Question: We have some serious pest problems on our houseplants. What is the best way to spray for them?

Answer: It’s probably better if you take the plants onto a shaded patio or into the garage, so you won’t have to use the pesticides inside your house. Just don’t put them into direct sunlight. You can use a small hand sprayer to apply the sprays directly to the problem. In some cases, as with mealy bugs and other scales, for example, you can also use a cotton swab dipped in insecticide or rubbing alcohol to remove them manually.