Whiteflies are a common pest affecting both houseplants and outdoor gardens. Like many plant pests, whiteflies can damage and even kill your plants if left untreated. Luckily, there are several ways to treat whitefly infestations in your houseplants. Here are some of the most effective methods:
Whiteflies can be sucked up with a vacuum and disposed of outside the home. Use a handheld vacuum or hose attachment with very low suction strength so you don't harm the plants. Carefully vacuum both sides of leaves and the stems of the plant to get rid of whiteflies in a hurry.
Another efficient way of removing a whitefly infestation is by spraying plants with water. Take your houseplants outside and give them a thorough bath with the hose. Use enough water pressure to wash the insects away, but be careful not to harm any tender foliage.
Yellow sticky traps are useful for controlling many houseplant pests including whiteflies. Add these traps to your plants near the base of the plant to capture and kill adult whiteflies. Follow the label instructions for best usage advice.
Use either a store-bought insecticidal soap spray or make your own mixture at home. To create a DIY spray, mix plain dish soap or castile soap with water. Begin with a weak concentration of about one teaspoon per gallon to avoid making suds.
Neem oil is a natural insecticide and fungicide commonly used to treat and prevent plant pest infestations. It's major advantage is having a systemic effect, meaning it will keep working after the plant has absorbed some of the oil. Combining neem oil and insecticdal soap is a great way to treat your plants on an ongoing basis to prevent new whitefly growth.
The best treatment for whiteflies is prevention. An extremely effective way to prevent a whitefly infestation is to carefully inspect every new plant before and after you bring it home. Many plant owners treat their new plants with insecticidal soap or neem oil right away, regardless of pest activity.
While it might take more than one method or round of treatment, these are the best ways to control and prevent whiteflies in your houseplants. Check your plants regularly and treat any symptoms right away to keep them as healthy as possible.
Broker Profile: Pierre comes from a diverse background. His adolescent and early adult years found him working for his father, a renowned structural engineer, and his brother, an architectural designer and general contractor. His knowledge of construction design (architectural & structural) and practices is significant. He coupled his construction background with his considerable sales experience, by becoming licensed to sell real estate in Massachusetts in 1986.
Pierre is also a licensed Attorney in the Commonwealth, who formerly worked for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office as a litigator in the Victim & Witness Assistance Division of the Family & Community Crimes Bureau, litigating cases involving victims of violent crime, and since then has had his own legal practice.
For decades, Pierre has excelled in helping buyers of real estate find that condo, single-family, multi-family, lot of lands, or commercial property they desire to buy, or by effectively marketing his clients’ properties to sell their property for the most amount of money possible. His professional background embodies the ideal combination of construction, sales, negotiating, and contract drafting, which is essential to actualizing his clients’ goals and/or dreams. He does all of this with attention to detail, integrity, and success.
Since 1995, PCR Realty has helped buyers and sellers make their transactions as successful as possible. Using a consultative approach, PCR Realty approaches each experience as a unique opportunity for its clients. As a full-service real estate brokerage firm, PCR Realty provides leading-edge services for buyers & sellers.
When it comes to successfully navigating today’s complex real estate market, you need to work with someone who has the experience and commitment to see it done right. PCR Realty excels at matching buyers to sellers. From state-of-the-art marketing to an experienced broker, PCR Realty works diligently to far exceed your expectations. PCR Realty invites you to learn more.
