Hardcore white flies infestation.

These things are on all my plants, in huge numbers and everything I do doesn't come close to stopping them. I have tried soaps, insecticides, nothing works. I made sure to spray both sides of the leaves, but no luck.

Been having exactly the same problem. They have just about killed my wifes verbena. I've even sprayed a systemic cotton poison. I kill a bunch but the next day they are back in force. I am at a loss.

Here's some info on controlling them--sounds like once you get a huge infestation it's hard to entirely get rid of them, but there are some things you can do to try and keep the population down. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7401.html

I also remember a year or two ago on the hibiscus forum a few people were talking about using worm castings as mulch around their hibiscus and that helped a lot with the whiteflies, so you might try getting some castings and spreading those around the plant, and maybe also make some worm casting tea and spray that on the leaves along with whatever else you're doing--it can't hurt and maybe it could help.

I haven't read the link above, but seems to me you have to spray everyday because they just keep hatching. I have them this morning. I didn't realize it until I was pullilng up all my marigolds damaged by powdery mildew. I am going to use this stuff I have at home now and hope it helps -- Insect Killing Soap with Seaweed Extract. The way all of you talk about it, it looks like I am in for a real battle. I will check back later after I have used all of this stuff.

I have sticky cards put up, I have tried the soaps, but not every day, I think I am going to have to trash the garden call it a lost cause.

What are worm castings?

It's a fancy name for worm poop! Many places that sell things for organic gardening would carry them--if you can't find them at a local nursery a google search should turn up plenty of online sources.

Jim, are you still having a problem?

I have being reading a lot about whiteflies and powdery mildew. Unfortunatly, most are preventatives! The soda mix is mostly preventative and only a little effective for infestation. Now is a fine time to find that out!!!

From what I have read, sprays with seaweed are good. I am going over to Lowe's to buy some more of this Insect Killing Soap with Seaweed Extract.

Also, they say NOT to use anything in this list because it will kill the good things in the soil.

sulfur
Carbaryl
Pyrethroids
Diazinon
imidacloprid

Good luck everyone!!

I am using a pyrethrum based spray and spraying every 7 days for white fly. Unfortunately, all this does is keep the population at bay. Unless everyone in the neighborhood treats for them diligently, you will never truly be white fly free. At this point, I am spraying 3 yards in addition to my own and it is getting very time consuming, but while the neighbors do not mind my spraying, they will not take it upon themselves to do so. A catch 22 situation brought on by bugs....go figure. Grin

Moon, so glad to see you!

I looked up pyrethrum and it is good for the environment.
While pyrethroid is NOT.

Thanks for coming to our rescue!

By the way, do you know what is best for powdery mildew?

Pyrethrum is a pyrethroid...only thing that makes it different is that it's derived from a natural source vs being synthetic. So in terms of how it's manufactured it's probably better for the environment, but in the sense of how it'll impact beneficial insects and things like that it wouldn't really be any different than the synthetic pyrethroids.

Hi Venice....guess what? I have a link for that...LOL Here is some info that may help you out ...one of them is subjective, but worth reading any way.

http://www.greencure.net/powdery_mildew.asp

http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-2-9-894,00.html

http://www.ehow.com/way_5200596_powdery-mildew-prevention.html

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7493.html

Absolutely, Liz. But when it gets to a point that valued plants are being killed by a pest, you have to make some hard choices. I try very hard to chase away any beneficials when I am spraying and I use extreme care to limit it to only affected plants. I keep an old shower curtain handy to help keep the spray from getting onto surrounding un-infested plants in an effort to not damage/kill beneficials. I also try to use the garden hose to chase good bugs away when I am spraying.

Yes, I definitely understand that! I try garden mostly pesticide free as well, but every once in a while there's something that you have to bring out the big guns for! :-)

I should have made it more clear that I wasn't trying to say people shouldn't use pyrethrum...just trying to clear up the common misperception that the naturally derived one is safer for beneficials than the synthetic ones.

A little information is a dangerous thing!! (for me!)

Moon, thanks for the links! You have been a great help!

Liz, thanks for the info.

I think we are on the right path now!

I am so glad you did. I was remiss in not stating that myself. Good to know someone has your back so to speak in these posts. I have always been easily distracted and can get side tracked. Thanks for covering that.

Jean

You're welcome! Hope everyone's successful in getting those whiteflies under control. I'm dreading the day when I get an infestation of them--I have a huge hibiscus collection and they usually love them so I'm always keeping my eye out for them to show up!

Right now it is Hibiscus and citrus...a couple dozen plants and a buh-zillion nasty white bugs....grin. One of the links I gave Venice is from UC-Davis, so at least you have a little knowledgeable help not too terribly far away. Have a great holiday...

Jean

Yes, Venice, I am still having trouble. They have just about killed all of Jo's verbena. I don't know if it will come back or not. Probably will it is very hearty. They are on a lot of things but that is the worst. I have no problem using chemicals. I guess to many years of raising cotton and soybeans. I have literlly tried everything. I got some stuff that goes for about $300 a gallon and it is ineffective as everything else. Have a bout decided to give it up as a lost cause. They really haven't troubled my veggie garden plants to much. Okra is the only thing and I keep ninty per cent of the leaves cut off of than any way.

Good evening Jim. Hop on over and tell us how everything is going....Moon

Jim, you really have some terribly persisent whiteflies! Wow! I can't believe that they are only attacking one plant. But I guess things are so different down there. So sorry that it looks like she is going to lose her verbena. Such a shame. It sure looks like you have done everything you could have done. So much work trying to fight them.

I guess the reason I can't get them off the verbena is because it is so thick and hugs the ground. You have to get them on the underside of the leaves to control them. Verbena is hearty so they will probably come back. Fingers crossed. Another thing is we don't just have a pot of verbena, it is in beds all over the yard.

I bit the bullet a while back and have had a local pest service come and spray all of my ficus hedges (they surround 3/4 of my house and are anywhere from 7-10 feet depending on the side). I have the only house in the immediate neighborhood that has great looking ficus hedges - everyone else's are dying a horrible death. I suggest soliciting your local environmental pest company for advice.

They have gotten so bad here that all the lantanas and verbenas got cut way back to facilitate spraying. Just wish I could do the same with the Confederate rose and citrus....grin