On Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 5:21:35 PM UTC-7, David E. Ross wrote:
On 9/27/2015 3:18 PM, Hypatia Nachshon wrote:
For years, I had a row of Hibiscus along the W. side of the house. The whitefly infestation was unrelenting. I tried everything that was on the market, but finally gave up & took them out.

But at the same time I had a large Hibiscus bush on the N. side of the house
that was handsome, healthy, gorgeous flowers in season -- and nary a whitefly!

Unfortunately I don't have a record of the variety either of the defunct or the
existing.

Anybody know if there are certain varieties that are more subject to whitefly? I've been curious for years.

TGA

HB


In southern California, the afternoon sun definitely gives more heat
than the morning sun. Morning haze filters the sun; the haze burns away
by noon. The hibiscus on the west side (afternoon sun) might have had
heat stress and were thus more susceptible to insect attack than the
hibiscus on the east side (morning sun).

If whitefly becomes a serious problem in my garden, I do one of the
following:
* Spray with malathion.
* Spray with a systemic insecticide.
* Feed with a commercial fertilizer that contains a systemic insecticide.
* Ignore the whitefly, which will eventually go away.
This all depends on the plant and -- with the systemics -- the proximity
of edibles.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

The "bad" Hibiscus was against a block wall, so did not get direct afternoon sun but did get mid-day sun.

The "good" Hibiscus was not on the E. side, but, as I wrote, on the N. Side.

As I wrote, I tried every possible remedy on the market.

I'm still interested if anyone knows why one variety would be so susceptible
but another not at all.

TIA

HB

Am am still interested if anyone knows whether