The Issue with Whiteflies
Two springs ago I planted some Elephant ears in my front flowerbed. Once the winter came around I thought maybe I can try to save them for a few more weeks by digging them up and bringing them inside. I had never planted elephant ears and I wasn’t very familiar with them at the time. Of course, bringing them inside was a big mistake and I ended up with tons of whiteflies all over the ears. Another issue I dealt with was the fact that no matter where I had to room to keep them, it was near the heater vents and they ended up drying out and eventually dying. This past summer, a few sprouts came back from where they were planted and I was glad to see them once more. I eventually purchased more and enjoyed them in my flower bed once more and LEAVING them there when the winter season came.
Whiteflies have always been an issue for indoor gardens and mostly the gardener that has an indoor herb garden can suffer from them as well. Herbs such as oregano, sage thyme and even some mint varieties are more susceptible to the flies, but there is a solution to this issue. Treating your plants and herbs before you bring them indoors it the best way to combat whiteflies and if you spray the plants with soapy dishwasher you can even destroy the eggs as well.
(photo source: GTG Hydroponics)You need to use a natural dish liquid because if it is on your herbs you don’t want to be ingesting chemicals if you don’t get them thoroughly washed before suing them. Mix about 2 tsp. of dish liquid with about 1 gallon of water and spray on your plants and herbs. Allow them to sit outside for a few hours before bringing them indoors. And learn from me; never bring indoors plants and shrubs that are never meant to be indoor plants.
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