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Avatar for JoeyBGill
Aug 1, 2015 9:31 PM CST
Thread OP

I bought a small sansevieria plant from a local garden center about 3 weeks ago. I noticed the plant had some very slight damage but I thought with a little TLC I could nurse it back to health. I began to notice tiny little white bugs crawling on it which I presumed to be spider mites. I cut off the obviously infected leaves, washed the remaining leaves with dish soap/water mixture AND rubbed the leaves with isopropyl alcohol to make sure these mites didn't come back. A few days later I checked and sure enough, the mites are still there. So I started misting the leaves on a regular basis because I read the mites did not like moist conditions. Now, a few more days later I haven't seen any mites but all of the sudden these tiny, winged, gnat-like bugs are popping up on the plant! Does any have any advice on how to make houseplants completely pest free? I am about ready to give up!
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Aug 2, 2015 6:02 AM CST
Name: Julie
Kenmore, NY (Zone 6a)
Region: New York Enjoys or suffers cold winters Container Gardener Houseplants Daylilies
Hi Joey, Welcome! to ATP!

If it was my plant, I would remove it from the soil, wash off all the roots, swish it around that soap/water mix and repot it in a fresh soil mix. Remember to scrub the pot, too!

I really don't know if that's the proper thing to do, but it sounds like you did everything you could to the top of the plant and that didn't work. Logic says the culprits are in the pot of soil. Smiling I think the gnat-like bugs are due to too much moisture.
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Aug 2, 2015 6:20 AM CST
Name: Christine
NY zone 5a
Deer Charter ATP Member Region: United States of America Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tropicals Region: New York
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I agree with Julie, and will add, take it out side when you clean it up Smiling
Avatar for Plantomaniac08
Aug 2, 2015 9:27 AM CST

Are the little white bugs fuzzy looking? Google mealybug and see if that's what they look like. If it is indeed mealybug, I'd just cut my losses and toss it. The new bugs could be fungus gmats, they enjoy moist conditions.

Planto
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Aug 2, 2015 3:36 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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The tiny winged gnat-like bugs are probably fungus gnats which is an indication of the soil staying too moist/wet. Sansevieria are succulent plants that require less water than other types of plants. They are extremely drought tolerant.

http://garden.org/plants/searc...
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Aug 3, 2015 8:51 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
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Hi & welcome!
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The only way to succeed is to try!
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Nov 14, 2015 9:53 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
How is your plant doing now?
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
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