How to Kill Bugs in Potted Plants

Hand pick, wipe or prune pests off of your plants. Pick aphids of off buds and new leaves and scrape scales off with your fingernail. If you don't want to touch the bugs, use a wet paper towel or a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to wipe off aphids, scales and mealybugs. Mites and thrips are often best controlled by pruning out heavily infested leaves, buds and flowers.

Spray your potted plant with insecticidal soap, horticultural oils or an insecticide rated for your plant. Coat the plant thoroughly, as many pests hide in protected places inside flowers or at leaf axils. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully to make sure your plant is listed on the product you buy. Chemicals found in insecticides can damage some plants, so use them with caution.

Prevent infestations by regularly washing and inspecting your potted plants. Wipe your plant's leaves regularly with a wet paper towel and a drop of mild, liquid dishwashing detergent. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends covering the soil of small-leaved potted plants with foil and swishing them through a sink or tub filled with room temperature water and a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent. Regular cleaning prevents infestation but can also stop an infestation before it becomes a problem. Inspect new plants or plants that you put outside for the summer for any signs of pests.