How I Treat Whiteflies In The Garden - What I Use, and How Often

Sometimes Whiteflies can show up in such large numbers that it can seem like a plague. In this video, I'll show you what I use to control Whiteflies, and tell you how often I use it. I will also show how to easily spot them and tell you the time that I prefer to spray them.
We don't normally have much of a problem with Whiteflies, but occasionally in late summer or early fall, we do get an occasional outbreak of them.
As always, fully read the label when using any insecticide.

Midwest Gardener is also on Facebook.

I garden in zone 6b, in the state Kansas. I would love to hear from you, so feel free to comment, make suggestions, ask a question, give tips, tell about your garden, or even offer constructive criticism.
Thanks for watching!

[CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Holly Molly your not joking on being invaded. WOW that was a mass of white flies. Cold Press Neem Oil is what I use. Not the store bought junk that is just about worthless. Good to see ya got them under control and for the tips. Stay safe and have a great day!

[sunkissed]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Our family recently moved from Maryland to Forida. Boy there are a lot of different trials and tribulations here. Lots to learn. I was gifted a hibiscus for Mother's Day. Started to notice the leaves turning yellow, and dropping. Went to water and noticed flying white flys. Turned over the leaves and spotted white eggs on half of the plant. Been using soapy water w/ vinegar. Spraying over and under the last two days twice a day. Morning and evening. Tonight took rubbing alcohol and wipped the leaves. Removed dead leaves. Going to trim some branches. Next step is trying your method. Best wishes, and happy gardening.

[MJQL]

Hi Jim, i'm still learning but I think I can share a thing or two after battling white flies the 3rd year now. My first year started like your video but it turned into a disaster by the end of Sept because I had no idea what those are. They're so nasty, they multiplies fast, they carries disease and spread them everywhere.

We're in northern CA, winter is warm enough for my tomatoes, pepper, and whiteflies to survive. During late summer, our city is usually so badly infested, you'll see whiteflies literally everywhere.

I realized in such place there's no way I can make them extinct, but I've found a few ways to keep my plants going and not driving myself crazy.

1. mulch. I mulch every plant rigorously
2. soil. I changed all my container soil to foxfarm Ocean Forest, I gave up using those cheap ones or mixing manures with cheap potting mix, adding a bunch of stuff in there. (I think the money is well worth it, at least we have cherry tomatoes and jalapeno to eat all the way till Dec). That'll also save me money on fertilizers, I don't need to use any water soluble ones, and I only use little bit of slow release organic fertilizer every few months, and I would always bury those under mulch.
3. Grow more flowers year round. Grow companion plants. They'll attract pollinators and good insects. I also grow garlic, green onions, herbs all over.
4. I have to spray regularly whenever I see signs of them coming back (usually finding clusters of eggs hiding underneath the leaves), I spray with neem oil, peppermint oil and castile soap, mixed in water. I have a series of sprayer, and when things are out of control I would get an backpack electric sprayer go twice a week for 2-4 weeks (thankfully last year I only need to use the big sprayer twice). Spray underneath the leaves.
5. About yellow stick pads, I would avoid them. It could be a way to monitor the pests in your garden, but I don't think it's going to help at all. I used to go crazy about them, and they would attract and kill both good and bad insects. In my garden, I was left with only whiteflies after a few weeks, since nothing can out number them.

[KGrayGaming]

I’m in Washington state and dealing with white flies on my 2 dwarf apple trees (first time growing apples). They seemed to magically show up while I was gone for a week in July, but since I’ve sprayed them with a Neem oil mixture and hand squashed the little flies daily to control the population…so far so good. I’ll definitely be in the lookout next year for this! Thank you for making this video. :)

[ntesla]

Same here in late summer Northwest Texas. I'd never seen so many little white flying vermin! We used the yellow sticky paper too with the plants we brought inside for winter.

[RiazUddin-skuw]

They’re monsters. Thanks for the video — very helpful. Cheers.

[stegershomeandgarden.]

Great tip! I had them late in the year. I think they were why I didn't have a fall crop of tomatoes. By the time I discovered them it was too late. They hide well.

[davidpruitt]

I had whiteflies last year like you had in this video. I will surely add pyrethrin to my arsenal this year. Thanks for sharing this video Jim. 👍🏻

[shellybelly]

I am in Texas and this my first year fighting white flies. I was treating pest with DE then they appeared then I tried Neem oil and Sevin.I pulled all my cucumbers as i was getting too annoyed. I think I will try your technique. Thanks for sharing.

[Vexation]

SW Florida, with Whiteflies on peppers and ornamentals. Gave up on growing peppers. Still have these little killers🤨

[ElizabethM]

I mostly use neem oil for white flies. I will consider the pyrethrin but it does kill honey bees. Where I am in the summer (Seattle area), the sun sets really late and the honey bees are present in the garden very late. I would need to use the pyrethrin after dark or super early in the morning to be safe.

[BobMelsimpleliving.]

Great information Jim. I'm really glad I don't have whitefly challenges. Stay warm. Stay well. Best wishes Bob.

[hitchyourwagon]

Fortunately I think I caught them early. Only one tomato plant (Black Krim) was infested, but it was a mess. I washed the undersides of the leaves ever other day for five days with a jet spray from my hose. I then hung lace wing eggs around the tomato plant. Watching to see if they return but so far so good.

[simplysimple]

Exactly my approach. Pyrethrin really does work but not the safest in terms of beneficial insects. Neem oil is more for maintenance than getting rid of them.

[charleywalker]

Just sprayed this morning with pyrithan. I’ve had them the last 3 years. I’ll pick up some neem oil and try that in a few days.

[Nessa___]

Hello from Auckland New Zealand (currently summer)
The white fly here are even in the neighbours bushes (coming over to my vege garden) and in the grass !
I’m using neem but will also try pyrethrum cause they just won’t budge. No plant is safe, not even the companion plants I have for pests

[rickspence]

I had heaps of white fly on all my green vegetables plus other green plants I spray top and bottom leaves with wash up kitchen detergent 2 to 3 days apart unless raining that seems to kill a fair few they can not fly and get stuck to the leaves. Also use Seasol.
Rick from Aussie

[AlexandraRadivoj]

Thanks for sharing. First season in a greenhouse and I have an infestation of whiteflies. I just sprayed Seven yesterday so we shall see what happens. Wish me luck

[MrBigangry]

I have whiteflies indoors on my tomatoes. I knocked out the aphids with lady bugs. Smoke will send them flying into the grow lights. I use neem oil and insenticidle soap.

[KaileyB]

I WISH we only had that many white flies 😩 I don't live with my parents but I'm over here often to work on their garden... I went to the beach for a week and a half, and when I got back the ENTIRE GARDEN was absolutely INFESTED with white flies. I think I'm just going to burn it all down lol