About Diana Hamilton Expertise I can answer questions related to flowering and non-flowering house plants, and herbs. I do not know very much about cactus, orchids and bonsai
Experience For 20 years I owned a florist where I sold cut flowers and all types of house plants and accessories and gave advice to my customers.
Publications I have not had any writings published but I have presented gardening programmes on television, showing viewers how to care for their plants, giving them ideas on suitable plants, discussed problems with experts in different fields and given practical demonstrations on growing seeds, planting tubs and hanging baskets, watering, feeding, pruning etc.
Education/Credentials I am completely self-taught
Awards and Honors I have exhibited plants and flower arrangements in many Flower Shows winning many prizes.
Question My hanging pothos is on the counter. It does not get direct sunlight although there is a lot of light in the room. The air conditioning keeps the room pleasant. Flying around the pothos are the tiniest fruit-like flies I have ever seen. Do you know what they are and why they are around the plant?
Thank you!
Answer Dear Marian,
I wonder if these insects are thrips which are tiny and black or whitefly which are, unsurprisingly white.
Whitefly like to suck the sap from the plant and deposit a sticky substance known as honeydew.
Once you have established which they are you can buy an insecticide and follow the instructions on the box/bottle.
I have two pothos at home, one indoors and one on a balcony where it gets lots of light and some sunshine - neither have any insects around them [Sod's law that when I go to check them now they will have insects!!] so I can only suggest that it could be either of the two described above. Why do insects attack any plant? Because they like the taste.
If your plant is small enough to handle I would try washing the leaves if they are sticky, check the soil for insects and perhaps put on a fresh layer of compost on the top, spray the plant with tepid water occasionally to keep the air moist and the leaves dust free and of course feed it during the spring and summer.
I do hope you manage to rid your plant of these insects.
