Have you been troubled by the sudden infestation of centipedes on your houseplants and you don’t know how best to get rid of this pest?
If you are such a gardener, then you are on the right blog.
In this article, we will enlighten you on the various ways that you can get rid of these pests.
Ways Of Getting Rid Of Centipedes In Houseplants
Centipedes usually live in outdoor camping areas. They mostly find a home for themselves under bark, leaves, or stones.
The majority of them are mostly present in mulches and they are known as outdoor centipedes.
You can easily get rid of these pests by regularly removing foliage and compost piles. The main motive for doing so is to eliminate the breeding of another set from the root.
Also, you can follow these simple ways.
A. Reduce The Amount Of Water You Give Your Houseplants
If you want to get rid of centipedes that infestation on your houseplants, then you must try and reduce the amount of water that you supply to the plant.
Houseplants can still survive on a low amount of water.
All you need to do is to ensure that before you water the plants, check the top layers of the soil. Don’t water the plants if you feel any form of wetness when felt.
B. Try To Get Rid Of The Debris From Your Plants.
Centipedes are most attracted to dark and cold places. So you must look out for them at such corners in your garden.
You should avoid adding stones and rocks at the root of your plants because it attracts the breeding of insects even though it is cool for aesthetics.
Read more: 13 Signs Your Tree Is Dying
C. Kill Them On The Spot.
To prevent them from breeding, you must try as much as possible to kill them when they are breeding. You can as well pick them up using a vacuum so that you can’t damage the plants.
D. Place Sticky Traps All Over The House.
When you locate a particular spot in the garden where these insects are gathering, all you have to do is to set traps all over the place.
By doing so, it helps to get rid of them even before they start breeding more.
E. Get Rid Of All Forms Of Centipede Food Sources.
This is quite another effective way that you can use to get rid of other insects.
Clean up all food crumbs before sleeping because, without a food source, they will be bound to leave your houseplants alone.
F. Use Organic Insect Killer.
If you try all these above ways and it proves abortive, then you can opt for the use of organic insect killer.
You can successfully get rid of these pests without harming your plants through this simple technique:
- Mix an organic multi-purpose baking soda powder or any other organic remedy that you know with water.
- Use the mixture to water your plants
- Do this for 2-3 days straight
However, using a natural multipurpose insect killer does not harm plants.
Though, they are quite potent in getting rid of all insects. The water and insect killer mixture will kill any centipedes present immediately.
It is recommended that you repeat this process 2-3 days in a row to target all hatchlings and also, prevent them from coming back.
Let’s look at the other natural insecticides that you can buy which are effective in getting rid of these pests as well as stopping them from reappearing in the future.
All you have to do is to ensure that you look out for the best natural Insecticides that wouldn’t poison the plant’s soil.
They include:
A. Boric Acid
Boric acid is one of the least toxic ways of killing house centipedes.
All you have to do when you get this acid is to sprinkle it in areas where there is a dense centipede population.
You can also identify these problem areas by using sticky pads.
When the Insects ingest the powder, it kills them instantly, and even if they don’t digest it, this acid tends to damage their exoskeletons.
When the exoskeleton of an insect is damaged, it will cause dehydration in the insect very quickly which will eventually kill them.
B. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is another way to get rid of house centipedes effectively.
It consists of a type of powder that is made from sediments of algae found in water bodies. These contain 80%-90% silica.
This is mostly used as a part of chemical tests that kill and dry off insects.
Through the use of this powder, it allows the passage of water which makes it safe to sprinkle on plants.
You can also create a protective barrier using this organic remedy by spreading a 5-6 ft wide strip of Diatomaceous earth around your house and yard.
This is only effective after you have managed to get rid of all existing centipedes. The 5-6 ft wide strip of Diatomaceous earth prevents any more centipedes from making their way into the house only.
C. Through The Use Of Insecticidal Soap And Pyrethrin Concentrate
Insecticidal soap and pyrethrin concentrate also work exceptionally well.
It contains pyrethrins (.24%) and potassium salts of fatty acids (20%).
It is an ideal choice when dealing with all sorts of garden pests.
All you need to do is to mix 6.4 oz of this concentration into one gallon of water.
One gallon of the mixture is applicable over 500-750 sq/ft of plant surface.
if you are wondering if it is safe to use during harvesting, of course, Yes, it is safe for use. You can use it every 1-2 weeks for a better result.
D. Ortho
Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer is not an organic remedy but regardless, It is a good option for both indoor and outdoor plants.
This product kills almost all arthropods and house-invading insects. It is ready to use and can protect against centipedes for up to 12 months.
The spray is used as a barrier but it is advised to use the spray from at least 4 inches away from all baseboards, windows, and doors for ideal coverage.
Through the use of this, it will help to prevent any centipedes from crawling back into your house.
Furthermore, you can use this Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer to create a protective perimeter around your house.
Spray this insecticide on window panes, floorboards, and doorways.
For added protection, you can also spray this insecticide all over your yard. Make sure to maintain a 4-inch distance from the surface when using the spray.
E. Cayenne Pepper
This is another organic remedy that you can try out.
Just get it and spread a thin layer of cayenne pepper at all entry points into the house or garden.
Sprinkle the pepper both inside as well as outside.
If you have pets, then be careful to avoid them from feasting on this pepper even though it isn’t harmful but if not avoided, it can cause considerable pain to your pet.
Read Also: Diseases And Pests Of Jalapeno Pepper Plants
G. Seal Your House
If there are any foundational cracks, small openings in window frames, and doorways are all routes of entry for centipedes.
You must seal them all up.
These can be done in different ways such as:
A. The most basic form is by weather-stripping your house.
B. Then through the caulk of any holes between walls.
By caulking, we are referring to those materials used to seal up joints and open spaces in buildings. This protects against insects, bugs, dust, air, and water.
C. Through cleaning of your gutters.
If there are any stray stones and pieces of leaves stuck in the gutter to provide breeding grounds for centipedes.
Leaving it will cause them to come out of the drains and enter your homes.
So, you must form the habit of regularly having your gutter cleaned. This will ensure a clean pipeline for water to flow through. It also ensures that no insects find a breeding ground in your drains.
You can also use insecticide aerosols like Lambdastar UltraCap, Cyper WSP, or Invader HPX.
These aerosol sprays come with crack and crevice tips boldly written on them, The narrow tip is aptly named as it allows you to reach even the smallest of cracks.
Conclusion
When it comes to centipedes, they aren’t aggressive pests, but they may bite if provoked.
So you have to watch out for it in your house and kill it when sighted as it is also harmful and painful to man when bitten by it.
If in the course of trying to get rid of this pest and you are bitten by one, do well to see and consult your doctor immediately for medical treatment. Afterward, you can use the ways mentioned above to get rid of them permanently from your houseplants.
