Any Plant People On Here!?!?! Fungus Gnats! Pic Inc. Of Plant

[usschicago1]

Ok. My Favorite Plant( It always is the favorite right) has fungus gnats. And BAD. I tried fly paper, it catches them, but never all. I repotted it, and they wont leave.! I have tried drying it out. EVERYTHING! What do you recommend.? I dont want it to spread to my cactus or Basil!

Please Help!

 

[SarahFair]

They key is prevention, and you can do this two ways: The first is to avoid overwatering your plants. Overwatering, to fungus gnats, is like laying a big steak on the floor in front of a starving dog – they can’t resist it. The second way to prevent the problem is to inspect the soil of a plant before bringing one home. Do you see gnats buzzing around it? If so, that’s not a good sign. Put the plant down and just walk away.

Some good monitoring methods can help cut down fungus gnat issues, too. Yellow stick cards (small, yellow cards with sticky adhesive on both sides) often do the trick. These can be purchased online. Many insects, including flies, are attracted to the color yellow. So upon seeing the yellow stick card, they’ll mindlessly fly right into it, and SPLAT! The adult fly is stuck. Ta-da! These cards are most effective when placed horizontally near the surface of potting soil. You can use popsicle sticks or straws to hold the cards, or some come with sticks in the package. Keep in mind, however, that this control method only traps adults – not the larval stage of fungus gnats.

Another way to control these plant invaders is with the potato trap method: Cut chunks of potato into 1 ½-inch-square pieces. Place them on the surface of your potting soil. This is like a chuck wagon call for fungus gnat larvae! They’ll head straight for it and start munching. Leave the potato for a few days and then lift it up – you’ll quickly discover if you have larvae in your soil. (And obviously remove the potato once you’re finished with it – no one wants rotting potatoes in their pots … or anywhere in the house, for that matter.)

 

[Imp]

Do you mean that gnats are living in your houseplants? In the soil? I've heard that putting a layer of sand over the soil will prevent the adults from laying eggs in the soil.

Don't take them outside and hose them off. Usually kills houseplants.

Imp knows from experience

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

They are nasty little brats! My both of my ficus had them. I used Predatory Nematodes, watering them in to the soil and repeating in four weeks. Worked great for me, I cannot use chemicals in the house.

I got them at a nursery.

 

[usschicago1]

Thanks
I'll try sand since I have some handy
If it doesnt work
Nematodes
If that doesnt Work
Its going out the window
_Mark