How Do I Deal With White Flies On My Christimas Cactus?

Question

It's not happy :) Arum

bloominid, excellent points! :)

Answer 1

If you don't like the idea of toxic pesticides (I'm relatively certain that your cactus doesn't), use insecticidal soap. Use a hand sprayer and spray all the surfaces liberally. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with clean water from a sprayer.

Insecticidal soap will kill white flies (and most other small bugs like aphids, ants, and mealy bugs) on contact. However, it won't keep them away. Nothing organic really does. You can use sticky yellow traps to reduce the numbers of white flies, but some will always find their way to your plant(s).

Insecticidal soap is most effective if used regularly and rinsed off. Leaving the soap on the plant surfaces can result in burn. Never use insecticidal soap in full sun as it may burn before you can rinse it off. It is generally safe, won't hurt soil, and can be used even on delicate house plants if properly diluted with water and rinsed off. It is non-discriminatory, however, and will kill smaller beneficial bugs as well as bad ones.

Answer 2

If it is in bloom, wait until the blooms are gone and spray liberally with a pesticide specifically for white flies. They won't hurt the plant , but they are annoying as h___. Some greenhouses use a systemic pesticide. I don't know that you can buy it anywhere. If there is a greenhouse growing poinsettias, go and ask them if they would sell you just enough for this one plant. You put it on the soil and the plant absorbs the pesticide, and then when the flies bite the plant, they DIE!!!! Very effective, but also very potent. Good Luck...( I work in a florist)