How to Kill Whiteflies on Ivy Plants
Whiteflies are a common pest for both indoor and outdoor plants, including ivy. You can identify whiteflies by the white wax that covers their wings and body. Whitefly infestations are harmful to ivy because they suck the sap out of the plant, leaving the ivy without proper nutrition. Killing the whiteflies is the only way to keep the ivy safe and healthy. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Lacewings, lady beetles or pirate bugs
- Hand-held vacuum
- Freezer bag
- Yellow sticky traps
- Natural insecticide
Instructions
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Introduce lacewings, lady beetles or pirate bugs around the ivy plants if kept outdoors. These insects are natural predators of the whitefly and kill the whiteflies for you.
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Vacuum up the whiteflies with a portable hand-held vacuum. This is a good choice if your infestation is on the smaller side. You find the whiteflies on the underside of the leaves. Immediately dump the vacuumed whiteflies in a plastic freezer bag and set them in the freezer for one full day before tossing out with the garbage.
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Hang a few yellow sticky traps designed for insects just above your ivy plant. The bright yellow color attracts the insects. Replace as the traps become full. Continue doing this until you no longer see any whiteflies on the traps.
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Spray the ivy plants with a natural insecticide, such as a neem oil or pyrethrin-based insecticide, following the directions on the product label. This option works best if you have a severe whitefly infestation.
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Tips & Warnings
Wipe down your ivy leaves with a wet paper towel every other week to remove collected dust, which attracts insects such as whiteflies.
Place aluminum foil around the base of your ivy plant to repel future whiteflies.
Whiteflies have built a resistance to chemical insecticides. It is best not to use them. All-natural insecticides produce a better result.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
