The 80p spray you need to be blasting your houseplants with – it smells so good and keeps bugs away

The Sun

8 hours ago

JUST like your outside plants, houseplants are susceptible to pests too.
But don't worry, you don't need to spend a fortune to keep them at bay because there's a simple spray you can whip up for next to nothing.
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This Morning pro Nancy Birtwhistle revealed the easy trick anyone can use, and you'll be wondering why you didn't try it out sooner.
On the show, Nancy explained that a quick spritz of the DIY spray can keep things like green flies away for good.
So, what do you need to make the spray at home?
You'll be happy to know most of the ingredients you'll likely already have in your cupboard.
Start by filling a bottle with around 500ml of water and add in about a teaspoon of washing up liquid.
Next pop in a teaspoon on cooking oil - any you've got on hand will do the job.
"That just makes it stick," Nancy explained to This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.
And finally, a few drops of clove bud oil should be added to finish to spray, which the pro said is perfect for both indoor plants, as well as those in your greenhouse.
You don't need to buy a spray bottle for this either, simply reuse one - but make sure to give it a good clean first.
According to the pro, the clove bud oil is the perfect ingredient to add because it's a natural insect repellent.
Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years
After sharing the trick, Instagram users were keen to try it out, as one commented on the clip: "I can't wait to try this out."
"I made this batch 18 months ago and it's still working," a second wrote.
And a third commented: "It actually seems to work! I was sceptical but only seen one fly that went out again in two days!"
MORE TICKS FOR HOUSEPLANTS
During these summer months, keeping your plants safe in direct sunlight is a must,
Luckily, Kelly Dyer, from Patch Plants, shared how there is a common mistake you should avoid when it comes to your indoor plants - and it may seem surprising.
She shared: 'Don't be tempted to mist plants if they are sitting in a spot that gets direct sunlight.
'The water will evaporate and lead to scorching.'
She also advised that you don't use aircon, if possible, and to open your windows instead.
10 Unkillable plants
Home and garden experts at Nth Degree shared 10 (almost) unkillable plants that'll transform your garden space.
Rosemary - It looks great, smells amazing and bees love it. Pop it in a sunny location and water it occasionally.
Nasturtiums - Colourful flowers that grow well in poor soil. Even better, they self-seed so return every year.
Thyme - Another edible plant that smells amazing and is tough as nails. It's hardy so just needs dry soil and lots of sun.
Sedum - Adored by bees, the small, colourful succulents are drought-tolerant.
Ivy - A plant that loves to grow vertically, just make sure you cut it back to stop it growing out of control.
Lemon balm - Looks like mint but smells like lemon! It can be used in teas and baking.
Boxwood - An evergreen plant that thrives in shade and requires little water.
Miscanthus - Tall, airy and commonly known as elephant grass, it can grow up to six feet tall and hard to kill once established.
Lavender - The ultimate patio plant, it grows brilliantly in pots or containers, provides beautiful colour and fragrance, and loved by bees.
Hellebores - A winter-blooming flower that can withstand ice, wind and rain.