Indoor plants are in the homes of many people. Caring for them is not so easy - the flowers may begin to hurt. The scourge of a home grower can be a whitefly.
Whitefly on indoor plants
A man is used to decorating his home. For these purposes, indoor flowers are often used. They give more comfort and purify the air. Sometimes something strange begins to happen to the plants: the leaves dry and fall off, they grow moldy, the plant looks lethargic and sick. Still sometimes small moths of white color are visible. All this suggests that a whitefly infection has occurred.
It looks like a whitefly
Whitefly is the collective name for a whole family of insects, which was given because of two pairs of white wings. Scientifically, this family is called Aleuridids (from the Greek. Aleuron, which means flour - it is precisely on it that plaque on the wings of pests looks like). In total, whiteflies exist around the world about one and a half thousand species. They are found in greenhouses, and in gardens, and in houses, causing enormous damage to plants.
Those species that live in Russia, usually from 1.3 to 3 mm in length, look like moths. Their whole life passes on the plant - they feed on its juice, multiply there. If no action is taken, the flower will soon die.
Especially whiteflies love passionflower, geranium, fuchsia, begonia. For lack of those, they can also settle on other flowers.
Attention! Some types of aleurodides are pests that require a strict quarantine regime.
Symptoms of infection
It is necessary to get rid of these parasites. Before you start a fight, you need to make sure that it is the whitefly that harms. She gives her presence as follows:
- The leaves of the plant become stained;
- After spots, they begin to gradually dry and fall;
- Sometimes adult whiteflies are visible in the foliage;
- Gray mold spots are found on the underside of the sheet;
- The plant has all the signs of a viral disease, which may interfere with diagnosis.
Whitefly Occupied Leaf
Causes of infection
Whitefly loves two things: humidity and high temperatures. Therefore, infection with it usually occurs in the summer, especially rainy. For this reason, it often happens in greenhouses, greenhouses, apartments, and not on the street. Air circulation there is usually less, temperatures are higher. Cooling below 10 degrees Celsius is deadly for these insects.
Attention! Whitefly eggs laid on the bottom of the leaves are frost-resistant. They winter quite safely, come to life after warming.
Even whiteflies often start up where there are many plants, and they stand close to each other.
Whitefly eggs and larvae
Biological whitefly control agents
If a whitefly has wound up on indoor flowers, you can get rid of it at home either with the help of folk remedies or by resorting to modern methods. Everyone has different principles of exposure. For example, the biological method consists in applying various natural products to leaves. This causes the insect to leave the flower:
- Treatment with tar soap. The bar should be passed through a grater and mixed with water in a proportion of 1 to 6. A part of the solution is poured into the spray gun and the diseased plant is sprayed with it. From the rest, make foam, which is applied to the underside of the leaves. Repeat the procedure every ten days so as not to harm the flower.
- Yarrow tincture. 100 grams of this fresh plant is poured with warm water in the volume of one liter. Then the remedy needs to be insisted for 2-3 days. Then the tincture is ready for spraying. It is possible to treat a sick flower with infusion once a week, in a course of 2-3 applications.
Note! Biological methods of controlling whitefly help only if it comes to the initial stage of infection, when there are not so many insects. In other situations, removing parasites this way will not work.
Woman spraying flowers
Folk remedies against whitefly
If a whitefly has started up on home flowers, how to get rid of it (if infection is detected quickly), folk methods will tell. They act on a different principle, affect the insects themselves, and not the plant. These include:
- Traps. Now there are glue traps from pests of domestic plants on sale. The principle is the same as that of a ribbon from flies. A thick layer of glue, painted in yellow, attracts parasites. They stick to it and die. You can make such a trap yourself by applying a mixture of rosin and honey to a piece of yellow plywood.
- Low temperatures. Whiteflies are afraid of the cold, therefore, in order to expel them, the flower can be taken out into a cool room or outside. True, the procedure will have to be repeated several times, because the eggs of parasites cannot be destroyed by cooling.
- Water. This pest does not hold onto the leaves tightly; therefore, simply washing the plant can help. After that, you will need to remove the topsoil in the pot and add fresh soil.
Insect Pest Trap
Whitefly Chemicals
If a whitefly has appeared on indoor plants, how to deal with it at home can be incomprehensible, especially if the infection is already large-scale, and the above methods do not work. The most effective method is chemical. It changes the juice of the plant, which the parasites feed on, makes it poisonous. This allows you to rid the flower of them most simply. Among all drugs, the following are especially popular:
- Actara. This remedy not only heals the plant, but also helps protect against re-infection for 3-4 weeks. In its composition - thiamethoxam, which is harmful to pests. The drug is diluted with water, with this solution the flower is watered closer to the root. If the infection is serious, the first time it is recommended to make the concentration of the solution 3-4 times stronger. This will not harm the plant, the effectiveness of the procedure will increase.
- Confidor. This medication is very effective. Dilute it with water according to the instructions. In most cases, even watering and spraying is enough to remove whiteflies. Its main active ingredient is imidacloprid.
- Akarin. Sick flowers are sprayed with this remedy. It must be applied to the leaves well so that they are soundly moistened, especially from below. At the same time, try to get on insects as well.
Aktara
How to prevent infection
It is easier to deal with any problem by warning as well as with whiteflies. You should take care of the plants, taking into account the following factors, then the chance of infection is reduced to a minimum:
- Arrange airing. In a room where fresh air is actively circulating, there is little chance of parasites.
- Do not spray too much. High humidity is a direct way to get pests. Therefore, it is important to observe the measure in spraying, in wet weather, to minimize them.
- Do not put plants heap. Where there are most of them, there is more likely to see the beginning of the infection with whiteflies. Better to maintain a reasonable distance between colors.
Whiteflies are the white death of the flora. Even in spite of prophylaxis, one cannot completely defend against it. With proper care and attention of the owners, getting rid of it is possible.
