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Pests on Indoor Miniature Roses Back to Rosenut's Rose Care Pests on indoor minis are tough to eliminate, because the indoor dryness is where they thrive. However, you can keep them under control this way: 1) Water the plant thoroughly, so that the leaves are nice and hydrated. 2) In a hand sprayer, make a solution of 1 tablespoon Murphy's Oil Soap in 1 cup of tepid water. Shake well. Put the pot in the kitchen sink and spray to your heart's content, making sure to coat both upper and undersides of the leaves. If you have flowers, avoid getting the soap on them, as the solution will ruin the petals. Leave the solution on for 10 minutes. 3) With a gentle spray of tepid water (I use the sink shower attachment) rinse off the leaves. 4) Run a fan on the minis until they are dry-- leaving them wet invites all sorts of fungus problems. Do this once every 5 days or so. 5) Make an alcohol solution, one cup of 70% Isopropyl alcohol to a QUART of water. Use this to spray the undersides of the leaves now and then. The alcohol will dry up the mites and kill them. Don't do this very often, but if you have an infestation, use the alcohol spray every couple of days until you get them under control. Stop using it if the leaves show signs of damage. And remember, whatever you spray, make sure the roses are well-watered first.
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