Control Whitefly Infestation Naturally

Whitefly infestations can be recognized when a plant is disturbed and a giant cloud of tiny flies fills the air. Although the Whitefly hatches and lives in the soil, it feeds on the undersides of foliage and often leaves a sticky residue. Unfortunately, this residue attracts aphids, and the aphid + residue combination attracts ants. It’s a chain reaction of pest nightmares that you want to avoid at all costs.

Early Infestation Control:

If you catch the infestations early, you can take the time to treat plants with a simple yellow sticky trap, a batch of the beneficial insect Green Lacewing, or with a topical spray.

SPRAY INGREDIENTS:

__ 1 tablespoon dish soap

__ 1 cup of cooking oil

Add 1 to 2.5 teaspoons of this solution to 1 cup of water. This mixture can be sprayed on infested plants every 7-10 days throughout the growing season.

Late Infestation Control:

If you suddenly find yourself swimming in a haze of Whiteflies, it may be too late to use a sticky trap or beneficial insects. At this point, your best option is to release Ladybugs which parasitize on Whiteflies and, conveniently, attack Aphids.

Whiteflies can also be removed from plants by using a high pressure wash or individually removing the infected leaves or plants entirely.

Too much Nitrogen or deficiencies in Magnesium or Phosphorus in the soil are also believed to contribute to infestations. If this is the case, it may be time to amend your soil. We also recommend reading the in depth article on Whitefly control at Arbico Organics to learn more and you can also purchase your beneficial insects and sprays from them. More information on treating other pests can be found on our blog here.

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