- How do you recognize a lice infestation on the ivy?
- Tips for fighting lice
- How to prevent lice on ivy
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Unfortunately, when caring for ivy as a houseplant, it is easy for aphids to infest the delicate leaves. An unfavorable location is almost always responsible for the lice plague. How to recognize a lice infestation on the ivy and what you can do about it.
Potted ivy is occasionally attacked by lice
How do you recognize a lice infestation on the ivy?
If the leaves of the ivy dry up, you should check whether aphids have spread to the plant. Lice suck the moisture out of the leaves, causing them to turn brown and later fall off.
The lice are often on the underside of the leaves, look under the leaves. Sometimes small holes can also be seen.
Tips for fighting lice
In the event of a severe lice infestation, take immediate action to save the ivy. Spray the plant thoroughly with the shower head to rinse off the aphids. Sometimes it makes sense to simply cut off and discard severely affected tips.
Mix nettle decoction or detergent solution. To make nettle decoction, soak some fresh nettle sprouts in rainwater for a few hours, then pour the solution into a spray bottle. If there are no stinging nettles, a brew of some washing-up liquid diluted with water also helps.
Carefully spray all of the ivy tendrils. Don't forget the underside of the leaves. This will destroy the remaining lice and their clutches. You should then provide the ivy with liquid fertilizer or fertilizer sticks (4.48€) to strengthen the plant as a whole.
How to prevent lice on ivy
There are some site conditions in the room that favor the appearance of aphids. If you ensure an ideal location and the right care, you can effectively prevent an infestation by lice:
- cool, shady location
- Keep soil sufficiently moist
- Increase humidity by spraying
- do not place next to radiators
- air more often
- spray occasionally with water in winter
tips
Ivy is often kept in hanging baskets in the room, which are hung on shelves or the ceiling. At the top of the room, the air is warmer and drier. To prevent this, water more frequently and ventilate for cooler temperatures.