LITTLE BUGGER
Whiteflies might look delicate and harmless, but don’t be fooled - they can truly cause trouble for your plants.
These tiny, moth-like pests love to cluster on the undersides of leaves, sucking out sap and leaving behind sticky, sugary honeydew. Over time, this can attract mold and weaken your plant.
If your plant gives a puff of "snow" when you brush its leaves, you’ve probably got yourself some whiteflies!
REMOVAL METHODS
PATIENCE IS KEY
Whiteflies are especially drawn to vegetables, herbs and flowering houseplants. If left unchecked, they will quickly multiply and overwhelm your plant, or your whole crop! Isolate infested plants as soon as possible to stop the spread.
Select one method and give it a little time. If the bugs are still hanging around, try another.
RINSE WITH WATER
- Keep the plant outside if possible. Whiteflies will fly and scatter once you start rinsing.
- Use a firm spray to knock off whiteflies and nymphs.
- Repeat every few days in combination with other treatments.
This does not remove eggs, but helps reduce active population.
PRUNE
If a pest infestation gets out of control, sometimes you have to literally cut your losses.
- Carefully trim any plant parts with large, crusty clusters of whiteflies.
- Bag up the clippings and dispose in the trash - do NOT compost!
- Follow up with another removal method to target any stragglers.
STICKY TRAPS
- Place yellow sticky traps near the soil surface to catch flying whiteflies.
- Regularly replace traps when they become covered.
This does not directly treat the problem, but helps track and reduce adult numbers.
NEEM OIL SOLUTION
Please read our Heads Up! on neem oil before using this method:
You will need:
- a clean spray bottle
- 1 tspn Neem Oil
- 1/2 tspn unscented castile soap
- 4 cups water
Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray the mixture on the top and bottom of the leaves.
Apply every 7 days until the whiteflies are gone. Due to this being a natural product, it can take some time.
INSECTICIDAL SOAP
Always spot test first before full commitment! Avoid spraying in direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn.
- Use a ready-to-spray insecticidal soap or mix a concentrate with water (per label instructions).
- Spray the entire plant, focusing on whitefly clusters. The soap must make direct contact with the whiteflies to work!
- Repeat every few days until the whiteflies are fully gone.
