--- title: "What is your PREVENTATIVE pest routine? Not after you’ve discovered…" description: "What is your PREVENTATIVE pest routine? Not after you’ve discovered some pesky invader, but what you do regularly to try and keep pests at bay? Ready GO! (pic…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/EoZOt2XkSfeztVhCdPyW5g" community: "Anything about plants" author: "Amie206" published: "2024-09-07T17:51:00.260101Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/rLkdsfZry_mmttY12utbuWXEpkypn5xdaSt3fFIquCc/NYkfym0JTs-YkfHiDqIKXQ.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md) # What is your PREVENTATIVE pest routine? Not after you’ve discovered… _Posted by Amie206 on 2024-09-07_ What is your PREVENTATIVE pest routine? Not after you’ve discovered some pesky invader, but what you do regularly to try and keep pests at bay? Ready GO! (pic of my Burke-Marx who is getting a leaf shine today) ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/rLkdsfZry_mmttY12utbuWXEpkypn5xdaSt3fFIquCc/NYkfym0JTs-YkfHiDqIKXQ.webp?size=large) ## 15 comments ### Danii commented on 2024-09-07 I clean leaves regularly and every new plant gets a dose of systemic granules. #### Amie206 replied on 2024-09-07 Regularly = monthly? What are you using to clean leaves? #### Danii replied on 2024-09-07 At least once a month. I use either a 1-1 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water plus a pump of dish soap or the We the Wild Protect Spray. ### Adrian commented on 2024-09-07 I spray the top of the soil with insecticidal soap, then wipe the leaves with a mix of neem oil, peppermint Castile soap, and water whenever I get a new plant, quarantine it for 2 weeks, and add some hydrogen peroxide to the water the first to second time I water it. #### Amie206 replied on 2024-09-07 Do you use the neem/soap concoction more than just when you get the plant? I’m currently treating for rust fungus on several philodendrons. When I was reading the mixing directions, the manufacturer (Arber) suggested spraying twice a month as a preventative measure. This is why I’m going down the rabbit hole 😂. I do a lot when a plant first comes home with me, but now wondering if I should be doing something on a “cycle” vs when there is a clear issue. #### Danii replied on 2024-09-07 If you’re dealing with rust you need to cut all affected leaves and get a sulfur or copper fungicide. Neem oil or Arber won’t do anything to treat they’re mainly preventives. You can also spray sulfur once a month as a preventative. #### Adrian replied on 2024-09-07 Agreed. To answer your question, though, I use the neem and peppermint Castile soap mixture to clean the leaves every 1-3 months, depending on the plant. Definitely get a copper/rust-specific fungicide. Bonide’s copper fungicide is supposed to be good. And I do everything I listed above as an initial preventative when bringing new plants in, so you can try that as a preventative measure when bringing any newbies in, but you need a fungicide for anything rust related. Hope this helps 😊 #### Amie206 replied on 2024-09-07 Arber’s fungicide won’t work? #### Adrian replied on 2024-09-07 If it’s for copper/rust, then it should. I can only speak from experience from Bonide’s, is all. _2 more replies in the app_ ### Mads commented on 2024-09-07 Beneficial nematodes save lives! 🪱 I water all new plants with beneficial nematodes, and the whole collection periodically. They’re the most effective method against fungus gnats I’ve found, and they can also help with thrips \& spider mites. I also spray down new plants with Bonide insecticidal soap. 🫧🪴 For regular cleaning, I spray \& wipe down with neem + a little dish soap + distilled water, when Planta tells me to clean, or someone looks dusty. 🧹🤓 ### Amie206 commented on 2024-09-07 Thanks everyone. I do spend time cleaning the pesky Alocasias diligently - but honestly, other plants I tend to ignore. Time to up my game! THANK YOU! ### DanishGramma commented on 2024-09-07 I like to use peppermint oil and castle soap with filtered water in a spray bottle. I recently found fuzzy gloves that are like wearing washcloths on my hands and they are a game changer! #### Amie206 replied on 2024-09-08 I JUST got a pair of these gloves a few weeks ago! WAY easier to clean leaves!!! --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_