A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems white bugs

I had some type of seeds that I started in doors and am planning on putting the plant outdoors when it's warm enough, mostly to figure out what it is. So far the plant is green about 9 inches tall with a lot of leaves. All of a sudden the leaves are falling off. I've moved it around the house for sun, watered, and tonight I noticed tiny, white, things on the back of the leaves. They fly. What should I do? Is this what is killing my plant?

look up spider mites---Ihad them once I was told they had a short life span & that I sould not water my plants, so the larvae would die. I did and they went away.

did you look up white fly???

my problem now is apparently mealy bugs on my jersulem Cherry plant.

I sprayed the plant with soapy water before I brought it inin the dall, but it is back. it has been this way awhile but I have been neglecting it ( )--so now do I clean the plant---with alcohol---?? or is there an easier way???

I tie up my plants in a garbage bag and don't water for a week or so, usually suffocates the little buggers.

thanks. Do spider mites fly?

yep I am thinking they do???---the garden helper has info on them---go check it out---I may be confused--but I am almost positive that I was told I had spider mites not white fly--

Is this advice for the mealy bugs or for the spider mites??/

sorry--I confuse easily--

Sorry....spider mites.

Don't know about the mealy bugs though...they are gonna be hard to get rid of....and chasing them around with an alcohol dipped q-tip is alot of work.

exactly my thought (about the alcohol) I will say sprayiong them with the soap DID do a great job--and they were ok for a few days--that is why I went ahead & brought it in---but here I am again---


I guess I will clean with the alcohol the best I can & then spray with soap water--I guess it cannot hurt to try---

but the big question----do they spread--because while I love my dad and the jersulem cherry was originally his---All of my philodendron's are more precous to me--(they all orignate with the plant I got while in the hospital after having my oldest DD.) & they are very close to the plant. Not to mention many other houseplants.

I sprayed my plant with hair spray, since I don't have anything else, and have wrapped it in a plastic bag. We'll see what happens.

I think I know what I am going to do. After reading about my plant in TGH info, I find I have to cut the plant back anyway here soon--so I think I will do that--pack the cuttings away in a bag that is air tight, & then put it in the outside trash. THEN I will clean the exisiting plant with a q-tip & alcohol. Wish me luck!!!

I do have a few new starts in the pot--so I think I wll re-pot them first just "in case"

hello....

spider mites are not insects.. they do not fly. they are tiny mites that live on the undersides of leaves of plants. they do not have to mate to reproduce.
spider mites

whiteflies as adults do fly and live mostly on the underside of leaves
whiteflies


Mealybugs can be found all over plants, even on the roots. Only the adult males fly and its very rare to see this.
mealybugs

All these pests can be controlled with insecticidal soap or horticultural oils. DO NOT USE more then a 2 % concentration and follow labeled directions ALWAYS. You must treat where the pest is, including the underside of the leaves.

putting plants in bags will not control the pests.. and spraying with household is not a solution either.

I have hyperlinked some of my articles

Suzanne! so glad to see you back!!!

Oh I have been around! and all over the US working!!! lots of commercial greenhouse and nursery growers want organic pest management so they are keeping me busy!

well, if you make it to the charleston/savannah/jacksonville area, or macon, let me know, i'll do my best to meet up with you!

Good grief Jiffy, I was in Macon Saturday.

nooooo!!!!!! scott went to macon saturday and i didn't go because i would have been bored! i'm 2 hours give or take from each of those places.

Next time I'll give you a call. I was in Milledeville visiting my daughter and we went to the Macon Mall. At one time there was someone on here that was from Edenton, which is just a few miles from Milledgeville but I think they're not here anymore.