Today while doing my daily fuss in my plant/sun room, What did I happen to spy hovering around my tropical Hibiscus? Whiteflies! Ugh! Ugh! Yuck! I swear, they were not flyin around in there yesterday! So my IPM training kicked in (integrated pest management) and since I could identify them easily, and know it would be pretty hard to hand pick them, I hauled the plant into isolation in the spare shower and began spraying it with soapy water with a clean water rinse.I did not want to use a pesticide and sure hope I will not have to resort to using one.I know from working in nurseries that whiteflies can be a real pesky problem. I checked all it's neighboring plants (no signs on any others...so far...) I removed everything from the area and gave it a good cleaning. It is way too early for me to put plants outside which is definitely what I would do in this case if it were appropriate. This Hibiscus has been so pretty, blooming almost non stop. I sure hope I win this war I've started!
WAR? As in violence, mayhem and destruction? Your Hibiscus must be happy. The white flies have appealed for UN aid and refugee status. Your other plants must be cheering too. The last thing I had to wash off was scale. I don't usually have to contend with nasty white flies. Jerry
Thank goodness you spotted those little white pests quickly Kay. I just hope there isn't another hatching. You certainly did the right thing for your hibiscus and I'll keep everything crossed that it's the last you'll see of those blighters. Kay ONE - white fly NIL!!
I like the way you jumped into action! I do believe those white flies have met their match. Long live the Hibiscus!
I have never dealt with whiteflies, but they have encountered a worthy opponent! (me) Surveying the battlegrounds of the isolated Hibiscus this morning reveals the deceased bodies of the adult whiteflies. YUCK So another gentle rinse... I guess they picked the wrong sunroom to invade! I will be on the look out for their reinforcements, and will be prepared for another strike!
Way to go girl. I to hate those little pests. This last summer I had them out in my veggie garden. I have never seen them outdoors before. So I to got out my insecticidal soap and gave everything a good spraying. I had always thought that white fly was an indoor plant pest. I also hate scale and spider mites. I have done battle with them before. :-x
Good for you Kay! Arm yourself for the invasion and be ready for action at a moments notice.... I hate the little buggers along with aphids!!!! ( My soap bottle seems to be out more than in anymore and I don't really want to use a harsh chemical, but it may come to that if the soap spray doesn't get rid of all of the aphids soon)! I found some on my tomatoes and the petunias as I was transplanting today
Whiteflies @#$%!! I overwinter petunias in my greenhouse & these nasty buggers like to drive me nuts.So far I haven't found them on my hibiscus.Hope I don't because I have 7 & it would be a chore debugging all these.The adults are easy enough to kill.Soapy water,alcohol & the like,but it's those tiny,tiny eggs that cause the problem.They adhere like glue & it's impossible to see them all.Ongoing vigilance is required.Several times a day I go on white fly patrol.When it's cool I can hand squash them easy enough.I keep the things they love trimmed quite short.Neem is supposed to be effective on the egg stage. I've had them so bad that they became a problem on my plants outside. Doris
Doris, Thanks for the tips. I am keeping the Hibiscus isolated and am watching for more to hatch. I will consider Neem if the problem persists. I just wish it was warmer , and further into spring so I could put it outdoors. You know last summer I had these creepies on my tomatoes. Never before. Where do they come from? The soil?
White flies won't live over outside in areas that freeze. With me & probably you they come inside on a plant we had outside for the summer.Probably a few eggs.Or they can come to your place on a plant you buy.I submerged every one of my plants,big hibiscus & all,in a huge container of soapy water before they came inside.Maybe the soap didn't get the eggs or I missed a plant or a few stayed in the greenhouse over the summer.I don't know if the eggs get in the soil but I do know I find the eggs on leaves at the base of the plant,sometimes touching the soil.One thing that helps is those yellow sticky traps.I haven't used the Neem but read that it works & isn't harmful.My greenhouse is only a few feet from my kitchen so I don't use poisons. They are inactive when it is cool but as soon as it warms up in the spring ,there the beasties are! First only 2 or 3 & before you know it, clouds of them .Good luck! Doris
Tropical Hibiscus in isolation ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) Here is my Hibiscus in isolation in the tub. Haven't licked those whiteflies yet, but still doing battle. Last week,I applied a systemic, and yesterday I sprayed with a Bayer product. It was nice enough to take the plant outdoors. It still is blooming away as if it hadn't a care in the world.
Kay,how is your battle with the @#$%! coming? Sounds like you got out the big guns! I was able to put outside the plants they were favoring. I squish & have sticky traps up.Nice when the cat comes in with a sticky card stuck to her LOL.I just want to keep my seedlings clean. So far so good. They love your hibiscus cause they are drawn to yellow.Knock wood,but I haven't found any on my pink hibiscus. Doris
Hi Doris, The whiteflies have retreated for the time being. I haven't spotted any since I sprayed. Our temperatures have been so warm, so I brought it outdoors and it is now living happily in the garage. We have big windows in there so it gets some nice light. It is still blooming and looking OK. I can't wait till I can leave it outdoors. I know I'll need to be vigilant and ready for another attack! Thanks for asking
Not the white ones! I found some all through winter in my apartment. On different house plants... mostly on my Clerodendron thomsoniae. I kept flopping the leaves to check their back, and kept squishing the flies. A while ago I sowed some seeds and one stray tomato seed decided to come to life. Last week I transplanted it, and of course, a white fly started hovering about. One of the reasons I don't/won't try tomatoes in the house.
