Freshly cut flowers can bring ants, spiders, small caterpillars and other insects indoors. While many garden insects are harmless or beneficial outside, some plant-feeding pests can spread from bouquets to houseplants, according to gardening magazine Better Homes & Gardens.
Check store-bought bouquets
Purchased flowers should be inspected carefully and rinsed with plain water before being placed in a vase, pest specialist Jerry Wang advised on lifestyle platform Martha Stewart.
Check the leaves and spaces between petals, where thrips, tiny slender insects that feed on plants, may hide.
A magnifying glass can make them easier to spot, Clemson University advises in its guidance on common houseplant pests.
Lightly blowing into a flower can also cause hidden thrips to move, making them more visible.
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An insect rests on a flower. Photo from Pexels |
Clean garden flowers outdoors
Flowers cut from the garden are best prepared outside so insects, dirt and loose pollen do not end up indoors, consumer advice website Tom’s Guide recommends.
Remove the lower leaves, especially those that would otherwise sit below the waterline in a vase. This can get rid of insects and debris clinging to the foliage while also preventing submerged leaves from rotting.
Holding the flowers upside down and shaking them gently can encourage hidden insects to fall out.
Bugs may shelter inside curled petals and leaves, so turning the blooms downward can help dislodge them. Fragile stems and petals should be handled carefully to avoid damage.
Rinse stems and dip flower heads
Place the stems of garden-cut flowers in a bucket of cool water to help loosen dirt and insects. The flower heads can be soaked in clean, cool water for about 30 seconds to remove stubborn pests, particularly ants.
Because wet petals can weigh down delicate blooms, thin stems may need support while drying to prevent bending, which can interfere with water uptake.
Keep bouquets away from houseplants
Garden-cut bouquets should be kept separate from houseplants because they may carry pests that can spread indoors. Aphids feed on plant sap and can cause leaves to turn yellow or become distorted.
Spider mites also feed on sap and may leave pale speckles across leaves, giving plants a faded appearance.
Keeping fresh bouquets away from indoor plants can reduce the chance of these pests spreading from one plant to another.