Removing whiteflies from hibiscus leaves
How do I eliminate whiteflies from my hibiscus leaves?
**FULL QUESTION**
Dear Gardening Life,
There are tiny white flies on the underside of my hibiscus leaves. I have sprayed End All a few times and can't seem to get rid of them. Can you help—I'm going crazy!
*—Lillie*
**FULL ANSWER**
Dear Lillie,
Whiteflies are tiny but destructive, sucking the juices out of your plant and secreting a honeydew which can turn into sooty mold on the leaves. First line of defence: buy some sticky yellow traps—they’re like glue-covered sheets of paper—that readily attract the whiteflies. End All and other insecticidal soaps are effective but remember that whiteflies hide in the nooks and crannies of the plant and can be hard to reach with the spray. They also reproduce quickly so the key to effective control is to spray the plant thoroughly (including the undersides of the leaves) twice a week, along with using the sticky traps. Even if you don’t see any whiteflies, continue to spray once a week for several weeks to be sure they’re gone.
Hope that helps!
*—Karen York, GL Botanical Editor*
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