How To Get Rid Of Aphids On Your Houseplants—And Keep Them From Coming Back

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Aphids are more than just a minor annoyance—they can quickly become a serious problem for houseplants. These tiny, pear-shaped insects come in shades of green, yellow, pink, or black and tend to cluster on stems and leaves, feeding on plant sap. This weakens the plant, often leading to leaf drop and stunted growth.

The most common type found on indoor plants is the light green pear aphid, which can multiply at an alarming rate. Indoors, they spread easily by crawling or flying from one plant to another, making infestations difficult to control once they take hold.

However, there are plenty of ways to tackle aphids and protect your plants. Here are a few ways to tackle the issue.

Rinse Them Off

Young woman taking care of her Zamioculcas plant at home. — Image Credit: Deposit Photos

A strong stream of water can knock aphids right off your plants. That’s right, just give your plant a good wash. This can be done by washing it in the sink or shower or by turning the entire plant upside down into a bucket of room-temperature water to dislodge the pests.

Prune Infested Areas

Potted houseplant with damaged leaves indoors, closeup — Image Credit: Deposit Photos

Keep the plant area tidy by promptly removing dead or decaying leaves. If a section of your plant is heavily infested, sometimes the best option is to cut it away entirely. Dispose of the affected plant material outside to prevent aphids from spreading.

Rubbing Alcohol Solution

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Dabbing aphids directly with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol will kill them on contact. Though time-consuming, this method is effective for targeting clusters of pests.

Use Sticky Traps

Using stick tape to catch fungus gnats infesting a plant. yellow — Image Credit: Deposit Photos

Yellow sticky traps are great for catching aphids. These sticky traps are the best. Hanging sticky traps near your plants can help catch aphids before they become a problem. These traps, available at garden centers and online, attract flying insects and prevent them from settling on your plants.

Neem Oil

Applying neem oil to the soil acts as a natural insecticide, targeting aphids without harming your plant. Neem oil affects insects’ feeding abilities and acts as a repellent.

Use Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap is a gentle way to control aphids. Spray it directly on the leaves, especially underneath, where aphids love to hide.

Make a DIY Spray

Spraying the plant. — Image Credit: Deposit Photos

Instead of buying insecticidal soap, you can also make it yourself. This would require you to mix your own by adding a small amount of dish soap (one teaspoon per gallon of water) and gradually increasing the concentration as needed. Spray it directly on the leaves.

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Manually Remove Them

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For minor infestations, simply wipe aphids away with your fingers or a cotton swab. This hands-on approach works best when there are just a few pests to deal with.

Essential Oil Spray

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An essential oil spray can be effective as a natural repellent. Mix water with a few drops of peppermint, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil, and spritz lightly on the soil and foliage.