The first hint of trouble may be a bit difficult to detect: a yellowing leaf here, a bit of webbing there, some cottony white bits beneath the leaves of your plants. But even if you miss the early warning signs, before long it will become obvious that your plants are under siege and crying out for help. And make no mistake, this is a turf war these sap-suckers aim to win. White flies, mealy bugs, scale, and spider mites: oh yes, the nasty little freeloaders have arrived. Perhaps they rode in on a Trojan horse called 'Valentine Bouquet', or that innocent looking miniature rose from your mother. The truth is you may never know how the pests gained access to your well-tended fortress. Yes, it seems to me that no matter how carefully you guard your garden gate, indoors or out, something creepy-crawly eventually slips by and sets up camp. It's time to spring to action, before it's too late. But how do you know what kind of infestation you have? And how do you safely win the insect war? Fear not gardener, with some guided sleuthing, the solution will soon be right at hand.
As with any war, the first step to victory is recognizing and understanding your enemy. One of the simplest ways to familiarize yourself with basic gardener's entomology (the study of insects) is to pick up an inexpensive, waterproof identification guide. Mac's Field Guide produces a very easy-to-use, illustrated flip chart, with "good bugs" on one side and "bad bugs" on the other. Laminated and easy to hang from a hook through the handy punch-hole, it sort-of reminds me of one of those "Wanted: Dead Or Alive" posters from an old western film. And honestly, I like to know my friends as well as my foes, don't you? Identifying the beneficials, or as Mac's calls them, the "good guys," helps me to round up a rough and ready posse both indoors and out.
Of course it's true that many of the most destructive garden pests, especially those found on indoor plants, are nearly invisible to the naked eye. When it comes to insect infestations, what is often easier to spot are the symptoms of distress. With this in mind, I am a firm believer that a good problem-solving guidebook is essential to every gardener's success. My own dog-eared copy of Rodale's The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control is so often consulted—toted about in my truck and backpack—that it almost never finds its way back to my bookshelf. In this indispensable organic gardening title, authors Barbara Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley have created not only an excellent resource for horticultural troubleshooting, but also a comprehensive compilation of viable organic solutions for pest infestations and disease control.
Right now I am waging a war on the scale attacking my beloved ferns. Is something bugging your plants? Do you know what to do?
Michaela grew up gardening, studying plants, and picking organic produce on the family farm. When she isn't spreading compost or pruning shrubs, she can usually be found writing articles or giving seminars on all things gardening. Michaela has worked as a gardening professional for 15 years and is author of the popular blog, The Gardener’s Eden.
