How do I get rid of aphids on houseplants?

Rinse the plant with a strong stream of water to dislodge most of the colony. Spray remaining aphids with insecticidal soap. Soaps and oils kill only the aphids present on the day they are sprayed, so UC IPM notes applications may need to be repeated. For heavy infestations, neem oil or horticultural oil also works — spray all surfaces, including new growth, and follow the label. Severe cases on tough-leaved plants can be wiped down with a soft cloth dipped in alcohol-water solution.

How do I prevent aphids?

Check new growth often — UC IPM advises checking for aphids at least twice a week when plants are growing rapidly. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizer — high nitrogen favors aphid reproduction. Isolate new plants for one to two weeks so any pest problems become visible, as UMN Extension advises.

Pest identification · Aphidoidea

Aphids on Houseplants

Aphids are small pear-shaped soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and excreting honeydew. They reproduce rapidly indoors and can transmit plant viruses, but are also the easiest of the common pests to knock back.

Read the full aphids treatment guide

How to identify aphids

Small (1/16 to 1/8 inch long, per UMN Extension), pear-shaped and soft-bodied; UC IPM notes they may be green, yellow, brown, red, or black depending on the species. Often found in dense clusters on new growth, flower buds, and leaf undersides.

Damage to look for

Distorted or curled new growth, sticky honeydew on lower leaves and surfaces, sooty mold growing on the honeydew, yellowing on infested tissue.

Life cycle (why they spread so fast)

Most aphids reproduce asexually for most or all of the year, with females giving birth to live young without mating. Each adult can produce up to 80 offspring in about a week, and nymphs can mature in seven to eight days, so populations can increase with great speed (per UC IPM).

How to get rid of aphids

1Rinse the plant with a strong stream of water to dislodge most of the colony.
2Spray remaining aphids with insecticidal soap. Soaps and oils kill only the aphids present on the day they are sprayed, so UC IPM notes applications may need to be repeated.
3For heavy infestations, neem oil or horticultural oil also works — spray all surfaces, including new growth, and follow the label.
4Severe cases on tough-leaved plants can be wiped down with a soft cloth dipped in alcohol-water solution.

How to prevent aphids

Check new growth often — UC IPM advises checking for aphids at least twice a week when plants are growing rapidly.
Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizer — high nitrogen favors aphid reproduction.
Isolate new plants for one to two weeks so any pest problems become visible, as UMN Extension advises.

Per-species treatment guides

Treatment varies slightly by plant. Find your species below for a dedicated guide.

Source: UC IPM — Aphids. Other figures: UMN Extension — Insects on Indoor Plants, as named in the text.