Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
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It looks like your Bonsai has glass house white fly which love humid conditions and can quickly attack a plant sucking the sap from it. It also looks like the bonsai would benefit from repotting, which some rich growing media, as that soil looks very dusty and dry.
To get rid of glasshouse whiteflies, you can follow these steps:
Identify the Infestation: Confirm that you have glasshouse whiteflies by examining the undersides of plant leaves. These pests are tiny, white, moth-like insects with a waxy appearance. It very much looks like white fly from your pictures.
Quarantine Infected Plants: If possible, separate infested plants from healthy ones to prevent the spread of whiteflies. This is especially important if you have a greenhouse or other house plants near by. Putting it in a utility room for the time being on its own can help reduce spread.
Physical Removal: Gently shake the infested plants or use a soft brush to dislodge adult whiteflies and their eggs from the leaves. You can place a white sheet of paper or cloth beneath the plant to catch the dislodged insects for better visibility.
Vacuuming: Use a handheld vacuum cleaner with a small nozzle attachment to suck up adult whiteflies, larvae, and eggs from the affected plants. Empty the vacuum bag or canister in a sealed bag and discard it immediately to prevent the pests from escaping.
Water Spray: Spray a strong jet of water on the undersides of leaves to wash away whiteflies and their eggs. Repeat this process every few days to disrupt their life cycle and reduce their population. However, its not that suitable indoors! More for outdoor plants like roses.
Sticky Traps: Hang yellow sticky traps near infested plants to attract and catch adult whiteflies. The bright yellow colour attracts them, and the sticky surface prevents them from flying away. Replace the traps regularly as they fill up.
Beneficial Insects: Introduce natural predators of whiteflies, such as ladybugs, lacewings, or parasitic wasps, to control their population. Again this is more for plants in greenhouses than house plants.
Neem Oil: Apply neem oil, an organic insecticide, to the infested plants according to the manufacturer's instructions. Neem oil disrupts the life cycle of whiteflies and acts as a repellent.
Insecticidal Soap: Use insecticidal soap, specifically formulated for plant pests, to spray the affected plants. Follow the instructions on the product label, as excessive use can harm plants. Or make your own spray of 1 part washing up liquid to 4 parts water and spray on to kill the flys.
Repeat Treatments: Whiteflies can be persistent, so continue the chosen methods for several weeks to ensure the population is under control. Regular monitoring is essential to catch any reinfestation early.
I'd certainly give your bonsai a good liquid feed once you've treated the whitefly too, that will help it recover.
It looks like your Bonsai has glass house white fly which love humid conditions and can quickly attack a plant sucking the sap from it. It also looks like the bonsai would benefit from repotting, which some rich growing media, as that soil looks very dusty and dry.
To get rid of glasshouse whiteflies, you can follow these steps:
Identify the Infestation: Confirm that you have glasshouse whiteflies by examining the undersides of plant leaves. These pests are tiny, white, moth-like insects with a waxy appearance. It very much looks like white fly from your pictures.
Quarantine Infected Plants: If possible, separate infested plants from healthy ones to prevent the spread of whiteflies. This is especially important if you have a greenhouse or other house plants near by. Putting it in a utility room for the time being on its own can help reduce spread.
Physical Removal: Gently shake the infested plants or use a soft brush to dislodge adult whiteflies and their eggs from the leaves. You can place a white sheet of paper or cloth beneath the plant to catch the dislodged insects for better visibility.
Vacuuming: Use a handheld vacuum cleaner with a small nozzle attachment to suck up adult whiteflies, larvae, and eggs from the affected plants. Empty the vacuum bag or canister in a sealed bag and discard it immediately to prevent the pests from escaping.
Water Spray: Spray a strong jet of water on the undersides of leaves to wash away whiteflies and their eggs. Repeat this process every few days to disrupt their life cycle and reduce their population. However, its not that suitable indoors! More for outdoor plants like roses.
Sticky Traps: Hang yellow sticky traps near infested plants to attract and catch adult whiteflies. The bright yellow colour attracts them, and the sticky surface prevents them from flying away. Replace the traps regularly as they fill up.
Beneficial Insects: Introduce natural predators of whiteflies, such as ladybugs, lacewings, or parasitic wasps, to control their population. Again this is more for plants in greenhouses than house plants.
Neem Oil: Apply neem oil, an organic insecticide, to the infested plants according to the manufacturer's instructions. Neem oil disrupts the life cycle of whiteflies and acts as a repellent.
Insecticidal Soap: Use insecticidal soap, specifically formulated for plant pests, to spray the affected plants. Follow the instructions on the product label, as excessive use can harm plants. Or make your own spray of 1 part washing up liquid to 4 parts water and spray on to kill the flys.
Repeat Treatments: Whiteflies can be persistent, so continue the chosen methods for several weeks to ensure the population is under control. Regular monitoring is essential to catch any reinfestation early.
I'd certainly give your bonsai a good liquid feed once you've treated the whitefly too, that will help it recover.
Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
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