LITTLE BUGGER
Thrips may be tiny, but they’re mighty sneaky! These slender, winged pests feed by piercing your plant’s leaves and slurping up the juices like little vampires.
They leave behind a trail of silvery streaks and black specks known as frass, and can make your plant’s leaves look faded or distorted.
If you notice your plants looking a bit drained or spot a tiny, slender bug zipping around, you’re probably dealing with thrips!
REMOVAL METHODS
PATIENCE IS KEY
Thrips are incredibly small and can often go undetected! Buds, blooms, and new leaf growth are often thrip magnets since they are packed with juicy plant cells to feast on.
Select one method and give it a little time. If the bugs are still hanging around, try another.
RINSE WITH WATER
- Take the plant to a sink, shower, or outside.
- Use a firm spray of water to knock off thrips, larvae and eggs.
- Repeat every few days in combination with another method.
PRUNE
If a pest infestation gets out of control, sometimes you have to literally cut your losses.
- Carefully trim away heavily infested leaves or stems.
- Bag up the clippings and dispose in the trash - do NOT compost!
- Follow up with another removal method to target any stragglers.
NEEM OIL SOLUTION
Please read our Heads Up! on neem oil before using this method:
You will need:
- a clean spray bottle
- 1 tspn Neem Oil
- 1/2 tspn unscented castile soap
- 4 cups water
Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray the mixture on the top and bottom of the leaves.
Apply every 7 days until the thrips are gone. Due to this being a natural product, it can take some time.
INSECTICIDAL SOAP
Always spot test first before full commitment! Avoid spraying in direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn.
- Use a ready-to-spray insecticidal soap or mix a concentrate with water (per label instructions).
- Spray the entire plant, focusing on thrip clusters. The soap must make direct contact with the thrips to work!
- Repeat every few days until the thrips are fully gone.
