Do you have the guts to release beneficial insects in your home? I recently invited Jamie, the co-founder of DMV Beneficials, into my studio to do exactly that. We spent the afternoon performing a professional consultation on my green wall. We examined my alocasia, philodendron, hoya, and more under a microscope to see what was really going on. We found broad mites, spider mite eggs, and a possible infestation starting on my rabbit's foot fern. It was a little scary, but probably the best way to recreate nature right in our living rooms is to release these beneficial insects.

You can watch the full video of our release on my YouTube channel if you want to see these bugs in action!

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:03] What to expect from this unique live-audio episode
• [07:04] Meet Jamie from DMV Beneficials and what her company offers!
• [08:46] What are beneficial insects?
• [09:53] How Jamie conducts a live pest diagnostic check
• [12:27] What kind of microscope should you use to look for pests?
• [14:05] Why we start diagnostics with plants like Alocasia and Philodendron
• [15:35] Manukora
• [17:20] How to identify eggs vs. dust
• [19:45] Is it normal to see pests on your plants?
• [22:12] Checking for thrips on a philodendron
• [24:24] Are beneficial bugs safe to use in a home with birds and pets?
• [24:49] Identifying broad mites and how they get inside your home
• [27:40] What to look for when checking Hoyas for flat mites
• [29:48] Checking my fern for pests
• [32:58] How to use keystone plants to assess your plant population health
• [33:26] How to release soil predators (Stratiolaelaps) to your pots
• [35:22] How to aesthetically place and hang beneficial insect sachets
• [39:02] Treating ferns and hoyas with the beneficial insects!
• [43:21] How to safely release lacewings to your plants
• [46:44] How to use a hex cell to treat 60 plants with one release
• [49:19] Where to find Jamie, DMV Beneficials, and local bug chapters!

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy 272: Beneficial Insects For Effortless Houseplant Pest Management with Jamie of DMV Beneficials
• The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Pests
• DMV Beneficials Shop
• Neem Oil
• Lacewing Larvae in Hexcell (400 Count)
• Cryptolaemus Larvae in Bottle (250 Count)
• Stratiolaelaps Mites in Bottle (12500/25000/125000)

If you're curious to know which beneficials work for your houseplants,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

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Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Manukora

Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts!

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