How to Prevent Bugs on Flowers in Containers
- 1). Lift your container and hold the base of your plants as your dump out the potting soil onto a piece of plastic. It is important to replace the potting soil to identify as well as to remove bugs. Look at the bugs on the plastic to determine the right pest control methods you need to use. For example, aphids can be controlled with ant baits, because ants protect these bugs.
- 2). Replace the soil with fresh, sterilized potting soil. Place the container on a bricks, wood or a small table to move it further from the ground.
- 3). Cut a piece of reflective mulch to fit the top of the container. Make X-shapes into the reflective mulch to pull over your plants. The reflective mulch should allow for at least 3 inches of space for the mulch to the base of the plant for watering. Bugs such as whiteflies and aphids are repelled by reflective mulch.
- 4). Water at the base of the plant rather than at the crown of the flowering plant. Wet leaves are attractants for bugs.
- 5). Apply a double-sided adhesive to the edge of the container for catching bugs before they enter the container. Replace the adhesive every few days.
- 6). Place other plants that produce fruit or vegetables away from your flowering plants. Fruit- and vegetable-producing plants attract a wide range of insects.
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