Whiteflies (or whiteflies) are insect pests that live primarily on the undersides of plant leaves. They are exceptionally small and are a big problem in greenhouses as they can squeeze through even the smallest of screens. They multiply very quickly and deal a lot of damage, in fact, in three different ways.
First of all, they suck the juices from the underside of the leaves. It’s not good, but that’s just the beginning. They then secrete what’s known as “honeydew,” which is a rich, sugary liquid that’s basically expelled from the whitefly as they suck on the plants. It’s not just any old poo: sugar-rich molasses develops unsightly black mold. It’s unsightly, and the mold blocks sunlight from reaching the leaves, so the plant can’t photosynthesize, the much-needed process for getting energy from the sun.
And there is more…
They inject their saliva into plants, which is the biggest problem since their saliva transmits a wide variety of plant diseases. So, White Fly sucks, defecates and spreads disease wherever it goes.
How to control these suckers? You will need an all-natural pest control solution. Using traditional synthetic pesticides is not going to cut it, as they may not be effective and/or may cause more damage to already distressed plants.
It is best to use a pump sprayer for best results. Start day 1 by misting the top of the plant as if it were raining. This helps create a barrier that these suckers won’t cross, as they usually fly up when you chase them. After saturating the top of the plant, start at the bottom by spraying the undersides of the leaves as best you can. Move in circles around the plant so you don’t miss any areas as you circle to the top.
Do the exact same thing the next day. And the next. By the third day, you should barely see any evidence of whitefly as you treat the plant.
If you ever have reason to suspect White Fly, do so as soon as possible. The damage they cause can be fast AND can take a while to show up when sometimes it’s too late (those pesky plant diseases take a while to show up…). Continue as needed to finish off these plant suckers once and for all!