Throw it out the window and don’t look back. Kidding. Sort of. If your plants are healthy and you let the soil surface dry out between waterings, insect infestations should be rare. Bugs go for the weaklings. If you do spot bugs, your plan of attack will depend on what kind of insects you have. Some are easily decimated. Other times it might make more sense to sacrifice the plant rather than wage a war. Aphids are the most common pest for indoor plants. They are smaller than an ant, have soft bodies, and are found in handfuls. Organic insecticidal soaps usually do the trick against them. Insecticidal soap can also be used against spider mites, which weave tiny white webs in foliage, and scale bugs, which look like brown lumps on the leaves and stems. Whiteflies, tiny things that look like white gnats, can be attacked with a combo of sticky traps and insecticidal soap. Mealybugs create cottony globs on the leaves and stems (root mealybugs do the same in the roots). They are notoriously hard to treat with insecticides and infected plants may be better off composted. Before you even bring your plant home, inspect it closely for signs of insects while you’re still at the store. Don’t buy it if you see anything suspicious. How to deal with insects in your houseplants Step 1: Quarantine your plant away from other plants, ideally outside if you can. You don’t want an epidemic on your hands. Step 2: Identify the suspect. If you are not sure what you’re dealing with, go to the library and get an insect identification book or call your local agricultural extension agency. Step 3: Get an insecticide, preferably organic, that is designed to treat the pest you are dealing with. Insecticidal soap works for most common houseplant pests, but do your homework and read the labels. Step 4: Apply the insecticide according to the directions. Do this outside while wearing gloves. Keep the plant outside until the insecticide dries, even if it is organic. Step 5: Keep the plant in quarantine until all signs of insects are gone for at least a week. Reapply the insecticide as needed according to the directions.