Eco-friendly Whitefly Control

When fall arrives I can't seem to resist taking a few plants in for winter. Unfortunately, a few whiteflies often try to hitch a ride in with the plants.

Check for these pests before moving plants indoors. Gently shake your garden plants and watch them disperse. If theyre on your tomatoes, they probably laid eggs on the tropicals you plan to move indoors.

Whitefly insects suck plant juices often causing stunted growth as well as yellow and brown leaves as they secrete a clear sticky substance. Most healthy outdoor plants can tolerate their feeding and cold winters will kill them.

Indoor plants growing in less-than-ideal conditions suffer.

Use homemade or commercial yellow sticky traps to reduce the population. This may be enough.

If not, horticulture and neem oil are organic control options. Follow label directions carefully.

A bit more information: Fungus gnats are another common pest of indoor plants. They often move indoors with plants overwintered indoors or on holiday plants. They feed on the organic matter in the soil and usually dont harm our plants. Allow the soil to go slightly drier or use the organic Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis to safely control the larvae of this pest.