I recently noticed that thrips have invaded my collection of over 20 plants. They seem to be infesting all of them, and while we've discovered how long they've been at it, I'm worried they're slowly killing my plants, which hold a lot of sentimental value for me. I've read that the usual approach is to take drastic measures like trimming affected leaves and using multiple products daily, but that's not manageable given the size and state of some of my plants. I've also started using neem oil, but I really want to find effective strategies to save as many plants as possible. Any advice would be super helpful!
2 Answers
Have you considered using biological controls? Predatory mites like *Neoseiulus cucumeris* could help manage the thrips naturally. They’re usually available through companies like Koppert under the name "Thripex." For sprays, I recommend trying Safer's end-all, which contains pyrethrins, or sticking with neem oil. If you're up for it, mixing homemade insecticidal soap with neem oil and alternating them could work, too. If you're looking for something stronger, systemic soil granules like the ones from Bionide would be a good option—just be sure to follow the instructions carefully!
A common way to tackle thrips is by using systemic granules like imidacloprid along with a spinosad spray. These will make your plants toxic to the thrips for a duration of several weeks. The challenge with thrips is that they can be hidden inside plant tissue for part of their life cycle, so systemics often work best. You can kill them with insecticidal soap, but make sure to spray often—ideally every three days. I suggest putting your plants in a tub or using a pump sprayer to speed up the process and save your hands from all the work!
I’ve been using diluted dish soap for insecticide. Is that safe for all plants? I really hope it won’t mess with my cacti!
That sounds awesome! Any chance you could share links to those soil granules? I’m still figuring all this out. Thanks a ton!