I have very small white "bugs" on my tomato plant. Also, leaves turning Yellow?

Question

We planted three tomato plants in large pots. They are growing extremely well except we have tons of very small white bugs all over them. Also in certain area's the leaves are yellowing and dying. Any advise. The fruit is great but not big.

Answer 1

The leaves - Could be suffering from nutrient deficiency, or not enough sunlight. Add plant fertilizer to prevent and stop this.

The white bugs - sound like mealy bugs. To get rid mix a generouse amount of washing up liquid with water and spray all over the plant. (it wont harm the plant)

Answer 2

You need to get rid of the bugs. It sounds like you may have mealy bugs and if you dont get rid of the soon they will kill the plant.

Answer 3

They could be mealy bugs or aphids.  In both cases the insects feed on the sap in the leaves which is what causes the yellowing and dying.  A good insecticide or grannygr's advice will successfully control them.

Answer 4

These are very small bugs and they are aphids and their color is determined by what they are eating to some degree.  They are white, brown, yellow and green.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90761256@N0...

These are mealy bugs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/koppert/242...

You can get rid of them with /open link below this is not toxic to the plant as is other chemicals only to the bugs.

Spray aphids

with 3 tablespoons grated Fels Naptha Soap dissolved in 1 gallon of hot water. Mix well and let cool. Spray as needed.

Insect Control:

Prepare Fels Naptha Solution first. (Solution - shave 1 inch of Fels Naptha bar in a nylon stocking and place it into a gallon of boiling water along with 4 oz. liquid dish soap(Ivory). Store as needed and shake well before use. It will have a gel-like consistency.) Mix 1 cup of Fels Naptha Solution with 1 cup antiseptic mouthwash (mint flavored if nematodes are a problem) and 1 cup chewing tobacco juice. Spray with a 20-gal hose-end sprayer with a golf ball in it to keep mixture mixed.

Edited:

IMPORTANT***** In recent years soap manufacturers have added degreasers and antibacterial ingredients to their products. These are VERY harmful to your plants and most likely will burn or kill them. When a home gardening technique calls for liquid dish soap be very careful that you use only Ivory or Fels Naptha Solution. You can also use the original liquid lemon type detergent which has no additives, just be careful that it does not contain a degreaser or is antibacterial.

So when people say use liquid soap make sure of which kind you are using...Ivory is one that works.

http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ProductDetai...