Indoor plants are a fantastic way to breathe some life into a dull space in a home. It’s also a fun way to incorporate some color into a room. 

Now, if you are new to gardening or owning plants, then one question you may have is, “do indoor plants attract bugs?” If you have that answer, you’ve come to the right place because that is precisely what we will talk about here. 

At Trending Up, we provide top-quality lifestyle products like smart home essentials and home gardening products like hydroponic growing systems, raised garden beds, vertical wall planters, and many others. 

Due to our line of work, we have ample experience dealing with indoor plants, and one of our most frequently asked questions is “do indoor plants attract bugs?” we decided we should address this issue. 

In the following passages, we will talk about indoor plants, bugs, and many other things you should know before introducing plants to your home. So without any further delay, let’s check them out!

Air Plants & Bugs

While air plants are very resistant to many pests and diseases, they still attract bugs. There are a few different types of bugs that eat air plants. Here are some common types of bugs that air plants attract:

• Chiggers are the most common bugs you will find on outdoor or wild air plants.
• Aphids are the most common types of bugs on garden plants. These tiny pests are hard to spot and are barely visible, but they end up slowly eating the plant if you don’t detect them in time. 
• Mealybugs are another type of bug that air plants attract. If an air plant has mealybugs, you will notice a waxy cotton-like substance on its leaves. That means you don’t have one but a whole colony of mealybugs. These are very common in warm, moist climates, and they feed off the juices inside a plant’s leaves.

What To Do If Your Air Plants Have Bugs?

If your air plants have bugs and don’t know what to do, then check out the following tips you can follow:

• Move the infected plant or plants away from the unaffected ones.
• You should submerge the air plant in water or rinse the plant well under running water. Usually, these two processes will dislodge and eliminate unwanted pests.
• You can use insecticide to kill the bugs. You should repeat the process with intervals as re-infestation is quite common and can take over your plant if you are not vigilant. 

Do Rubber Plants Attract Bugs?

Yes, rubber plants do attract bugs. Because rubber plants have thick, meaty leaves, they attract many bugs because they are the perfect source, and once infected, it can be tough to get rid of them. Here are some of the most common types of bugs that rubber plants attract:

• One of the most common bugs that indoor rubber plants attract is fungus gnats. These are fruit fly–sized insects attracted to the moisture of potting soil, and they lay their eggs in the ground near the soil surface. 
• Another widespread bug infestation is mealybugs. These look like cotton and are sap-feeding insects. Mealybugs are one of the most common bugs that indoor plants attract. 
• Indoor rubber plants also attract spider mites. These are a type of arachnid and are a relative of spiders. If you have a spider mite infestation, you will see a telltale spider web webbing on the plant.

What To Do If Your Indoor Rubber Plant Has A Bug Infestation?

If your indoor rubber plants have bugs, there are a few different things you can try to do. Here are some of the things you can try out if you notice an infestation:

• Quarantine the infested plant so that the infestation doesn’t spread. 
• Hose the leaves down with water. 
• You can take some neem water and spray it over the leaves. Let the oil sit on the leaves of the isolated for some time. 
• You will need to repeat steps two and three. Hose the leaves and respray neem oil. Keep the plant isolated for another three days with the oil on it. 
• You have to repeat the same process for the third time before re-introducing the plant to other house plants to minimize the risk of an infestation. 

Spider Plants, Do they Attract Bugs?

Spider bugs are one of the most popular indoor plants due to their being highly bug resistant. However, spider plants, too, attract bugs. Here are some of the most common bugs that indoor spider plants attract:

• Spider mites are exactly what you think they are. These are plant-eating mites that look like tiny spiders. They produce webs that mimic spider webs that they create to protect themselves from larger predators. Spider mites love plant tissue, and you can usually tell your plant has a spider mite infestation if you see the leaves turn yellow. 
• If you see sticky spider plant leaves, it can also mean your plant has an aphid infestation. These tiny little bugs can be hard to detect because they are usually in the folded recesses of leaves.
• Whiffleflies are tiny white bugs that indoor spider plants attract. It is one of the most common infestations for indoor spider plants. 
• Another white bug on indoor plants you may see is mealybugs. If you see white bugs on your indoor plant but aren’t flying, you probably have mealybugs. 

What To Do If Your Indoor Spider Plant Has A Bug Infestation?

Your indoor spider plant has attracted bugs, and you want to eliminate them. Well, check out these steps that you can follow to get rid of them:

• Quarantine your infested plants so that other plants don’t get infected. 
• Hose down the leaves and make sure there’s ample power in the water so that it washes down the bugs but doesn’t damage the leaves. 
• After that, spray the entire plant with neem oil or an insecticide depending on the type of bugs. Make sure you pay special attention to the underside of the leaves and the center of the spider plant.
• After that, repeat the process as much as needed. 

Treating Bugs On Indoor Plants

While the treatment mentioned earlier for bugs is a standard option, the treatment can vary depending on the type of the bug and the severity of the infestation. 

While most bug infestations can be treated with similar steps, there will be bugs requiring different products and treatment methods. So make sure you identify the bug first, then look into the proper treatment for the infestation. 

As you can see, indoor plants can attract bugs, and it can be a big problem for you if you don’t keep inspecting the plants regularly. However, if you can ensure the proper care and attention, you’ll be able to prevent any severe plant infestation. 

Remember, prevention is better than the cure now; if you are looking at equi[ment to set up your garden at home, Trending Up can help you out. 

Our curated list of lifestyle products ensures you elevate your quality of living. So contact us, and we will hook you up with the things you need. 

Also, if you have any questions about gardening or any of our products, feel free to drop them in the comments below or hit us up on our socials, and we will answer them for you. 

And with that being said, that’s about all we have for you today. We will come back with something new for you soon. Until then, see ya!