Thank you for this video Emma. As a person who is in remission for autoimmune disease and a scientist, I appreciate you bringing light to the dangers of pesticides. Long term they can also do damage by hurting our pets and our own biome in addition to potentially triggering other illnesses like allergies. I don't have as big a plant collection as you and once in a while I get pests which I can either control via washing with dish soap and alcohol spray or the plant gets isolated until I can put it outside when the weather allows. Between the rain and outdoor predators, the plant gets cleaned up and some become stronger, healthier and less susceptible to pests. I look forward to seeing your future videos; I learn so much about caring for my plants from you.

Here in Canada most of those chemical pesticides are illegal so I’m grateful for you talking about other methods!

Awesome tips for non-chemical treatment. Plant parenting and care shouldn't come at the cost of our health. So kudos to you for those changes and encouraging the rest of us to consider non-chemical treatment. 👏🏼💚

I am so glad I watched your video last night! I gave my plants a really good look and discovered Thrips! UGH! I've never had them before. Now I'm treating every plant as if they have them. Lots of work but I don't want those bastards attacking us.

Part of the life cycle happens in the soil. Best way I’ve found where possible is removing the plant from soil and putting the roots in water. Breaks the life cycle quickly, they lay eggs within the tissue of the plant so you need to wait long enough for them to hatch/ ideally your plant will put one leaf out whilst in water. If it’s deformed, wait for another. If it’s a normal leaf, you can pot your plant back up.

I got my first thrips invasion a few years ago and I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do, so the invasion became bigger. I got the Provato spray but because of my low energy (health issues) I couldn't do the required weekly sprays (I would spray them in the bathroom with an open window. Still didn't feel very safe with the chemical) so it wasn't very effective. THEN Sweden decided to outlaw Provato spray (I'm sure you can imagine my panic) so I couldn't find it any shops. But I am very happy that they've outlawed it. It is not good to use. Then I found out about the Orius bugs, got some and my plants got almost instantly better (They do recommend treating it twice with about a month time inbetween). I didn't have to do weekly sprays, I didn't have to deal with chemicals, the bugs do all the work for you. I didn't have to shower or wash the leaves on my plants either although I'm sure that's a good idea. I just didn't have the energy to. I swear by the Orius bugs. They are just great and really made my big invasion go down very quickly. I have not tried the sachets but they seem like a very good idea.

Had thrips on a small cactus recently 🙄 They really have no boundaries

This was a really great video. Thank you for sharing your chemical free techniques.

Thanks for your tips Emma. I've been fighting with thrip for months and I still have them. However, I notice that thrip prefers some plants to others. Could you make a video about which plants that thrips don't prefer based on your experience?

My biggest reason for avoiding pesticides is for my kitties but after speaking to Ian (Liquid Gold Leaf) at the plant swap - he really does instil the passion for soil health, eh? lol. I have been using predatory mites from Ladybird for thrips and spidermites and for weeks I was sure they weren't doing anything but they are TINY! Once you adjust to their size I do sometimes see them zooming about. I dunno why but they don't bother me at all when normally plant pests make me feel itchy! I think it's cos they are so wee!

dayum girl, you came in clutch 💪💪

Great video! Another tip: check new plants really well before you buy them. Almost bought my first thrips yesterday (on a cute plant) but luckily I saw it on time so I didn't buy it😅

I ordered jumbo perlite (it’s actually massive) , worm castings, and a tropical aroid mix, from OptimizeOrganics based in BC Canada, and they also sell KopperT beneficial bugs, which I was considering buying soon. They ended up sending me 4 foil packs for free (two types of mites, 4 sachets total) So I’m really really hoping that they will actually help control the thrips before it gets worse. I only noticed a couple of weeks ago, because they came in on my sunflowers that I was trying to acclimate to my balcony… I ended up just putting the sunflowers outside and saying screw it. They all dried out and died within two days, and most of the thrips are also gone now. I still have some stragglers inside, so I’m really hoping that these will help get rid of the rest

Thank you for this updated video, it’s really positive to see people advocating for a more natural and also less panicky approach to plant bugs like thrips. I have had both thrips and spider mites this year and have managed to contain the issue and resolve it quickly with the predatory mites approach (if anything I’m a little lazier as I don’t wash my plants down, I just have a daily squish of adults and let the predatory mites do their thing). I’d love to see a video on fungal issues that affect plants, it would be good to know any early signs and the best approaches if it does happen. Thanks again for the videos. 🪴 😀 🪴

I just found a infestation after having a 2 week trip this video has helped me so much since I have parrots and they are very sensitive to any chemical. They have a very sensitive respiratory system and the smell alone can kill them. Thank you for sharing my parrots mean the world to me and I don’t want to do anything that will harm them

Haver you ever tried the method from liquidirt? Mixing water, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, peppermint castille soap, tea tree soap and a little hydrogen peroxide. It seems to be working for me

Good tips; thanks for sharing Emma!

Here in Germany it is much more expensive to buy beneficial bugs than to just get Careo combi sticks, and sticks for sure are much more effective

I use neem oil and it works perfectly

I like bug clear ultra, it’s a chrysanthemum extract (flowers) so sort of a chemical not a chemical.. I do alternate it with provanto, they both work great and usually requires only one application.. With regards to soil chlorine in tap water is not good for the stuff you’re trying to preserve either ..ROdi water is great for soil and plants alike and is as close to rain water as you can get without actually collecting it ..

Is everyone dealing with thrips at the moment like me ? 🤣

Omg your intro illustration is so cute

I didn't know they could fly!! :( i have a small stromanthe with thrips I've been treating with neem oil for the last couple of months (they have reduced but they are still there) but it has been around 30cm away from other plants! *facepalm* thank you for your video emma! definitely getting those sachets now in case the thrips have travelled and i just can't see them!

Very informative video, thanks for sharing. Do you use need oil too?

I have little green lizards🦎 in my green house so definitely no chemical pesticides! But will take your advice and order the Thrip killing bugs!💚

I couldn't get on my thrips and ended up having to use systemics.. they destroyed several plants and we're getting in everything after someone sold me an infested plant . I can't quarantine as I live in a shared house and keep my 50 house plants in my large bedroom . my plants are close together so pests are a nightmare for me. I had a plant with mealy bugs a few months back but noticed it very quickly so avoided spreading them. not buying more plants any time soon, that's for sure 😮

This video has some amazing timing. I just discovered yesterday some thrips on my Alocasia Micholiziana. So your routine was really very helpful, but I need to find out what a horticultural soap is in Germany 😂😂 Maybe you could do a video for different kind of predatory mites and which one you can combine? I hope that this sentence makes sense 😂

Excellent info! Thank you! 💚✨

Thankfully I’ve not yet had thrips. Something about releasing insects into my house, even though beneficial, gives me the heebie jeebies.

Yes I didn't even know I had them I thought somthing was wrong with my soil an or there was not enough room for my gladiolus but everything in my garden was looking like shit

Im giving up soon its so sad and annoying ive spend so much money on my monstera collection..

I sprayed my plant with cockroach spray (Raid). Will this kill them?

WON’T let me order from the USA. I need this for thrips and cyclamen mites. I have to take my plants outside to use the chemical sprays They work but toxic and lots of work. I’ll continue searching for these sachets.

Thank you for sharing ❤

Lost coast plant therapy doesn't kill ladybugs? I haven't used nematodes what or the predator mites that you have. It's organic & hasn't effected my plants that's noticeable. Thrips are not fun to deal with

Do you have to open the packets?

Will this work in semi hydroponics? I want to order pirate bugs, but not sure if they'll live in that setting

Not at this time no thrips, at my house!! I had the 3 years ago and it took over a year to get rid of them!!! It was horrible!!!!

Hi, thank you so much for your video. I saw a funny KZfaq video in which the girl took a small ostrich feather duster to dust away and disturb the pests. I was curious and bought one on a nearby farm and tried it. It seems to help 😂 , have to continue testing 😅💚🪴💚🪴💚