17 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Whiteflies on Plants

To combat whiteflies, you can use natural methods.

Introduce natural predators, use sticky traps, apply neem oil, and try other organic control methods. These natural remedies may help reduce and control whitefly infestations.

These tiny sap-sucking insects often fly up in clouds when disturbed [1]. They can cause damage to a wide range of crops, including tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and pepper plants. That’s why you must get them under control as soon as possible.

How to Get Rid of Whiteflies Naturally

Below are some home remedies and natural solutions that may help control whiteflies.

1. Neem Oil Spray

This organic treatment has a strong odor that may help deter many insect pests. It is also a popular natural remedy for whiteflies.

Neem oil can help reduce feeding and egg-laying by adult whiteflies. It may also help suppress eggs and immature stages while disrupting the insects’ growth and development.

Combine 4 teaspoons of neem oil with 1 teaspoon of organic liquid soap and 1 gallon of water. Shake well and apply to the leaves and around the plants.

Neem is also an effective fungicide, and you can use it to treat sooty mold that thrives in the honeydew residue that whiteflies produce.

Avoid spraying neem oil during hot, sunny weather, as it may burn plant leaves.

2. Vacuum Them

One of the simplest and cheapest home remedies for whiteflies is to vacuum them away. Vacuuming works best against adult whiteflies and should be combined with other methods that target eggs and nymphs.

Using a small handheld vacuum cleaner, you can suck them up from under leaves and on plant stems.

Then, empty the vacuum contents into a sealed plastic bag. Discard it away from the home and garden.

Vacuum plants early in the morning or when temperatures are cooler, as whiteflies are less active then.

3. Soap and Water

Soap spray is also a cheap home remedy for whiteflies in your vegetable garden.

Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of organic liquid soap with 1 gallon of water to make a DIY whitefly spray. Use a mild liquid soap without degreasers, bleach, or antibacterial additives, as some dish soaps may damage plants.

Use the solution to mist your plants. The spray can kill whiteflies by damaging their protective outer layer, causing them to dehydrate.

Spray in the evening and repeat every few days until the infestation is completely gone.

4. Sticky Traps

When used properly, yellow sticky traps can help monitor and reduce adult whitefly populations.

Hang the traps near plants and in the greenhouse. After getting trapped, the pests will become immobilized and eventually die.

5. Natural Predators

This method is at the heart of organic pest control. Natural predators of whiteflies include ladybugs, garden spiders, and green lacewing larvae.

The parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa is also an excellent whitefly killer. The females lay their eggs inside host insects. The developing larvae feed on and kill the pests from the inside.

Many of these beneficial insects are also available for purchase to help populate your garden.

6. Handpicking

A laborious but straightforward method to reduce whitefly numbers is to remove them manually.

Use a soft cloth or paper towel to wipe whiteflies from the leaves. Also, cut off any heavily infested leaves or plant parts.

7. Worm Castings

While worm castings will not kill whiteflies directly, they may improve plant vigor and soil health, helping plants better tolerate pest pressure.

Also, worm castings are a popular organic fertilizer. You can make your own or buy them at gardening stores.

8. Repellent Plants

Some gardeners use aromatic herbs, such as chives, thyme, peppermint, and basil, as companion plants. That’s because their strong scents may help make host plants less attractive to whiteflies.

Marigolds also deter tomato whiteflies [2]. Use these as companion plants to help control whiteflies in the garden.

9. Garlic Spray

Garlic spray is a popular homemade remedy that may help repel cabbage whiteflies and other garden pests.

Crush about four garlic cloves into a tablespoon of mineral oil or vegetable oil, then let it sit for several hours or overnight. Next, strain the solution and add approximately a pint of water.

To use this natural whitefly treatment, spray it by hand on outdoor plants or those in a greenhouse. However, test the spray on a small area first to make sure your plants do not react badly.

10. Reflective Mulch

Gardeners often use reflective mulch around crops to help deter insect pests and increase light reflection. The reflective material confuses these white insects, making it harder for them to locate host plants.

11. Diatomaceous Earth

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural powder made from fossilized algae.

It may help control adult whiteflies that come into contact with the dry powder. However, it is generally more effective against crawling insects than flying pests.

Lightly dust the powder around the base of plants and on dry leaves where whiteflies gather. Reapply after rain or watering.

Avoid inhaling the dust during application.

12. Hose Them Off

A strong stream of water can also help reduce whitefly populations on outdoor plants.

Spray the undersides of leaves early in the day to knock whiteflies, eggs, and larvae off the plant. Repeat every few days until the infestation improves.

This method works especially well for vegetables and ornamental plants with sturdy foliage.

13. Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap is one of the safest and most effective organic treatments for whiteflies.

Commercial insecticidal soaps are specially formulated to kill soft-bodied pests. They do this without severely harming most plants when used correctly.

This sets them apart from homemade soap mixtures, which may not offer the same level of protection or effectiveness.

Spray the tops and undersides of leaves thoroughly. Repeat as directed on the label until the infestation is under control.

14. Remove Heavily Infested Leaves

Prune and dispose of heavily infested leaves or plant parts. This can remove large numbers of whitefly eggs, nymphs, and adults. It also improves the effectiveness of other control methods.

15. Birds

Some insect-eating birds may occasionally feed on whiteflies and other garden pests. However, birds alone are unlikely to control a serious infestation.

To make your garden more attractive to birds, provide them with shelter and additional food.

16. Molt-X

Molt-X is an organic pesticide for ash whiteflies, aphids, fungus gnats, and other soft-bodied pests. It is a commercial azadirachtin concentrate, one of the most effective compounds derived from neem seeds.

The product disrupts molting and interferes with normal growth and feeding behavior. As a result, affected whiteflies often fail to develop properly and eventually die.

Dilute it with water as directed, then spray it on and around the plants. Always follow the product label directions carefully.

17. JMS Stylet Oil

JMS Stylet-Oil is an OMRI-listed whitefly control product. Good spray coverage, especially under the leaves, is important for effectiveness.

It is safe for fruit trees, vegetable crops, and ornamentals. You can also use it to prevent and kill powdery mildew.

This horticultural oil helps control whiteflies by coating and smothering them. It also effectively disrupts the life cycles of many other insect pests.

Takeaway

You may know them as whiteflies, white-flying insects, white-flying bugs, or white gnats.

Whatever you call them, whiteflies weaken plants by sucking sap from leaves and stems. This feeding may cause yellowing, wilting, and reduced plant growth.

Whiteflies lay eggs on the undersides of leaves. After hatching, the immature nymphs remain attached to the plant and feed on sap before developing into adults.

They are commonly found on houseplants, such as African violets, and on outdoor plants, including guava trees. They may also infest petunias, roses, hibiscus, citrus, and other plants, both indoors and outdoors.

Additionally, whiteflies may infest Brussels sprouts, broccoli, basil, beans, and kale.

The most effective way to control whiteflies is to combine several natural pest control methods, as described above.