AboutMike Mascio Expertise I have been an avid gardener since 1985 and an AllExpert volunteer since
1998. I specialize in soil preparation, seed starting and plant
propagation, flowers, vegetables, and general landscaping. I am a strong
advocate of the square foot method of gardening and the use of organic
controls for pests and diseases.
I bought this plan(schfflera? looks like a big umbrella plant) a month ago from a reputable nursery in Boston. It seemed super healthy when I bought it but after a little while some of its top leaves started browning. I had a fruit fly problem with my home grown peppers but I dealt with that problem with neem spray. A couple of days ago, I saw some tiny greenish insects and web on the top leaves of my plant but I don't know how to take care of them. Can I use neem spray or should I just wash them of? What should I do with the brown leaves? I'm attaching some photos:
Answer I have never had success washing insects off plants. Many books claim this to be the first line of defense, but in my experience it is strictly a short term solution.
I would try the Neem, which should take care of the problem. Other alternatives include pyrethrum and rotenone. All are organic products that are non-toxic to humans and pets. Attached are two great sources for organic insecticides and fungicides. They both provide free catalogs upon request.
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