Fungus Gnats!

[usschicago1]

Fungus Gnats have taken over my room! I have about 30+ potted plants and every pot is LOADED with the gnats. I HAVE dehydrated my plants constantly for months, but they are so prevalent after a watering I see a bunch all over again! I just watered all my plants with hot water, I read online that works. What is a way i can get them out to stay out? I dont mind using chemicals.

Thanks
MArk

 

[theoldchick]

What the heck is a fungus gnat?

 

[sourland]

Careful with the hot water. If it is hot enough to kill gnats, it will also kill the plants. And, yeah, what the heck are 'fungus gnats'?

 

[redhen]

Never heard of fungus gnats?? Do you mean those little fruit fly type things??

 

[BigSkyChickens]

The plant lady at my office said to mix in sand. The sharp texture of the sand kills the eggs.....
Good luck!

 

[woodmort]

Try this stuff http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=3440 it works great. Each year I use it when I bring my plants inside the greenhouse from their summer vacation. I mix it up and drench the pots when they come in. The faster you get after them the better. Granted it is expensive initially but a little bit goes a long way and it keeps forever.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Wait?! You mean to tell me that the recent infestation of fruit flies I got in my house is from my plants I brought back in??

Never happened before that I recall. I thought these were fruit flies..... Is there a difference?


Dag I come here to learn about chickens and I still learn something new every day!

 

[RaZ]

It is my hope that before people reach for the chemical spray they first identify what the pest really is. Common names can be problematic in identifying a pest. "Fungus gnats" here are a small fly that needs standing water for the larval stage of their progeny. Not usually found in soil or potted plants.

You might have a different pest in your area with the same common name. Contact your local Extension Office and ask them or take in a sample for proper identification and treatment.

However, you can try a quick solution. Mix some Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle ande hose down your plants. The soap dries on the insects and smothers them without harming the plant. You may need to do it a couple of times to take care of new hatches of the little buggers. I do this each fall to the potted plants that I bring in to over-winter.

I did this a few days ago and while spraying a plant, I found a female praying mantis. That plant I didn't spray. I'm hoping that Ms. Mantis will lay her eggs and hatch a new brood of beneficial insects.

Good luck

 

[quintinp]

Quote:
Had the same problem when I was trying to grow millet for the birds. Man they sure were nasty. They made larvae too, like tiny NASTY little maggots. Yuck!!!.... I have two plants in my window sill now, some sprouted apricot seeds, and a purple pitcher plant. And I have a bottle filled with water, with ivy pouring out of it.

 

[quintinp]

Hope I don't get them again.