I think my pothos plants have a thrip infestation, and I'm working on treating them. When I'm spraying my plants and washing away the thrips, I'm concerned about them jumping onto my clothes. I know thrips are harmless when they bite, but I'm worried they might hitch a ride and re-infest my plants. I wear the same lounge sweatpants for several days before washing them. Should I be cautious about transferring thrips from my clothes to other areas or furniture in my apartment? I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle this since it's hard to distinguish between actual bugs and just that creepy feeling on my skin.
2 Answers
Definitely a good idea to change your clothes after dealing with infested plants! Thrips usually come from outside, and if you're bringing them in, it can just add to the problem. A lot of folks I've seen recommend having a specific set of clothes for handling your plants. You can even call them your "thrip clothes" for the week! Just be cautious about your couch too; they might migrate to nearby fabrics. As for how far they travel, you shouldn't worry too much in a small space like a one-bedroom apartment, but keeping your furniture vacuumed and clean can help minimize any risk.
Yeah, I'd recommend giving your couch a good vacuum and maybe a spray down with some plant-safe insecticide too—just to be safe! Thrips are little hitchhikers, but they won’t go too far unless they find an attractive host. Keeping everything clean and vacuuming regularly can deter them. Quarantining your plants can be tricky in an apartment, but even just placing them in a corner away from your usual seating can help reduce the likelihood of them spreading.