- Family and Society
- The Halachot of Shmitta and Yovel
Treating an infested houseplant during Shmitta
Question
Dear Rabbi,
I have an infested (mealybugs) houseplant that is together with a few more plants in the same pot. What is permissible to do to save that plant, or at least the other ones that are not infested yet. Can I treat it with washing off and spraying the infested plant? If I may not treat it, can I rip out just that plant to save the other ones? Or do I need to throw away the whole pot?
Thank you
Answer
ב"ה
Shalom,
The laws of Shemitta apply in the fields outside your home.
If when you refer a "household plant", you mean that the plant is in a flower pot indoors, then basically the laws of Shemitta do not apply. What I by mean by indoors is that if the plant is under a ceiling in your home and not on an open porch for example, and the floor is tiled, then your plant is indoors. According to some opinions if the flower pot , which has a hole on the bottom, is actually on the floor in a ground floor apartment, there is room for stringency unless there is non porous plate under the flower pot.
Therefore, in the plant is in your home in a pot which does not exceed 330 liters in size, you may do what is necessary to treat your infested plant since the laws of Shemitta do not apply. (See שמיטה , הרב רימון עמ' 89, קטיף שביעית עמ' 237. )
All the best

weeds in shimitta
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar 12, 5775

Shmitta Observance Questions
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 6 Cheshvan 5768

Biur for Kdushat Shviit Fruits
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tammuz 1, 5776

Shmita Fruit out of Israel
Various Rabbis | Adar 17, 5769

Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Yerushalmi
Av 27, 5769

Jewish Learning
Av 27, 5769

Golden altar of Incense
Elul 14, 5769

Ma’ariv Times
Elul 11, 5769

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

Carrying a baby on Shabbat with no Eruv
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 14, 5779

On which day may one start wishing "Shabbat Shalom"?
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 9, 5780

Listening to Secular Music
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 5, 5773
rafael or refael
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Iyyar 27, 5783

Mitzwoth and Converts
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 5, 5783

touching of spouse in aninus and aveilus
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Sivan 5, 5783
