What Houseplants Attract Cockroaches?

Indoor plants are in vogue and some are already populating our homes. We appreciate them above all, for this little natural touch that they bring to our homes as well as for their undeniable aesthetic and decorative dimensions. However, what is generally ignored is that they can be a source of inconvenience and problems. Indeed, some of them can attract pests such as cockroaches. Let’s find out, therefore, which plants you absolutely must not have at home.

Many of us are convinced that a little greenery can only do good inside, and yet this is not always true! You have to be wary of certain plants and know how to choose the right varieties to avoid unpleasant surprises.

What houseplants attract cockroaches?

When talking about insects such as bedbugs, moths, ants, cockroaches and other cockroaches, it is important to know that they like moist and dark environments. To survive they certainly need food, but above all water. Indeed, if a cockroach can go several days without eating, it cannot, on the other hand, do without water. This is why they are most often found in bathrooms and kitchens, but not only. It is from there that the problem of indoor plants arises because they form a small always humid home where these pests can come to hydrate and feed. Thus, plants that require a lot of water and that are watered regularly end up attracting them. Thus, orchids and tropical and exotic plants favor the development of these pests. Brazilwoods, currently very fashionable in their miniature version, are also to be avoided. Therefore, if you notice that your plants are invaded by insects, consider reducing the frequency of watering for a few days.

Read also: Homemade repellent to scare away kitchen cockroaches: effective and economical

Indoor plants. Source: spm

Some natural tips to get rid of cockroaches

What worse scenario than an invasion of cockroaches in the house? Besides being visually disgusting, they can carry dangerous germs and bacteria. Their presence should therefore not be taken lightly. Know that a female cockroach can lay up to 400 eggs during her lifetime and that they live in colonies.

Here are some tips to exterminate them before they invade your home:

Read also: Do you have cockroaches at home? Here’s the best trick to keep them away for good

Get rid of food residue: we obviously know that cleanliness is essential to avoid being colonized by insects because, above all, they are in search of food. The more food they find, the more they will proliferate. In addition, be aware that cockroaches are omnivorous and eat absolutely everything. It is therefore important to be as rigorous as possible and not to leave anything lying around. So, remember to put foodstuffs in airtight boxes, to clean household appliances (oven, stove, etc.), to do the dishes daily, to take out the garbage and household waste every evening and to keep the litter boxes of the pets.

Clean the pipes: cockroaches like moist environments and their favorite places are undoubtedly the pipes of sinks, showers and washbasins. They will certainly proliferate, if they find food scraps or any other kind of waste there.

Avoid bleach: it may seem contradictory but the use of bleach, is far from repelling or killing cockroaches… On the contrary, it attracts them ! This is explained by the fact that the latter communicate with each other through pheromones, and that the smell of bleach looks like the latter.

Use natural repellents: it is true that there is no shortage of chemical insecticides, including on the market, but they are not always effective, especially since they are generally toxic. Better to focus in this case, natural products such as white vinegar to use as a spray, baking soda or diatomaceous earthto sprinkle in all strategic places where cockroaches circulate: nooks, cracks, crevices and baseboards (you can add a little sugar as bait to attract them and encourage them to swallow these substances).

Diatomaceous earth, a natural insecticide. Source: spm

You are now ready to eradicate these pests. Obviously, if you are the victim of a heavy infestation, do not hesitate to call on a professional for an effective and radical disinsection.

Read also: How does baking soda help you get rid of insects in the house?

Via SPM