You must’ve noticed there is a sap on your houseplant’s leaves. Well, that’s not exactly sap. The worst is when it is spreading around the floor and on the furniture. Well, if this is the case, then you need to act immediately. Keep on reading and find out what exactly is happening and how to get rid of sticky leaves on indoor plants.
How exactly did that happen?
Weird thing, am I right? But what exactly causes this though?
Well, the sticky leaves on indoor plants could be a sign of scales infestation.
The problem is that these insects are excreting a sticky substance called honeydew. And that is present on the leaves.
As any infestation, the effects could be devasted as it could stop the growth of your plants. Thus, it is recommended you get rid of that sticky foliage.
To sum it up, there are several methods you can resort to in order to fix this disease:
1. One of them is suffocation. Thus, you could apply a horticultural oil on the leaves of the plant.
2. Another method would be dissolving the scales. This could be done with a cotton swab or a soft cloth. The mixture you need consists on a gallon of water and 2 teaspoons of dish detergent. After applying this solution, you also need to wipe again with clean water to get rid of the sticky plant foliage.
3. Moreover, applying a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab is always worth a try. Thus, wipe away the leaves gently, so you won’t damage the plant. Of course, for an effective process, you should repeat this method every couple of weeks.
4. When the infestation is spreading too much, a more aggressive approach is necessary. Thus, make a routine of applying an insecticidal soap.
5. Also, you should wrap the plant’s soil in a piece of plastic so you can protect it from spreading the scales into the soil. Thus, the infestation will be minimal and easier to work with.
6. Even more, make sure to also clean the area around the infected plant. Thus, try cleaning the sticky furniture and the floor very well.
As a conclusion, I would say that you can handle this very well. Following these instructions and taking care of your houseplants will definitely end the threat.
