Help needed with lemon verbena and whitefly

ab7

I'm a newbie gardener and I hadn't realised whitefly exist, but my beautiful lemon verbena plant which sits between applemint and lemon thyme has had a bad dose of whitefly. Its stems have become woody instead of green


If I treat then cut it back will it survive for next year? It started to go on my apple mint as well so I dont want to lose them:o

Thanks

glaw5

Can't help you with your problem worry but wondered out of interest where you got your lemon verbena from? Having trouble tracking it down!
Thanks

westiea

Hi

The hardening of the stem is because it is a (sub) shrub (like lavender) so don't worry about that too much.
Lemon Verbena is not frost hardy and can struggle through a hard winter (like last year!) so I would not cut it back if it is in the ground, but leave it to spring and then do it.

If in a pot yes by all means, but bring it back in doors at the first signs of frost and treat it like a houseplant until spring, then if the new growth is a bit straggly cut it back again.


Spray with a pesticide anyway - not systemic i(not sure if you use the leaves for cooking/tea?) - like this.

I would also take cuttings when the aphids have gone to keep a fall back in case you lose it over winter.
Your Apple mint can be taken back by pinching off offending tips, and spray spray new growth as it comes asthe little beasties will love it!

The Herb Garden at Hardstoft is worth looking at for plants or if post look here

peter_the_piper

I use soft soap in water for whiteflies in the greenhouse where the bugs I use don't go.

SmallEnglish

Find some ladybugs! I have created a little ladybug army to munch the aphids that have settled in my vegetable patch.

peter_the_piper

Unfortunately ladybirds do not eat whitefly only aphids.

Mojisola

If you do use an insecticide, you need a systemic one. The scales - the whitefly larvae - are sucking the sap and are well-protected against contact sprays.

If you're happy to go for control rather than elimination, go down the hoover and fine misting route. Get the hoover going and shake the bush. The adult whiteflies will all take off and get sucked down the hoover. You have instantly reduced the population. Spray the bush with a fine misting hand sprayer - whitefly don't like humid, moist conditions. Hoover a couple of times a week and spray with water as often as possible.

I would root a couple of cuttings to keep over the winter and plant out fresh next season.