Ah thrips, the glitter of the plant world: Pervasive, persistent, positively peevish. These little guys are perhaps the most challenging pests to tackle, but can be managed with some effort. 

What are thrips?

Thrips are little cream-coloured or black sucking insects. They are very tiny, so tiny you often will notice the signs of their damage before you notice the insects themselves. Look for dull or dirty looking leaves and new growth that is deformed. The undersides of leaves and new growth are the most tender parts of a plant, so that is likely where you can see them. 

Mealy bugs have a special gift of making your plant look unloved. Often covered in white fluff, mealy bugs are white and excrete a sticky liquid called honeydew which can cause a sooty mold to grow on the leaves. Your plant will look like it's lost its pep, is sticky, or is covered in white fluff. 

While scale is a less common pest, if you are a lifelong plant-keeper it’s bound to crop up at some point. But worry not - with a little bit of know-how and effort you can get your plant scale-less and healthy again in no time!

Spider mites are one of the most common house plant pests but rest assured they are also one of the easiest to get rid of. As with all pests, early detection is your best friend!