Getting rid of thrips naturally

Battle Plan: Wiping Out Thrips Naturally with Jungle Feed

Have thrips declared war on your indoor jungle, leaving silvery marks on the leaves? Don't panic. It's a fight that takes rigour, but with our plan of attack on 3 fronts you will destroy the enemy and protect your plants for the long term.

Step 1: Know Your Enemy to Defeat It

To win, you need to understand the thrips life cycle:

1. The adults (airborne): Tiny flying insects (black or beige) that lay their eggs INSIDE the leaves.

2. The larvae (on the leaves): Yellowish and translucent, they feed on sap, causing the telltale silvery damage with black dots (their droppings).

3. The pupae (in the soil): Mature larvae drop into the compost to turn into adults.

The takeaway: To eradicate thrips, you have to attack at the same time in the air, on the leaves and in the soil.

Step 2: The 3-Front Attack Strategy

Front no. 1: The Air Attack – Intercept the Flying Adults

The aim is to catch the adults before they lay eggs and to monitor how far the infestation has spread.

Your Monitoring and Trapping Weapon: the Thrips Catchers

Thrips Catchers – Sticky Traps are glue boards whose colour is specially chosen to attract adult thrips.

• How does it work? Flying thrips are irresistibly drawn to the colour, land on it and get stuck.

• Double action:

  1. Early detection: They warn you of thrips before the damage is even visible.

  2. Mass trapping: They greatly reduce the adult population and, with it, the number of eggs laid.

• How to use: Place one or more traps in the pots of affected plants, as close to the foliage as possible. Replace them when they are full of insects.

Front no. 2: The Foliage Offensive – Eliminate Adults and Larvae

This is the shock attack to clean up the leaves.

Your Main Weapon: Neem Oil

Neem oil is a powerful natural insecticide that disrupts the hormonal system of thrips and stops them from feeding.

• How to use:

  1. Shower your plant to wash off as many insects as possible.

  2. In the evening, use the Ready-to-Use Neem Oil Spray. It is already diluted to perfection.

  3. Spray generously over the leaves and above all UNDER them.

  4. Repeat every 3 to 5 days for at least two weeks to break the cycle.

Front no. 3: The Biological Assault – Wipe Out Larvae and Pupae

This is the crucial step that many people forget, and it lets thrips keep coming back.

Your Elite Troops: the Jungle Buddies (Nematodes)

The Jungle Buddies are microscopic worms, natural predators of thrips larvae and pupae.

• How does it work? Applied to the compost and the foliage, they actively hunt down and eliminate thrips larvae and pupae. They do not act on adults, which is why the traps matter.

• How to use: Take the sachet out of the fridge 30 minutes beforehand. Pour the whole contents into about 1 L of water, leave to stand for 5 minutes, then top up to 5 L (small size) or 10 L (large size). In the evening, water the compost and spray both sides of the leaves. Keep the plants moist for 7 days, then water lightly for at least 2 weeks. If thrips persist, repeat the treatment a month later.

Your Surface Barrier: Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth creates a minefield for the larvae coming down and the adults emerging.

• How to use: Sprinkle a thin layer over dry compost. Renew after each watering.

Step 3: Reinforcement – Help Your Plant Recover

After the battle, your plant needs support to rebuild itself.

• Cleaning: Use the Ready-to-Use Black Soap to wipe away the last traces of the invasion.

• Feeding: Resume gentle feeding with the Liquid Fertiliser to encourage healthy, strong new leaves.

Summary of Your Weekly Attack Plan