Help Whiteflies!
by
Cathy Kurpil
+5
My big beautiful Birds of Paradise all have whiteflies...can't afford those injections I see on TV....anyone have a cure that doesn't cost a fortune? Thank you!
7 answers
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How about a good spray of water? That's the first line of defense for homeowners as suggested by Palm Beach County Extension. For more, see: http://palmbeachcountyextension.wordpress.com/category/whitefly/
Douglas Hunt
on Oct 15, 2013
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Thanks Douglas, there is a wealth of information there! I'll try the water spraying first :)
Cathy Kurpil
on Oct 15, 2013
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I would use a small amount of Dawn Dish Soap mixed with water and spray a couple of times. I have done this on different plants and it does work. for at least t a few weeks and longer
Sandra T
on Oct 16, 2013
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Birds of Paradise are on of my few areas of expertise. First know the more crowded they are the better but they on the same hand need good air circulation. I have found in the past I would get the occasional white fly and freak OUT! Since they can not tolerate weather below 50 degrees one must do certain things before frost time. One suggestion is to hose all your birds off with the hose and then after I take the first two inches of soil up and out of container. So that anything from being outside does come in with them for the winter season. This simple chore has provided me with big birds like you have now. The suggestion to spray or mist with water as Douglas said is always good for these wonderful Birds of Paradise. And should be done on a regular basis. They love it when once a month I drag them into shower and let the shower rain on them for about 15 minutes solid. I let them drain off in there and that night put them back. They also need air circulation from underneath another common mistake many make when owning these great plants. And this alone could be why you have the "white flies" While I am here with Bird advice so to speak.... they love the nutrients found in fish emulsion. They are now and always have been heavy eaters and need what the really stinky fish emulsion offers them. Just do not fertilize them with this solution if company is expected in the following week or so. Takes that long to rid the area of the smell. But the benefits of this will serve you and your Birds so very well if you love your plants you'll get over the smell fast. Do you relay on grow lights inside or do you relay on nature light from window? Just curious for I have always had to use full color spectrum grown lights with mine. Hope all of this serves you and your plants well. I am only attempting to help. Hope I did. Good LUCK!
Suzette Trimmer
on Oct 16, 2013
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Insecticidal oil or soap work well for white flies (neem oil or sesame oil) on my squash plants. I'm in Southern California and have Birds of Paradise, including giants and tuxedos, all over my property year round, and have never seen a white fly on them.
Sarah Letts-Smith
on Oct 16, 2013
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There is a new insect if you are in the Florida area called the 'gumbo limbo spiraling whitefly 'or 'rugose spiraling whitefly' You will need a neonicotinoid based spray to get rid of this, however remember to use only on the affected plant, as they have not proven this to be safe for bees. Check the label of all insecticides on the shelf to see if these ingredients are in them; Acetamiprid,Clothianidin,Dinotefuran,Imidacloprid,Nitenpyram,Thiocloprid,or Thiamethoxam.
Coco Tree Service Corp
on Oct 22, 2013
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Please please please DO NOT USE A NEONICOTINOID!!!! You cannot guarantee that bees will not visit this plant and evidence is mounting that these products are responsible for the Colony Collapse Disorder that is wiping out bee colonies like the plague. As a hobby beekeeper, I just have to insist that the inconvenience of white flies on a plant does not justify the killing of 60,000-80,000 bees in a colony.
Sarah Letts-Smith
on Oct 23, 2013
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