From my first day, I have recommended 90% of organic products in gardening, especially potting mix. I recommend a few harmless fertilisers, pesticides and pot materials. The reason behind these non-organic recommendations is that cutting off the money barrier becomes a factor in gardening. Giving some affordable pot material suggestions, and some quick fixes of fertilisers and pesticides to reduce the gardener’s overwhelming feel.
Finding affordable and organic products in container gardening is my motto. To put it simply this is what I’m doing in my garden. 100% organic products sound fascinating but in practical gardening, it’s quite impossible. Because of the cost, limited availability and getting greenwashed by the organic labels. But affordably opting for organic products as much as possible is a practical way of long-term gardening.
Detecting pests in early stages and treating them with organic pest control and organic pesticides are cut off two things, one is to control the infestations getting severe. Secondly, try to avoid synthetic fertilizer usage. I’m not saying you can’t use any artificial pesticides or fertilizers in your potted plants. If the infestation is severe avoiding synthetic pesticides only kills the plants same thing applies to fertilisers that suffer from severe deficiency.
Instead of using synthetic pesticides even in the early pest infestation, trying organic pest control methods benefits in multiple ways. You can treat mild pest infestation with DIY homemade pesticide, you can control pest attacks with organic pest control strategies. It’s a small but effective step in moving towards organic methods in container gardening.
IDENTIFYING THE ENEMY: COMMON PESTS IN CONTAINER GARDENING
We already discussed a lot about common container gardening pests in previous blog posts about pests. So, for now, I am going to give some key notes about those pests and their symptoms in the organic pest control, just for the readers who just reading the blog. For details refer pest’s category page.
Visual symptoms of pest damage on container plants
Some common pests in potted plants are Aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, caterpillars, fungus gnats and bettles. These pests cause most of the damage in leaves by wilting, eating the leaves, holes in leaves, discolouration and skeleton leaves. You can see webbing, honeydew, mold and damage in stems. These honeydew and mold attract ants so you can see more ants on plants.
Crawled leaves might be the pest nest, and underside leaves, and bushy foliage give hidden spots to pest reproduction. So, see these spots to find the pests. Spider mites hover around the plant and you can see visible shinier webbing around the plant in the daylight. Soil pests and slugs hovering on the soil at night, proper monitoring is a way to find these pests in the early stages, and using tools like magnifying glasses benefits more.
Environmental factors that encourage pests in container plants
Overwatering encourages pests in potted plants because of excess moisture in the potting mix and the plants. These overwatering causes fungus gnats like root pests and root rot like plant-killing infections. Adopting proper watering prevents them. Over-crowding creates poor air circulation around plants, which attracts spider mites and aphids like pests in container gardens. Keeping space between plant pots avoids this poor air circulation problem.
High-humidity weather or season is a natural pest-encouraging season. This high humidity attracts whiteflies, mealy bugs and scale insects. Proper spacing and watering only the topsoil dried prevents high humidity. Lack of light weakens the plants, creating light stress and making them easily affected by pests. It is like a child with low immunity falling sick easily. Provide needed light to balance the photosynthesis process and the food-making of plants and keep the plant more pest-resistant.
Dirty pots and tools not keeping the pots and tools clean, or keeping pest-infested tools and pots without sanitation and reusing them without proper cleaning causes pest reproduction because of the tinier eggs in them. Nutrient imbalance feeding excess fertilizer or forgetting to feed fertilizer creates these deficiencies in plants, making the plant weak and attracting pests. Using balanced fertilisers prevents these attacks. Unhealthy plants are an issue, buying unhealthy plants or saplings from any source and keeping the plant immediately in the garden without inspecting spread the pest infestation so easily. Buying healthy plants, inspecting after buying and isolating for a few days, trimming off damaged parts and feed with fertilizers and neem oil. Using a sterile potting mix is preferable.
Neglected plant debris Ignoring these plant debris after pruning or not cleaning for too long creates a foul smell, and fungus and these attract various pests to your garden. Removing fallen leaves and plant debris immediately prevents this problem. Contaminated soil using non-sterilised and non-sanitized soil has larvae, slugs and eggs in it. This spreads infestation and attracts other kinds of pests as well. Using sterile potting mix avoid reusing non-sterilized potting mixtures. These are the part of organic pest control practices that prevent pest attack.
BUILDING A PEST-RESISTANT GARDEN
Building a pest-resistant garden with healthy plants is a dream for gardeners. Pests are a headache to every gardener, especially in container gardening with those tiny spaces and tiny plants these tinier pests become a problem to get rid of. Instead of doing those organic pest control and treatments trying to avoid pest attacks in your garden is way more beneficial and hassle-free. To get that pest-free garden here are two methods of organic pest control.
How to choose pest-resistant plants for small gardens
Pest control in small gardens and smaller plants is quite challenging but organic pest control methods make it easier. Most of the plants are fragile and sensitive to synthetic pesticides. And these small plants might die because of these pest attacks. So, you need to prioritize these pest-resistant plants in your garden. The term pest-resistant plant means it’s natural pest-resistant and hard to get affected by pests. And these pest-resistant plants change according to your climate zones.
Native plants are more pest-resistant than the local plants. I experienced these in my garden my native rose plants fall less sick compared to my houseplants. While choosing plants consider buying your native plants. Hardy plants like cacti and succulents, natural pest-resistant herbs and aromatic plants are hardy plants and have pest-resilience than other plants. Companion planting these natural pest-resistant plants like marigold, mint, basil, thyme and rosemary with plants that got affected by more pests is a method to prevent pests organically.
For houseplants choose thick-waxy-hairy leaf plants (succulents) these are less attractive to pests. Natural defence plants like garlic, chives, chilli and onion repel pests due to their strong smell. Edible plants are more tend to affected by pests and you can use companion planting to avoid pest attacks. Buying plants from nurseries and planting along in your garden creates a massive infestation of pests.
Creating a pest-free container garden with smart practices
- Pruning prevents giving hotspots to pests and pest reproduction.
- Clearing debris after pruning to avoid foul smell that attracts pests.
- Deadheading the flower prevents pest attraction in plants.
- Pruning and maintaining a neat shape of foliage to prevent pest-hidden spots.
- Sanitize the gardening tools to prevent pest spreading
- Sanitize the container before planting and after repotting to prevent pest eggs from spreading.
- Using a sterile potting mix to prevent these infestations.
- Wash gloves properly or disposable gloves for pest treatment to prevent the spreading of pest infestations.
- Placing sensitive plants near pest-repellent plants naturally deters pests.
- Maintain a clean surrounding in the garden like regular weeding, pruning, and deadheading, remove debris immediately, and keep the garden ventilated to prevent pest attacks.
- Following these organic pest control practices helps you to create pest-free gardens.
Optimal placement of containers to avoid pest infestations
- Choosing sunny spots supports photosynthesis and plants become healthier.
- Dark areas encourage pest growth.
- Keeping plants in a ventilated area without plant crowding prevents the spreading, of hidden spots and excess moisture.
- To prevent slugs and snails elevate the containers.
- Keep away from walls and fences or maintain a 1-foot gap to avoid other house pests, ants and termites attacking the plants.
- Avoid placing under bigger tress debris from tees, tree pests affect container plants.
- If you using plant trays clean them regularly and avoid water pooling in the tray these attract fungus gnats and mosquitos.
- Avoid placing containers in bare soil, lay a barrier like gravel, tiles or at least landscape fabric to prevent soil-borne pest attacks.
- Rotating containers regularly disrupts pest life cycles.
ORGANIC PEST CONTROL STRATEGIES
Cultural control methods for pest management in container gardens
Cultural pest control methods are some gardening practices that is part of organic pest control protect the plants from pests, disrupting the pest life cycle and encouraging plant growth making them healthy and pest-resistant. Healthy soil is a key cultural control method, this first step of choosing sterile soil prevents soil-borne pests. Adding organic matter to the potting mix encourages beneficial organisms in the soil and deters harmful pests.
Rotating crops disrupts the plant life cycle, rotating the shaded part of the plant gives ventilation and sunlight that kills the pests and their eggs. Monitoring the plants regularly helps to detect pests in the early stages and it’s easy to treat as well. Watering properly without overwatering keeps the plants hydrated but not excess moisture and reduces plant stress these two factors avoid fungus gnats and snails.
Mulching with coconut husk and straw prevents soil pests and regulates the soil temperature. Seasonal planting of annuals and edibles prevents plant stress, and planting new plants in the dormant season prevents plant stress. These season pest attacks are common because of moisture and high-humidity weather and the newly planted are slightly under-stressed because of transplanting. So, avoid these seasons.
Effective physical pest control methods for container plants
These physical organic pest control methods represent using physical methods to prevent and remove pests from containers. This method is environmentally safe and non-toxic. The motto of the method is direct interaction with pest control. Handpicking the pests is easier and the best method in the early stages, I’ve been doing this for years whenever I saw pests on my plants. Using a tissue or wet wipes is enough to handpick the sticky pests on stems or using a tweezer is also helpful. Throw away this pest-cleaned tissue from the garden, and don’t keep it in nearby dustbins.
Water spraying with hose nozzles jet wipes off the adult pests from plants. Spray from sideways not down way that keeps the pests in the soil base or dry to cover the soil base while water spraying. Do these tasks in an isolated area not along with other plants. Sticky traps are the easier way to catch the hovering pests and flying pests in pots. Replace the traps once it get the pests. Physical barriers like green nets, mesh and fine screens are useful. Use the green net or fine screens if you growing plants on the terrace, nearby trees from neighbours or your trees. Using mesh pads prevents soil-borne pests.
Copper tapes are useful if you consistently facing slugs and snails on your potted plants. Attaching copper tape around the rims of pots prevents slugs and snails from attacking your plants. Mulching with natural materials like coco husk, and straw discourages pests. Regular cleaning in the garden and keeping it neat and ventilated avoid all kinds of pests. These physical and organic pest control method picking pests before it started to spread.
Biological pest control methods for container plants
Introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs if possible, in outdoor gardens is organic pest control. Applying microbial insecticides like bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that prevent caterpillars and larvae. Beauveria bassiana is a beneficial fungus that kills aphids, whiteflies and thrips. Verticillium lecanii is a fungus that is effective against sap-sucking pests. Encouraging small birds like wrens and finches with bird feeders and water sources these birds control caterpillars, aphids and other pests.
DIY ORGANIC PEST CONTROL SOLUTIONS
These DIY organic pest sprays are not only affordable and easy to make at home. These sprays are environmental friendly and effective in the early stages of pests. Using homemade sprays in a part of a organic pest control prevents pests in early stages.
How to prepare neem oil spray for natural pest control
Neem oil sprays are effective and commonly used for most of the pests in container gardening without damaging the plant. The ingredients needed are neem oil, liquid soap and lukewarm water. 1-2 tbsp of neem oil (15-30ml), 1 tsp of liquid soap and dilute it with 1 litre water. Stir all these liquids and fill them in garden sprayers or sprayer bottles.
Testing smaller portions in a particular part seeing results and observing side effects are more beneficial than applying them to the whole plant. Applying the sprayers in the morning (before 10 am) prevents evaporating. Applying 2-3 days gap in the early stages of pest infestation and applying one week in high-humidity weather. Blend the mixture based on plant quantity and store them in a cool and dry place, the shelf life is less than a week.
Safe and affordable homemade insecticidal soap for plants
Ingredients needed for insecticidal soap are Mild liquid soap (1-2tbsp), and distilled or filtered water (1 litre) to prevent mineral buildup add vegetable oil (1-2) is optional. Combine 1-2 tablespoons of liquid soap with 1 litre of water, and stir gently to avoid excess foam forming. Add 1-2 tbsp of vegetable oil mix well with the liquid and transfer it to the sprayer bottles. Shake well before each use. Applying methods are similar to neem oil spraying.
Natural pest-repellent recipes: garlic and chilli spray for plants
Chilli and garlic are the natural pest-repellent plants used in companion planting, pest-resistant plants because of their naturally strong smell. To make garlic and chilli spray as a combined recipe take 5-6 garlic cloves, 2-3 chili peppers 1 teaspoon of liquid soap and 1 litre of filtered water. Peel off the garlic gloves and chilli and blend them as a paste.
Add this paste to 1 litre of boiling water for 5-10 minutes at a simmer. Completely cool down the mixture and strain it and avoid irritation. Avoid hand and eye contact to avoid irritation. Application methods are similar to those mentioned below.
LONG-TERM PEST MANAGEMENT
- The importance of regular pest monitoring for pests in potted plants helps to prevent pest infestations in the early stages.
- This monitoring helps to isolate the plant before the spreads.
- Monitoring and record-keeping of the pests help to identify pest-attacking seasons, weather and other environmental factors.
- Monitoring and identifying the pests help to use targeted pesticides.
- Monitoring along with IPM practices are more effective.
- Organic mulching prevents soil-borne pests and infections.
- Coco husks, straws, dried pest-repellent plant leaves, and wood chips help to suppress weeds and deter pests.
- Cinnamon and coffee ground feeding prevents repelling ants and slugs.
- Companion planting, planting pest-repellent plants in the garden also acts as natural pest repellents.
- These are organic pest control methods that work better for long-term pest management in container gardening.
CONCLUSION
By adopting organic pest control methods in container gardening as a practice to prevent pest attacks, your garden becomes less attractive to pests, and you can identify the early stages of pest infestations and prevent them with organic homemade pesticides. You can avoid severe pest infestations, and losing a plant by these organic pest control methods. With this organic pest control, you can keep your plants all healthy.
For more tips on container gardening, be sure to check out our homepage. If you’re interested in learning more about the topic, visit our blog page. To follow my gardening journey, head over to the ‘About Me‘ section, and for any questions you may have, feel free to reach out through our contact page. I’d love to hear your organic pest control tips in the comments so we can create beautiful organic gardens together. Happy gardening!
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