How to Kill Spider Mites & White Flies
Spider mites and whiteflies live mostly on the underside of leaves and damage your plants by drawing sap out of the leaves. These pests can weaken your plant, damage their appearance, reduce production of fruits and vegetables and even cause death in cases of severe infestation. Killing spider mites and whiteflies at the first signs of infestation is important to prevent more serious problems when the insects breed. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Dish detergent
- Spray bottle
- Petroleum jelly
- Yellow plate
- Horticultural oil
- Insecticide
Instructions
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1
Mix one teaspoon concentrated dish detergent in a spray bottle with about 30 ounces of water. Shake the bottle to dissolve the detergent and distribute it evenly.
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2
Spray the underside of your plant's leaves with the mixture.
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3
Spread petroleum jelly onto a yellow plate and place it near a plant infested with whiteflies. Shake the plant gently to disturb the flies. Many of them will land on the plate because yellow objects attract whiteflies.
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4
Spread horticultural oil on the leaves to help kill the pests. Check the recommendations on the container to make sure the oil is recommended for use on these insects and the type of plant you have.
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5
Use an insecticide if you still have spider mite or whitefly problems. Ask a worker at your local garden center or greenhouse for a recommendation for your specific plant. Most insecticides work best when applied three or four times with applications spaced three to four days apart.
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Tips & Warnings
Ladybugs and lacewings are natural predators of both spider mites and whiteflies, so don't discourage these insects from visiting your garden. Lizards, frogs and praying mantises will also prey on whiteflies.
