When I visited the Seattle Spheres and saw the famous green wall with its 40,000 plants, I was mesmerized. But what really caught my eye were these strange little plastic baggies hanging off some stems. I wondered if they were hurting the plants at first. But then I looked closer, I realized those bags were filled with insects. Beneficial insects, to be exact. And they were there to manage pests naturally.

So if you’re like me and have struggled with pests like spider mites, thrips, or mealybugs on your plants, this episode with Jamie Stanton from DMV Beneficials should show you how beneficial insects work in deterring pests naturally.

GET THE FREE HOUSEPLANT PEST CONTROL DOWNLOAD HERE

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:34] Download my new houseplant pest guide for free!
• [03:37] Meet Jamie from DMV Beneficials
• [06:59] What is a “beneficial insect” and what makes it beneficial?
• [09:59] Why not just use pesticides?
• [12:01] How do these beneficial predators work with your houseplants?
• [13:42] What are the risks of releasing beneficial insects in your home?
• [14:38] Can beneficial insects sting us?
• [15:19] Never worry about water restriction ever again by picking up a copy of "The Water Smart Garden" by Noelle Johnson
• [16:32] Discover high-quality organic gardening products with Espoma Organic
• [18:22] Stay away from these beneficial insects!
• [20:42] How to get started
• [28:10] Can we see the mites we release?
• [29:35] Beneficial insect against scales
• [29:46] Effective thrips management
• [33:44] Can you use beneficials in tandem with pesticides?
• [34:51] Top houseplant pests that give the most headaches
• [41:31] How does sustainability play into beneficials?
• [48:19] Where to find DMV Beneficials near you

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Monterey Horticultural Oil
• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?

GET THE FREE HOUSEPLANT PEST CONTROL DOWNLOAD HERE

Learn how to use beneficial insects to protect your houseplants,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

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Thank you to our episode sponsors:Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Quarto: The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle Johnson

Grab a copy of The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle Johnson at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com, or amazon.com to get inspired and take action on your garden.

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

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Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

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