RANGE REVIEW RAN


NGE REVIEW NGE REVIEW


IS THE DESIRE FOR AN URBAN JUNGLE CAUSING A RISE IN INDOOR PESTS?


As the popularity for houseplants increase within consumers, Kiran Grewal investigates the consequential outcome for the pest control industry , and how retailers can implement a strategy within its stores.


T


rends have shown consumers


are


looking to bring a natura l


inside their homes, with a focus


elemen t on


houseplants, for both their natural beauty but also for the health benefits that they can promote – cr eating a feeling of calm within the household, whilst purifyin g the air and eradicating pollution r,, as a new wave


indoors. However www.diyweek.net


of the younger generation is taking an inter est in houseplants, eager to cr eate a space of zen for themselves, they may be somewhat naïve to the pests they ar e potentially inviting into their homes .


“It’s all about the foodc hain”, says Liam Gavin, inventor of the PestClear range of electr onic pest contr ol pr oducts. “Look under the leaves of your houseplants, and the chances ar e you will find lots of wildlife ther e. Red spider m ites,


greenfly whitefly y,, w y,, mealy bugs, and


all sorts of other tiny cr eatures feed on the leaves, or the sap within them. The only sur e way to avoid bringing these animals into your home is to carefully inspect any plant you ar e buying, and avoid any with chewed-up leaves, or leaves that look disease d.”


The popularity of houseplants, especially of those in a younger demographic, may suggest that the tr end is appealing to those who


9 FEBRUARY 2018 DIY WEEK 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36