Whitefly Infestation: Need a solution
Last summer I experienced a whitefly infestation in my back yard and outside gardens on both flowering plants and vegetables (mainly tomatoes). It was carried in to my sunroom/greenhouse. Have lost 1 hibiscus tree and many other plants are affected. Have tried MANY organic remedies to no avail. My grass was even infested. Have tried Raid House and Garden with no success, insecticidal soaps (gallons! I was spraying 3-4 times per day) ditto...I also have an iguana that lives in the sun room, so bombing the area is not an option. I am desperate, as spring is trying desperately to arrive, and my sun room is still alive w/whiteflies. HELP!!
3 answers
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Donna, as you have experienced, a serious whitefly infestation is difficult to manage. I know you have used insecticidal soap, but that, in combination with the old-fashioned yellow fly traps, is really the best treatment there is. If you can figure out what plants are most attractive to the whiteflies, get rid of them. Take the others outside and really spray them with insecticidal soap. You have to really drench them, making sure to get to the underside of the leaves, not just mist the plants. Please resist the urge to turn to a stronger insecticide. It will eliminate the populations of beneficial insects that will help keep the whiteflies in control, and whiteflies very quickly develop resistance to them, rendering them ineffective.
Douglas Hunt
on Apr 14, 2013
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@Donna Anderson I agree with the ideas suggested by @Douglas Hunt . Fly paper worked very well in controlling and preventing aphids on our hydrangea bush - now I hang it in the spring before they appear, no problems for a couple of years. As for the indoor plants, I would follow the insecticidal treatment but then cover and seal with a clear plastic - big clear bag or drycleaning plastic. This prevents them from moving away from the plant so they get the full impact of the soap. I have also used ivory soap, liquid, in water to spray with this method and have been successful. Let us know what works for you :)
Gail Salminen
on Apr 14, 2013
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Diatomaceous Earth is organic, cheap & has many other uses. I grow indoors & it's the only thing that works. Google it.
Kaye Watkins
on Apr 10, 2015
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