The first question comes from a Pike County resident who has a wonderful sun room full of house plants and garden plants overwintering in the warmth. But, as is too often the case, disaster is about to strike in the form of the dreaded white fly! Her distress call came about two weeks ago, and this is the advice the Garden Guru gave:
• Purchase insecticidal soap and a sprayer (she did not have either and had been using diluted dish detergent as a spray for the plants. This can be successful, but it can also lead to other problems because the formula for detergents is not consistent and they can burn tender growth.) Commercial insecticidal soap is not expensive, and it is much safer and more effective—so just do it right in the first place. Spray the plant completely, especially the underside of the leaves and the soil. Repeat this spraying every three days to kill all newly hatched white flies.
• Further treatment includes pruning off all infected growth and discarding it in sealed plastic garbage bags—do not compost infested growth.
• Purchase insecticidal sticky strips if you can find them this time of the year. If not you can make some using yellow card stock and double faced tape—a bit tedious, but effective! Hang the tapes close to infected plants.
• If only a few plants are infected, isolate them from the healthy plants.
• Make sure air circulation is adequate around all house plants—use a small oscillating fan if necessary.
I checked with the questioner this morning and all plants are currently doing well with the infestation apparently under control, but she is taking no chances and continues to spray with the insecticidal soap and monitor the plants daily.
The second question is really not a question at all, but a plea for help which all of us at one time have experienced especially as we begin to garden.
A novice gardener asked, “How do I start!” And the short answer is to simply pick a small area and begin! The long answer is not possible in this short paragraph, but the beginning of inspiration can be found here—join a garden club, ask your neighbors and friends who have successful gardens, read books and newspaper articles, listen to Walter Reeves’ Saturday morning radio program, watch home and garden television programs (some are excellent), and make a commitment to yourself to try. One excellent beginning would be a Garden Club of Georgia Basic Horticulture Course, and one is underway in Zebulon at the present time. The next session is on January 30. For more information contact Gail Berthe at glberthe@bellsouth.net. The cost is minimal and the information is presented in an informal setting. The January 30 session will cover soil preparation, food gardens, fertilizer and realistically reading a garden catalog.
