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A common wintertime problem for indoor tropicals is fungus gnats. These annoying little black flies rise from the soil surface during watering. Meanwhile, their maggot offspring (larvae with white bodies and black heads) live in the plant soil and feed off decaying plant matter, fungus, and sometimes the plant’s roots and succulent stems. Without immediate action fungus gnats can quickly spread and infect all the plants in a home.
If you notice fungus gnats, your first step should be to ensure you are not overwatering. Letting the surface dry out between waterings can go a long way toward controlling the problem.
If that fails, try applying Hypoaspis, a common predatory mite of fungus gnats, which will attack the juvenile stages of fungus gnats and suppress their numbers. Available where beneficial insects are sold, these mites are simple to use, natural and inexpensive.
To apply Hypoaspis, first lightly water the soil surface of the infected plant. Place 5 mL (per 15-centimetre pot) of the Hypoaspis and their carrier (commonly peat/vermiculite) on the soil surface. Keep moist, and within a week, the eggs will hatch and seek out the gnats.
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Comments
Will the peroxide hurt the
Comment by Anonymous, February 26, 2010 at 11:21Will the peroxide hurt the plants at all when I pour the water/peroxide mixture into the soil to kill the larva?
This was the greatest site
Comment by Anonymous, December 1, 2009 at 15:41This was the greatest site for me! These pests came in on my plants from me leaving the patio doors open on nice sunny days. Chemicals weren't an option, and when I tried this 10 years ago it didn't even work - although it did leave the pesticide powder on the top of the soil to be blown into the air when I watered or a breeze blew by. I wasn't sure what to do until I came upon this site. Eliminating my plants was not an option and these little flies were taking over my place! They would appear in the cats water dish or in the bathroom around water.
My course of action consisted of combining the peroxide option (400ml 3% peroxide to 2L water) and the sand covering the soil. The peroxide bubbled and I made sure it covered the entire surface of the soil. As soon as that had filtered into the soil I covered the entire surface 1/2" deep (ensuring to get everywhere including tightly around the stem -which can be a little difficult with leafier plants). That way the peroxide should have killed off the larva, if not then maybe the sand would be too thick for them to emerge. The sand also prevented further egg laying by the flies that were already around. It was important to lay the sand immediately as the peroxide filtered because the flies could lay more eggs if you left the soil exposed as the peroxide filtered and broke down.
Total time? 1.5 weeks and no more flies! There were at least a hundred before that. Happy gardener on this end :)
Vanessa
I wished I had read some of
Comment by Anonymous, August 31, 2009 at 11:32I wished I had read some of these posts before I bought the soil ( Miracle Gro) We have thousands of them in our office and we are going crazy trying to get rid of them.
Although the insectidal
Comment by Anonymous, August 5, 2009 at 09:37Although the insectidal soaps and sprays and yellow sticky traps work...they don't work well enough. The absolute best way (which worked like a charm for me this summer) to go about getting rid of the nasty gnats was to buy proper soil, (avoid Miracle Grow's moisture control at all costs!!!) take all plants outdoors, remove as much soil from the roots as possible and dunk them in a tub of Insecticidal soap/water mixture for about 5 minutes, just long enough to thoroughly clean your pots (soap and water) and repot your plants using fresh (non miraclegrow moisture control) soil. This worked like a charm. I still used the yellow sticky tape for a few weeks after but I am proud to say that my plants are now fungas gnat free!
Cover the soil with a layer
Comment by Anonymous, August 1, 2009 at 04:36Cover the soil with a layer of sand - this creates a barrier and prevents more egg laying.
Be sure to identify your
Comment by Anonymous, July 7, 2009 at 17:47Be sure to identify your pest properly first. Hypoaspsis and Nematodes will take care of annoying fungus gnats for sure. Thanks, Laura Wasylyshen
I agree, I think some soils
Comment by Anonymous, March 27, 2009 at 08:48I agree, I think some soils that Ive been buying are infected with this gnat. Only when I repot my plants does this happen.
i heard a few drops of
Comment by Anonymous, February 18, 2009 at 08:12i heard a few drops of original sunlight in a spray bottle, sprayed on the top of the dirt will give the gnats the sh*ts until they dehydrate and die!! not that humane, but who cares, save the plants!!!
beneficial predatory
Comment by Anonymous, January 5, 2009 at 20:18beneficial predatory nematodes will eat/kill off fungus gnat larvae
I have the same problem, in
Comment by Anonymous, December 2, 2008 at 14:10I have the same problem, in my hugh boston fern and have tryed everything. Now I have to face getting ride of the plant before my other plant become infected. Hope someone has better luck then me.
I used one part 3%
Comment by Anonymous, September 27, 2008 at 08:37I used one part 3% h2o2(hydrogen peroxide) to five parts water for fungus gnats. This works out to roughly pouring in 2 cups of 3% h2o2 into a gallon milk jug and filling the rest with water.
This recipe WILL make the soil fizz and kill any larvae living in the soil. Make sure you use enough to see the solution seep out the bottom of the pot.Be sure to water regularly in between.
The adults will still be alive so you will need to repeat once /week for 3 weeks and be sure to place yellow sticky traps above the soil.
Sheena Adams
Comment by Anonymous, May 8, 2008 at 07:11Sheena Adams answers:
Hi
Hopefully these few ideas will help you with your challenge:
1. Always use sterilized soil indoors, if possible mulch your existing soil with 1" of sterilized indoor soil.
2. Consider hypoaspis, yes you will have predatory mites on your house plants, but they are inconspicuous, beneficial, and non invasive. Check out the bug ladys website; at www.thebuglady.com.
3. Hang up yellow sticky cards to trap the flying gnats and cut off the lifecycle.
4. Be sure not to overwater, always allow your soil to dry out before watering, fungus gnats love wet soil!
5. Haul your plants out doors this spring and rinse with safers insecticidal soap and water.
6. Increase air circulation around plants, prune, open a window, be sure containers drain.
7. Fertlize your plants to keep them healthy and resist gnats, go for an organic 4*2*3, a product such as RainGrow would be helpful.
Best of luck! Today I am taking all my houseplants out to give them an annual wash and when I bring them in will feed and mulch. I find this really helps to keep them pest free.
Have a great gardening season,
Sheena
I had gnats and at the time
Comment by Anonymous, April 30, 2008 at 08:15I had gnats and at the time I was caring for 2 very small children. I was unable to treat the gnats right away and they spread, wiping out my entire (15 year old) collection of houseplants. I gave up on plants for 2 years but brought them back into my house again to find the gnats are, once again, making a comeback. I have been extremely over-cautious with watering...always watering in a sink, allowing water to drain completely, waiting for soil to be practically parched before I water again. I am sure there is an outside source infecting my plants.
I have heard to use sterile soil, or some sort of man made non-soil to prevent this? What are your thoughts on this?
Also, the above article recommends applying a mite to a indorr houseplant? Sure, this may work to get rid of the gnats but what then of the mites living in your houseplants?
I will take any suggestions to rid myself of these annoying pests, aside from getting rid of my plants, again. I love having plants and having them back in my house again reminded of how much I missed them.
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