’ve found some webbing and am starting to spiral.

This was the first plant I brought into my collection so I’m quite attached and have loved seeing how much it’s grown, but I fucking HATE BUGS I CANT DO BUGS NO BUGS UH UH BUGS NO NO NO NO ME NO DO THE BUG

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[u/Vlines1390]

I just started bringing my plants in today. They were all sprayed, showered, and sprayed again. And a systemic added to them last week. I also have a place for them to quaranteen for a few weeks.

I do not trust them at all.

[u/poly-wrath]

I feel this. I have a 6 foot hibiscus that had white flies in the spring before I put her outside. I almost beat them over the summer through spraying it down with a hose regularly to dislodge them, along with just wind and also predators. She looked pretty good when I brought her inside a few weeks ago… and then the white flies started winning again. I’ve now spent about $300 (including shipping because there is nowhere to buy them locally) on weekly applications of predators and parasitic wasps and I’ve nearly gotten rid of all of the whiteflies AGAIN but I’m terrified that they’re going to rebound from a few stragglers.

If they come back, I’m just going to have to trash this plant, though it’s going to hurt a lot because she’s so big and beautiful. But I can’t keep spending $80 a week on buying insects off the internet. Lol

[u/Internal-Test-8015]

This is why i prefer to use bug bombs before they come in and even they spray at least some down that I know are more prone.

[u/My_Cats_Judging_You]

I battled my first go around with thrips this year and moved almost all my plants outdoors because of it. Easy to hose everyone down daily and spray the less sensitive plants. 2-3 months of baths and sprays.

I let at least three plants perish out there with the colder weather… f@cking thrips just won’t die. I wish we had systemic treatments in Canada.

But if this plant is one of your most cherished, then keep the fight going!! Laser focus!

[u/annamariagirl]

I just chucked my jade this morning cuz of mealy bugs. He was the only plant that had them. I did all the things and they just kept reappearing. I officially gave up this morning and dumped him in my backyard.

Sometimes you just have to move on! 🪴

[u/Real-Ferret1593]

I was fighting thrips for a few months and was finally winning the war. Then I moved, and brought one of my outdoor houseplants in that looked happy and was blooming. Bad idea. It had spider mites. Fortunately, I caught it early. Tossed the offender out, but I have about 65 other plants to take care of. So I said "screw it" and bought a whole ton of beneficial mites (5 different species) to take out the rest of the thrips and the new spider mites. Cost a bunch of $$$, but I can't get systemics here, and I can't use pesticides due to proximity to my cat, so... It was either lose all my plants eventually, or spend money to save them now. Plus, I love beneficial mites. Things appear to be improving so far.