I've discovered that my plants are dealing with a thrips infestation, likely brought in by my fittonia that I keep in a separate room. I've been using NeemAzal as an insecticide, which is the strongest option available to me. I'm considering skipping the final treatment on my fittonia to lure any remaining thrips, after which I plan to get rid of the plant. Is this a smart move or should I just stick to my current treatment plan? Also, I plan to introduce beneficial insects once I can.
3 Answers
Tossing the fittonia right away might be a good idea! If it's the source of the infestation, it could save your other plants from further damage. Don't hesitate to remove it if the problem is bad enough!
You've got the right idea with targeting all life stages of thrips. Using yellow sticky traps for adults, diatomaceous earth for larvae, and your neem-based solution for nymphs is the way to go. If you skip treating properly, the strongest thrips might survive and breed, making things worse down the line. Just make sure to tackle all those stages to eradicate them effectively!
Thanks for the reminder! I do have yellow sticky traps in place.
Good luck with the thrips! I had a similar issue and introduced Orius insidiosus, a beneficial bug, and within days I noticed an improvement. If you can get your hands on some, they can be super effective against thrips.
Agreed! I've heard that tackling all stages is important, and sticky traps really help monitor infestations.