We'll I'm at the point where most everything looks pathetic in the greenhouse. I have to make myself not panic and keep telling myself, 5 more weeks. I'm thankful to say that bugs, especially white flies and spidermites have not been an issue this year .. usually by the end of January I'm in a pitched battle. The only bug problems are aphids and the ants they attract and those are easy to deal with. The winter blooming plants I have in there, Kalanchoe and Geraniums are blooming their head of bringing me cheer.

How's everyone elses greenhouses looking?

Different type of greenhouse here but similar in that this winter has not had a whitefly issue. Last year I grew tomatoes through winter and the whiteflies were a pain. Perhaps that was the problem.

This year, only my tender tropicals and haven't had any major problems. I caught quite a few lizards last fall and installed them in the GH. I figured they would have escaped but am occasionally startled by one popping out of a plant. Perhaps they have helped control the bugs.


Even though there haven't been major issues this winter, I'm counting down the days to spring for me!!!

Even enjoying some summer blooms...

Yours looks great! Love the blooms too. Diatomaceous earth takes care of the whiteflies pretty well. What is that beautiful orange bloom? Reminds me of my Justicia carnea Radiant.

I am sorry not to get back here... I keep forgetting to mark "watch this thread" when I post on one. One of these days I'll get the hang of it.

Please tell me how you apply the DE for whiteflies? I have some DE and have fought whiteflies for the past two summers in the garden spot also.

That bloom is a Dicliptera suberecta (aka Justicia suberecta). The hummingbirds love it. It would be perennial but I found when in ground, it was way too late in summer to deliver blooms so I decided to keep it potted and overwinter it in the greenhouse.

My favorite bloomer was when the butterfly ginger bloomed in late fall in the greenhouse. I would walk in and think I had found heaven!



Now, off to mark this thread ~ watch!

You need a duster for DE .. I didn't care for the little 'pump' ones because they throw out great gouts of powder so I ended up buying one that was rather expensive but creates wonderful clouds of DE that cover everything! Expensive but worth it. You definitely need to be above wind when you use it or wear a mask if it's in an enclosed space. Here is a link for it.

http://diatomaceousearth.net/p...

Excellent ~ thank you. I have one of the puffers but wondered if there wasn't a better way.

I have also marked that site to read through. It appears to be quite interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Kristi ~ who is counting down the days to springtime.