Q. I have discovered whiteflies on a few of my indoor plants. What’s the best remedy for controlling this pest?

A. An advanced infestation of whitefly is very difficult to control. When bringing a new plant into your house in the future, inspect it carefully for any signs of either the flying insect or the black sooty mold that forms on the sticky exudate excreted by the whitefly. Spraying with an insecticidal soap can help. Placing bright yellow sticky traps (either purchased or made at home) is a good method for catching the adult whiteflies. Some gardeners have had success by spraying plants every two weeks with products containing encapsulated pyrethrum or a hot chili pepper wax.