Transplanting to new sterile soil after washing the roots is another control. Thrips are small, thin pests, the young being yellow and the adults brown or black. The adults are winged and tend to fly around the plant when disturbed. They rasp the plant tissue and suck the juice, leaving silver specks on the surface. Their black droppings can be seen on a badly infested plant.
Females leave a small scar on the tissue where they deposit their eggs.
Decent control can be achieved with the same materials used on aphids. Whiteflies are small pests that hide and feed on the underside of leaves. They leave foliage pale or discolored. These chemicals are poisons and treat them as such. Follow the directions on the label closely and use the right chemical for the plant.