aspasia wrote:

Hi, Group -

I am in So.Calif. coastal - 24/8 I think.

Question about whitefly on hibiscus.

Some ? 8-10 years ? (lost track) I bought some pretty expensive
hibiscus from the Huntington at their annual plant sale.
The huge blooms are gorgeous, but the plants are infested with
whitefly and the leaves are disgusting.

Have had nothing but *+^%(_#(*&^% with these plants.
Nothing works - not daily spraying, not mulching
with worm castings, not those little sticky cards --
not even even a recent -- very reluctant -- dose of Malathion.

The Huntington told me their hibiscus are free of white fly because
about four years ago they acquired "parasitic wasps" from the "UC
Riverside Program". (Putting their actual words in quotes.)

Before approaching UC Riverside, may I ask the group:

Can a mere civilian gardener get/manage those wasps?

Would they wander around and sting me?

I'd be very grateful for any experience.

I'd hate to tear out these mature plants, but enough is just about
enough.

The wasps were released to control ash whitefly, which were
defoliating ash trees as well as attacking other plants. These
wasps have spread throughout southern California. If they are not
controlling your whitefly, then the whitefly on your hibiscus is a
different species.

I suggest you feed the hibiscus with a granular rose and flower
food that contains a systemic insecticide.

--

David E. Ross
URL:http://www.rossde.com/

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