I got some great Fall plant care advice from my friends at the HollinHills Garden Club.

I definitely have run into problems bringing in plants from my porch that have been out all summer.  I used this concoction last week and brought plants in.  They are looking good and I haven't had an outbreak of any spiders in the house!

HOMEMADE INSECTICIDAL SOAP

Houseplants that spent the summer outside should come inside now (if they have not already been brought in ).  Before you bring them in, it's a good idea to inspect them for diseases and pests.  This inexpensive, homemade recipe will help prevent many plant pests, such as scale, from spreading in the more crowded space inside your home. If you use it inside your house, make sure to protect floors and furniture. The solution will drip off plants.

1 quart water

1 tsp liquid dish detergent (Dawn or generic brand)

3 tbsp isopropyl alcohol 70%

Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and use as you would a commercial insecticidal soap. 

For scale on houseplants: spray one section of the plant at a time generously, saturating the entire leaf, including the underside. Then carefully wipe each leaf with a moistened cloth to remove the scale and sticky residue. Go leaf by leaf. This can be time consuming, but is the most effective way to use the soap solution. Make sure you get the stem, too, and all the nooks and crannies.