Hi Laura,

Possibly whiteflies. Or maybe aphids. A closer-up photo might distinguish them better. But in either case, they appear to be rather feeble creatures, and if you blast them off onto the ground, getting back onto your plant is a bit of a challenge for them. Adjust the water spray to a gentle setting that won't damage the plant too much, and if the plant is in a pot, take the pot to a place some distance from its normal location.

There are many poison sprays that will get them, including some systemic ones that stay in the plant and don't get washed off.

But I would try the non-poisonous approach first. I have in the past sucked whiteflies off of potted tomatoes with a vacuum cleaner. It did some leaf damage to the tomato leaves, but got the whiteflies into the vacuum cleaner bag where they died of desiccation. I wanted to avoid poisoning my tomatoes, because I ate the tomatoes.

ZM

if i just bought that plant.. i would be returning it immediately.. and demanding a refund or replacement .. though i would check any stock from that seller.. very thoroughly ... before i would take such ....

and if they didnt take care of me.. i might call the local extension office and report them ... but they would really have to irritate me ... to go to that trouble ....

the black honeydew ... makes me think this didnt pop up in the last few days ... and also makes me think aphids of some kind ...

ken

Usually these plants are my pride and joy. They are spread between six window boxes hanging over my front porch railing and I always get rave reviews on them. I’m just sick about this. I Purchased all of these plants at a high-end nursery that I buy from every year just for these boxes because they have a wide variety of colors at an earlier time of year than others do. Never had a problem. I believe my problem happened when I was desperate for a lime green potato vine to go in each planter. I could not find them anywhere for some strange reason. Until I spotted some on the top of a cart that had just been delivered to Lowe’s. I had to climb on bricks to reach that top shelf. And in hindsight now I think they weren’t for sale because they were infected. I’m kicking myself over that. I’m not a person to put poison on my plants so I’m wondering if rather than spraying with plain water as the other reader suggested if soapy water would be a solution? These have been planted for two months and they usually look so much better by this point in time.

Yes use insecticidal soap and water and you may try neem oil too. It is nontoxic and is made from the fruit of the neem tree. Do both often and don't forget the underside of the leaves.

If it is whitefly a shake of the plant should produce a cloud of white. Adult whitefly is attracted to the color yellow. They do sell yellow sticky cards to attract whitefly adults but ypou can make your own with poster board and vaseline or some other sticky product that won't wash off. I had whitefly in my basement light set-up. The cut 3 inch squares in bright yellow and covered both sides with vaseline and hung them on my lights. I used soapy water and neem oil alternately every second day and eventually got rid of them all. It does take patience because there is no easy fix without chemicals.

If it is aphids the soap solution will kill what it lands on but again it takes patience and continual spraying to get rid of them