Pests

The filters at the top and bottom serve the purpose of keeping insects away from your plants. However, if some insects somehow reach your plants follow the steps below to handle the situation:

• If you can clearly see an infested area on your leaves or other foliage try using a damp cloth with an appropriate insecticide soap to gently wipe them off.

• If wiping them off does not work remove parts of plants that are infested or use a food safe and appropriate pesticide according to that specific pesticides instructions.

• Remove weak or infested foliage (leaves).

• If all plants are infested and you do not manage to combat the infestation with the steps above, remove all plants from your Vext, clean it and start growing again at the first step.

• Fungus gnats

  Signs: Small dark bugs that fly around the plants. Although they do not directly damage the plants, they are not that much fun to have around.

  Tips: Remove them by lightly scraping off the top layer of the plant pods as they often lay their eggs in soil.

• Aphids

  Signs: Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth. They suck plant sap, which can cause leaf curling or distortion. 

  Follow the pest treatment steps.

• Mealybugs

  Signs: Tiny, fuzzy white insects that tend to cluster around stems and leaf joints.

  Follow the pest treatment steps.

• Spider mites 

  Signs: Leaves become droopy, and fine white webs may be visible upon close inspection.

  Tips: Check neighboring plants as these pests often spread quickly then follow the pest treatment steps.

• Scales insects

  Signs: Small, brown, hard-shelled pests that often settle on the underside of leaves.

  Tips: Gently scrape them off or apply horticultural oil to smother and remove the infestation.

• Thirps

  Signs: Thrips are tiny, slender insects that may be difficult to see with the naked eye. They cause silvery, stippled damage on leaves and can hinder the growth of plants.

  Follow the pest treatment steps.

• Neem oil is a food safe option that is mixed with water according to the specific products label and then sprayed to cover the whole plant in the mixture on the whole plant.

• Insecticidal soap can be even more effective as it disrupts the cell membranes of soft-bodied pests (aphids, mealybugs) leading to their quick demise. Apply according to the specific products label instructions.