natedogg1026

On a recent survey of the greenhouse I discovered that I have a small infestation of Mealybugs and White flies. I spent a good hour with the rubbing alcohol and got most of the Mbugs but I'm not sure what to do about the white flies. My greenhouse is only 12x4 so I don't want to go crazy w/the chemicals but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about a safer alternative. Any help would be greatly appreciated!-Nate

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Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

mskitty38583

do they look like little, brown hard shell bugs?

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bencelest

I used Malathion before but it did not help any.
Then I bought me a 16 gallon wet and dry vacuum cleaner from Sears 4 1/2/ HP motor when I renovate a house I was working on.
Then I tried to use it to some white flies that were fying. Sure enough, any white flies that get 8 inches closer to the hose just zapped inside.
And when I turned over the leaves of my tomatoes there're thousands of them. I swooped the vacuum cleaner hose there and none was left behind. All of them were zapped in.
Now I hardly see any flies around. So every 5 to 7 days, I repeat the process.
Now I am afraid to open my vacuum cleaner.

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Banana Nut

mskitty38583

i bought 2 huge snakeplants and a ponytail palm at lowes last week. i always remove the dirt and repot with fresh clean dirt( ha ha clean dirt i know) however one pot of snakeplant i waited to repotand it, and it sat in the nana room ( i was waiting on pots from my sister) now i have knats and little brown hard shell bugs. I WAS MAD! so unfortunatley i had to break out the no-tox bug spray. i gotta get some neem!!!!so dont feel all alone.i feel your pain! i just dont have the white flies thank God! i dont think that when you open up you shop-vac that they will exact their revenge on you. they should be DEAD! ha ha ha...sorry another moment

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mskitty38583

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_diseases...371776,00.html

he is my hero. you might find something on here.its for bad bugs and pest.

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magicgreen

Natedog, my solution for mealy bugs have always been a lil' soap in a spray bottle. Ive evened used dishwater soap and bathwater . For me twice aday works.{till eliminated, or when they come back} this should just take a few days. In the summer months, i always did this in the am before the sun came out, before watering. The soap would do its magic on the bugs i sprayed in the front , while i was spraying the backyard bugs, the soap would then be dried on the frontyard plants. By the time iam finish the back, The front needed their drink of water.{WHEW} I like to rinse the soap off the plants to insure ME, that the rays from the sun wouldnt burn them-up.
Now when the weather starts cooling a lil bit and i spot them or any type of bugs....thats when i get my spray bottle again, lil' bit of any liquid soap, and a lil' bit of olive oil, and saturate them! All plants cant take the oil, like a hairy leaf plant.
Or another old standby, as you know.....rubbing alcohol mixed with water in a spray bottle.
or chemicals. !!!
Next winter iam going to try marco's way of keeping the leaves on the banana looking good with the horticulture oil, but i want to add 1part extra virgin olive oil.
Hope this helps. Lynn

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)