Keeping unwanted pests under control in a greenhouse can be a challenge. I have had my fair share of pest issues since I built our greenhouse. Each year, I get something a little different.
The first troublesome pests I have encountered in our greenhouse are whiteflies. They were a problem because they are small, multiply fast, suck the life out of certain plants, and aggravate your allergies. Another issue with whiteflies is they secrete a sticky substance called honeydew. Honeydew makes the plants very tacky. It also attracts my second troublesome pest, ants.
Ants are attracted to and collect the sweet honeydew that the whiteflies create. The fascinating thing about this is that they form a close relationship. The whiteflies produce the honeydew, and the ants protect the whiteflies in exchange for the honeydew. This relationship made this situation difficult because I had to deal with two pests instead of one.
Correcting this problem required a coordinated attack. Whitefly heavily infested plants had to be removed. The remaining whiteflies were removed using a combination of diatomaceous earth and yellow whitefly sticky traps. In addition, getting rid of the ants required sealing some holes with expanding foam and spreading some ant killer around the base of the greenhouse.
Aphids are another pest I run into in our greenhouse during spring and summer. These insects suck the juice out of your plants. They also can multiply quickly. To manage them, I have used three different methods. The first method is spraying the aphids with a dish soap and water mixture. Another method is dusting the plants with diatomaceous earth. The final method is to release ladybugs into the greenhouse. Ladybugs love to eat aphids. Keep in mind that the larger the greenhouse, the more ladybugs you will need.
What kind of pests do you run into in your greenhouse or garden?
