Okay folks lately I've been besieged by fungus gnats attacking my over 100 house plants. I've been hybridizing since 2004 and have fought gnats often to the point where they barely exist. This year they are out of control. I always heard they were just a nuisance though fluttering around they would sometimes pollinate plants accidently. They love to buzz me at the computer. Used to be able to clap them to death in mid air, but, my reflexes arent't that fast anymore.
Now I read up on google that the adults lay eggs in the soil and the larva eat off feeder roots on the plants. I'm having casualties as a result. I have had "adventures" previously with soil mealy bugs buy have not detected their presence in the many plants I repotted and checked with 14 x magnifier.
I always have yellow sticky cards out for the gnats, and have lately found similar on a spool with top and bottom that can hangs vertically from plant shelves. This is catching some but, no where near the population I am seeing. They fly up when I water and I found some in the saucers afterward, so now drench the saucers with Spic & span spray. My pots sit about an inch above the saucers so do not come in contact with S& S. I top water individually., and drain off any from saucers and dispose of it.
Just bought some neon yellow colored poster sheets in Wally world and had a ton of window fly trap (sticky clear about 3" x 8") so am making my own gnat traps - they love yellow.
See on Google there is now Gnatrol granuals that cost a king's ransom. I used the liquid many years ago, which didn't work at all.
If anyone has some suggestions I am wide open to them. I grow streptocarpus and they cannot be allowed to dry out sufficiently to slow the plague of gnat larvae. I know fabric softener sheets repel adult gnats but, they still manage to get to soil.
Help.
Now I read up on google that the adults lay eggs in the soil and the larva eat off feeder roots on the plants. I'm having casualties as a result. I have had "adventures" previously with soil mealy bugs buy have not detected their presence in the many plants I repotted and checked with 14 x magnifier.
I always have yellow sticky cards out for the gnats, and have lately found similar on a spool with top and bottom that can hangs vertically from plant shelves. This is catching some but, no where near the population I am seeing. They fly up when I water and I found some in the saucers afterward, so now drench the saucers with Spic & span spray. My pots sit about an inch above the saucers so do not come in contact with S& S. I top water individually., and drain off any from saucers and dispose of it.
Just bought some neon yellow colored poster sheets in Wally world and had a ton of window fly trap (sticky clear about 3" x 8") so am making my own gnat traps - they love yellow.
See on Google there is now Gnatrol granuals that cost a king's ransom. I used the liquid many years ago, which didn't work at all.
If anyone has some suggestions I am wide open to them. I grow streptocarpus and they cannot be allowed to dry out sufficiently to slow the plague of gnat larvae. I know fabric softener sheets repel adult gnats but, they still manage to get to soil.
Help.
