Optimal Conditions
When conditions warm up and rains increase
Signature
Brush against a plant and a million tiny white flies momentarily become airborne before returning to their sucking
Prevention
Ensure there is a high diversity of different border- plants and flowers, particularly nasturtiums, which attract predators that become your secret helpers. This is not just some pseudo-science stuff; professional growers constantly utilise this ‘free labour’ by strategically planting border plants to attract certain bugs. The ladybird is a huge ally.
Coping
They are attracted to the colour yellow like girls to diamonds, moss to stones, snot to a toddler’s nose. Hang yellow sticky traps around the concerned plants and they will fly onto them and get stuck. One sucker after another
Eradicating
An organic white or eco-oil will help to eradicate the whitefly but always make sure to spray the underside of all leaves. Nicotine sprays have also been found to work. The old hippie method is to soak ciggies in water overnight and then use the water in a spray bottle
