How to Get Rid of Whiteflies, Aphids, and Mealybugs Organically

Tiny winged insects, little garden, you’ve seen at least one of these, but it’s also likely you’ve seen them all.  I’m talking about whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs.  These little insects in your garden may look fluffy and harmless, but if left untreed, they can do some real damage to your beautiful landscape.  

Today we’ll explore how to get rid of these pesky little insects in your plants or garden before it’s overtaken by an entire infestation. While these insects can be a nuisance, there is no need to panic. There are a number of ways to address the issue naturally. So, let’s jump in! 

So, here just recently, I noticed whiteflies on my Crepe Myrtle trees throughout my yard. The leaves were turning brown from the sooty mold.

To make matters worse, the mold was falling down on my beautiful Hosta just below the trees! So, there was no time to delay. I made the decision it was time to go to war with these little leaf suckers

Plan of Attack #1 - Cleaning the Leaves

First, I power washed my plants. This is always a great first step when dealing with whiteflies, aphids, and other leaf-sucking insects. For some people, if caught early enough, this is the only step they’ll need to take.  

I recommend you do this cleaning consistently for about a week, and this should solve the problem.  Unfortunately, in my case, the infestation was a little more extensive. So, this was only my first step in eradicating the issue.   

Plan of Attack #2 - Assemble your Tools

Next, I assembled my weapons of WAR!  I pulled out my handy dandy sprayer. If you’re dealing with larger plants like me, the handheld spray bottles just won’t cut it.   

The key ingredient to your defensive strategy is neem oil.  Neem oil is an organic insecticide that acts as a repellent for whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, and other harmful leaf-sucking insects.  However, don’t get heavy-handed when making the suggested mixture. The neem oil could end up repelling the presence of beneficial insects, so be sure to follow the details of the mixture as provided below. 

Plan of Attack #3 - Make the Concoction for Mass Destruction

You’ll need the following as we get started: a tablespoon to measure out the exact amount of neem oil and a little soap dish.

First, add 2 tablespoons of neem oil. Neem oil has been used for hundreds of years to control pests and diseases in the garden.  It is a trusted resource and highly recommended by most organic gardeners.  

Next, add 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid.   

Then, fill up your sprayer with a gallon of water.  

Plan of Attack #4 - Get to Work

Now, it’s time to get to work. In my personal story, I went into full attack mode.  I’m sorry, but for those that know me, I love and take great pride in my garden, so not sorry!  

I drenched the underside of the leaves first since this is where the whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, and scale live and lay their eggs. I completely coated the leaves knowing that this mixture would kill the adults after a few hours and smothers their eggs.    

For optimal effectiveness, please remember to shake up the tank often during this process since the oil and water will separate over time.  

Another recommendation, be sure to do this process at the end of the day, particularly when it is hot outside.  This is primarily because neem oil mixed with heat is a bad combo.  It may cause an adverse reaction to your plants or garden, and we can’t have that, right?! 

Repeat this process, at least once per week, until you don’t see any more evidence of a continued infestation of these pesky insects.   

What you May Notice After/During the Treatment Process

As mentioned earlier, as was the case with my myrtle crepe tree, a byproduct of the infestation is called sooty mold. The mold is a fungus that grows on top of honeydew that the whiteflies and other insects secrete. The sooty mold is black and unsightly.   

Before you start worrying, there is good and bad news about this mold.  

On the upside, the mold causes very little harm to the plant, it isn’t harmful to humans, or pets.  The bad news, when this sooty mold remains on the tree or plant leaves, it blocks the light that the plants need for “food” and makes photosynthesis less effective. 

So, plan to get out a bucket of water, dishwashing liquid, and a sponge to gently wipe off some of the sooty mold.  Just wear a pair of reusable latex household gloves and get it done! 

  Well...we just declared war! 

Hopefully, you’ve learned how to simply and organically get rid of those pesky leaf suckers in your garden. If it was a success, I can’t wait to hear about it. Don’t hesitate to drop me a comment to let me know about your wins and/or even missteps!