What to do if the rubber tree has bugs

Small white bugs in the soil of the rubber tree pot

The small white bugs in the soil of the rubber tree pot are root-knot nematodes. Once the plant is infected with root-knot nematodes, its growth will stagnate, the plant will gradually become stiff, and aging will accelerate. The leaf edges will dry up. If you dig up the roots, you can see many lateral roots and fibrous roots with tumor-like objects of varying sizes. These are insect eggs. It can cause the roots of the plant to rot, the above-ground parts to wither, and in severe cases the plant to die.

Control methods of rubber tree root knot nematodes

Removing topsoil

If the insect eggs are concentrated on the surface of the potting soil, you can clean up the top 5 to 7 centimeters of soil and then fill it with new soil. This method can remove the insect eggs on the surface and reduce the number of pests. It is best to sprinkle a layer of quicklime on the surface, which can effectively prevent the middle and deep soil from climbing up and can also effectively remove pests.

Soak in water

Loosen the soil with a bamboo stick, then immerse the flower pot in water, with the water level exceeding the soil but not covering the edge of the pot. Move it out after 10 minutes and place it in a ventilated and sunny place. This will basically kill the pests.

Cigarettes + laundry detergent

There is also a little trick in the home. Take 5 to 6 cigarette filter tips, soak them in clean water overnight, take them out, add a small amount of laundry detergent, stir thoroughly and spray them. You can water the roots appropriately once a day for 5 to 8 times.

Spraying

Go to the flower market to buy insecticide, dilute it with water and spray it, or choose chlorpyrifos granules and add them to the soil to kill the insects. For home use, try to lower the concentration as much as possible and ventilate the area promptly after spraying to avoid any impact on human health.