Explore This Page for 365 Hydroponics Tips & Tricks
Tips and Tricks
Not All Bugs Are Bad Bugs.
When you get a pest infection, the first means of defense is identifying what type of pest you have. Below is a table describing common pests and how to get rid of them:
Description:
Remove damaged leaves, wash plant leaves with warm water for a week then spray an insecticidal soap onto leaves.
Treatment:
Remove damaged leaves, wash plant leaves with warm water for a week then spray an insecticidal soap onto leaves.
Description:
Most kinds of caterpillar are considered plant pests and will eat the leaves.
Treatment:
Pick off by hand.
Description:
Inch long striped beetles and their larvae will eat everything on a plant.
Treatment:
Pick off by hand and optionally, spray with insecticide.
Description:
Small dark colored insects with beetle like bodies.
Treatment:
Pick off by hand if you can catch them. Remove any organic debris from the base of the plant. Set out roach traps.
Description:
Small dark brown centipede-like insects with a pincer tail.
Treatment:
Pick off by hand (they usually come out at night).
Description:
Small, 1 inch long caterpillars who bore into plant stems and eat them from the inside out.
Treatment:
Spray with insecticide.
Description:
The hatched offspring of tiny black flies. The maggot offspring attack plant roots.
Treatment:
Discard any damaged plants, spray with insecticide. Not too common in a hydroponics garden.
Description:
Small velvety green caterpillars that eat plant leaves.
Treatment:
Spray with insecticidal soap.
Description:
Small, 1/8 inch long, wedge shaped insects that suck the sap through the plant leaves.
Treatment:
Pick off by hand and apply insecticide if needed.
Description:
Small bugs create white, powdery masses on leaf stem joints.
Treatment:
Scrape off and spray with insecticide.
Description:
Small, 1/2 inch beetles will eat roots and leaves leaving only the veins.
Treatment:
Wash with soap.
Description:
Fly larvae that hatch at the base of the plants and eat the roots.
Treatment:
Not too common in hydroponics gardens. If found, spray with insecticide.
Description:
Tiny waxy growths on the underside of leaves and on stems.
Treatment:
Scrape off and isolate plant, if possible. Wash leaves with warm soapy water and apply insecticide if needed.
Description:
Red, yellow or green microscopic bugs forming cobwebs.
Treatment:
Isolate plant if you can, wash leaves with warm, soapy water and spray with insecticide.
Description:
Small, very destructive, striped back beetles 1/4 inch long. As adults, these plant pests eat leaves and larvae eat roots
Treatment:
Use insecticidal soap.