Pleases the eye of the apartment, which is a lot of potted flowers. But caring for them only seems very easy. If you treat plants without proper attention, they can die.
Indeed, not only watering and sunlight need indoor plants. They need daily care, attention and even human speech. If you deprive them of all this, they will begin to languish, wither, they can settle pests. The article will tell about the shield, show photos of these pests and describe the measures to combat them.
What is this insect?
One of these worst enemies of indoor plants is the shield. It can completely destroy all the plants in the house in a matter of weeks. And even half-poisonous flowers she does not spare.
Externally, shchitovka resembles tubercles that are practically immobile on the stems and leaves. The size of these bugs does not exceed 5 mm. Females are inactive, under their dense shell the larvae develop. But young shchitovki and individuals of the male sex easily move along the stalks and leaves of the plant. So they fly over and crawl on neighboring plants.
Therefore, having found a pest on one room flower, it is possible to meet it on others. These pests multiply by laying eggs on the back of a leaf or on the stems of a plant. The laying is so microscopic that it is almost impossible to notice it.
They feed on thyroid sap from plants, which they suck from the stem and leaflets. First, young and succulent shoots fall under its attack, then it moves to already formed parts of the plant.
Important! The massive attack of these pests destroys the adult plant in a couple of weeks, leaving behind only the root and the dried trunk. After the shchitovka ate half the leaves, it is almost impossible to save the plant.
It will also be useful to know what species the shield is. You can read about it here.
Causes of appearing on flowers
Each plant has its own immunity. If it weakens, then the flower may be attacked by various diseases and pests, including eelpouts. Also infect plants with a high nitrogen content and impaired metabolism. These violations occur due to improper irrigation, light, dry air.
Most often this happens in winter, when the day is short and the air is dry. It is in such conditions that the shield scroll loves to live. Infection occurs most often with the newly introduced plant, and pest eggs can also be introduced through the soil and even with water.
A photo
Next you can see how the shield looks like:
The first steps in detecting
If you notice that the plant has started to wither and wither, and then discovered these dark bumps on the leaves, then it is necessary to isolate such a flower in another room where there are no plants at all. And only after isolation, you can begin to save the plant from these parasites.
Subtleties and secrets
During treatment of the affected flower, you can resort to both folk methods and pesticides. Having made your choice on the second variant, it is necessary to take into account that such agents can cause allergies and poisoning of young children, the elderly, allergies and pets.
On a note. Folk remedies are no less effective in relation to the scythes and, at the same time, they will not have a negative impact on the people and animals living in the apartment. Therefore, most often resort to the treatment of indoor plants with the methods of traditional medicine.
Methods of struggle
How to get rid of using folk remedies?
- The most common method of killing a pest is wiping a plant with a solution of soap, water, and alcohol.
- To do this, 20 grams of liquid soap is dissolved in a liter of water, and then add 10 ml of alcohol.
- Wipe the leaves and the stem is necessary to complete the destruction of parasites.
- You can use a brush or cotton swab, which after processing must be disposed of.
Thyroids do not tolerate such a mixture of alcohol and soap, so they die within a few hours after treatment. But, unfortunately, not only pests do not tolerate a soap solution, but also some plants. Before using this method, look at the reaction of the plant, causing the composition of only one sheet.
- Pepper recipe is less dangerous, and at the same time it is not inferior to soap-alcohol composition in efficiency.
To prepare it you need to take:
- 100 grams of hot pepper, mince it.
- Then pour the resulting mass with two liters of water and put in a cold place for a day.
- Next, sprinkle the plant from the spray with the filtered solution of hot pepper.
Such water procedures should be carried out twice a week for several months.
Similar to pepper, you can cook and garlic with onion infusions. The effect of such infusions is not nearly as good as pepper.- When adult female individuals sit tightly on the plant, and in no way can they be removed, you can resort to kerosene. After all the leaves and stem are oiled, kerosene will be easily separated.
- This pest does not like the taste of vodka very much, therefore it is possible to lubricate all parts of the plant with it, so that the scout should be completely destroyed.
- Dissolve two tablespoons of olive oil in one liter of warm water and wipe the leaves with it. The composition of olive oil is applied to the plant once a week.
Similar to pepper, you can cook and garlic with onion infusions. The effect of such infusions is not nearly as good as pepper.How to withdraw chemicals?
Chemicals to combat the shield are of three types:
- Contact. Which penetrate through chitin and pest skin. It is used in the initial stage of the disease.
- Intestinal. Which cause deadly harm through getting into the mouth of an insect.
- System. This group of poisons acts through the poisoned sap of the plant. Parasites, eating poisonous juice, instantly die.
Chemical products must be purchased in specialized stores for the care of indoor plants. The most common drugs to combat the shield are:
- Actellic.
This tool is used both for spraying plants and for watering ground mix. Has established itself as a powerful tool in the fight against the shield. How to destroy pests with this drug? The solution is prepared in such a ratio - 2 ml of Aktellik per liter of water. Stir and immediately treat the plant.
From the positive qualities it can be noted that the drug can be combined with other chemical means, the ability to process planting material. The negative aspects of the drug include high toxicity and unpleasant odor.
- Aktara.
A systemic drug with a broad spectrum of activity, is effective against many pests. Use the tool for irrigation and irrigation of the substrate. To combat the shield in a living room, dilute 1 ml of Aktar in 1 liter of water. Mass mortality of pests occurs 24 hours after treatment.
- Bankol.
This is the best drug to combat the shield, which settled on houseplants. The tool refers to the contact means. It is characterized by low toxicity and lack of odor. The sign begins to die from the action of the drug after two - three days. Treatment solution: 0.5 grams of Bankol is dissolved in a liter of water. - Fitoverm.
The product is based on biological components, therefore it does not pose a danger to pets and people. A detrimental effect on a number of pests of indoor plants. The composition for spraying is prepared from 2 ml of Fitoverma and 0.5 liters of water.
This is the best drug to combat the shield, which settled on houseplants. The tool refers to the contact means. It is characterized by low toxicity and lack of odor. The sign begins to die from the action of the drug after two - three days. Treatment solution: 0.5 grams of Bankol is dissolved in a liter of water.Important! When working with chemical agents, use protective equipment, observe the necessary dosage, carefully read the instructions for the drugs. It is undesirable to find children and pets at home at the time of treatment.
You can learn more about how to control the shield with ready-made preparations and folk remedies in this article.
Preventive measures
Prevention is always easier than cure. So that there is no need to resort to means of pests, care should be taken to the plants in the house. Constantly inspect, monitor the condition and color of leaves, carry out watering, according to the requirements, to air the room where the greenhouse contains. The shield will never appear where there is good lighting, high humidity and strong healthy plants.
Conclusion
Shchitovka is a dangerous pest, but it can and must be fought. For this you need only the desire to see the plants in your house in excellent condition.
