Houseplant spray with insecticidal soap, pyrethrin can thwart pests

Q: Please recommend a ready to use houseplant spray containing insecticidal soap or pyrethrin that you suggested using to get patio plants ready to move indoors. I have several large geraniums, doing so well this year, that I want to keep them for next year. — D.G., Santa Fe

A: You could find ready to use houseplant sprays in any well-stocked nursery. Even most of the big box stores keep a fair amount of garden products available all year-round.

When shopping, if you can’t find anyone knowledgeable enough to guide you, go prepared to read the pesticide label. I want you to concentrate on the active ingredient list on the label and consider taking a magnifying glass with you as the print can be quite small.

The insecticidal soap’s active ingredient isn’t soap. It is called potassium salts of fatty acid. So when reading the label on a houseplant spray and it says insecticidal soap as its claim to fame and usage, the true name of the pesticide it contains, in the small print active ingredient listing, is potassium salts of fatty acid. Because if the label was called potassium salts of fatty acid instead of insecticidal soap, you’d never believe that it was/is an insecticide, so somehow the name was altered to make it more fitting to the industry it is intended to be used in. As to brands, Safer, Garden Safe and Natria should/could be available in the big box stores.

Any well-heeled nursery will have a ready to use houseplant spray available too. Just ask and take along the magnifying glass or loupe to read along with the help.

I also suggested insecticides containing pyrethrin. Know that initially the pyrethrin (the man-made form) was created from tweaking pyrethrum. Found naturally in a variety of chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum coccineum, or painted daisy. Sometime long ago, someone figured out that they had far fewer pests in their garden when they grew painted daisies in them. Well, along comes a botanist/chemist person and voilà, the compound pyrethrum is isolated, becoming recognized as an insecticide. Then needing to make it more profitable (probably) it’s morphed into a man-made form — pyrethrin.

Once again, take your best reading glasses or a magnifying glass, and search out the insecticide. Remember to spray when the plants are still outside. The spray can assist you in making your treasured geraniums, and any other tender plants you wish to save, far more pest free aiming to bring them in for the winter.

Q: I couldn’t wait! I went ahead and planted my two large 18-inch wide pots full of pansies two weeks ago. Since the weather has been so unseasonably warm, I did move them to a shadier spot on the patio, but they are still looking quite sad. I’m keeping them watered, but just don’t know what else to do for them. Any suggestions? — E.B., Albuquerque

A: I’m so pleased that you thought to move the pots into a shadier spot for the time being. That’s probably one of the wisest things you could have done. I do want to caution you to not keep the pansy plantings too wet. Water, yes, but soaking? No.

I’m confident that you have been able to feel the cooler freshness the mornings are offering now. With that, I’m hoping the complete change to usual autumn weather will be here soon.

Now, this might sound a bit harsh, but it could help the pansy plants deal with this all to warm weather meanwhile. Get a very sharp pair of scissors and cut off any flowers the plants are still wearing. That way, the plants won’t have to work as hard supporting themselves. Yes, they’ll look a bit forlorn for the next several weeks, but allowing them a period of rest, so to speak, while they are working so hard dealing with this fine warm weather, they’ll be better off in the long run.

Then, once it truly does cool off, get the pots placed back where you usually have them grace your landscaping and the pansies should reward you with a new series of bloom. I truly believe that by snipping off all the blooms now, making sure the pots aren’t being kept too soggy, and with the advent of cooler temperatures, everything will be good. Who knows, you might have the grandest displays of pansies anyone has ever seen.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.