DIY Houseplant Hospital: An Enclosed Habitat for Beneficial Insects

If you’ve ever struggled with pests on your houseplants, this is the guide for you! In a previous post on A Bug’s Blog, we explored common houseplant pests and the beneficial insect species that can control them. Now, let’s take it a step further and create a DIY houseplant hospital—a closed habitat that allows beneficial insects to work their magic without roaming your home.

Why Use a DIY Houseplant Hospital? 

A common concern when releasing beneficial insects indoors is whether they’ll become an issue in your home. Questions like, “Will predatory mites infest my house?” or “Will ladybugs fly everywhere?” are understandable. Here’s the good news: beneficial insects are not interested in becoming permanent residents of your home. Like all living beings, they need food, water, and a suitable habitat.

When you release beneficial insects indoors, they naturally gravitate toward the pest-ridden plants where their food source is located. Once the pests are gone, they may leave the plant in search of food—but since your home doesn’t provide the resources they need, they won’t stay or reproduce indoors.

To make this process even more controlled and effective, you can create a DIY houseplant hospital—a simple, enclosed environment that keeps beneficial insects focused on your infested plants while preventing them from wandering off.

You will need:

• Beneficial insect of your choice (e.g., ladybugs, predatory mites)
• Our Beneficial Insect Netting
• Optional stakes (we used bamboo)
• Optional clips or another way to secure netting

How to Create Your DIY Houseplant Hospital:

1. Set up the stakes (optional): If you’re using stakes, insert them into the soil around your plant to create a frame.
2. Measure and cut the netting: Drape the insect netting over the plant (and stakes, if used) to check the fit. Trim the netting to the desired size if necessary.
3. Release the beneficial insects: Carefully introduce the beneficial insects to the infested plant.
4. Cover the plant: Place the netting over the plant, ensuring it’s securely tucked under the pot or clipped to the edges to prevent the insects from escaping.
5. Let them work: Leave the netting in place until the pest infestation is resolved. Monitor the plant regularly and remember to maintain pest control as needed.

We’d love to see your DIY Houseplant Hospital in action! Tag us on social media with #OneLessPesticide to share your creative setups and let us know if you have any questions about using beneficial insects on your houseplants.