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remedies for gnats
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Posted by Midwestgirl483 z5 (My Page) on Sat, Oct 16, 04 at 14:35
| I need a remedy for house hold gnats or maybe fruit flies |
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RE: remedies for gnats
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| The best remedy for ridding the house of fruit flies is to get rid of overripe fruit - refrigerate, use or toss. Fungus gnats, which infest houseplants, are an indication of overwatering. Cut back on the watering or repot with fresh potting soil. Top each houseplant with a layer of fine sand, which discourages the gnats from laying eggs. They are very shortlived and will disappear in a couple of days. |
RE: remedies for gnats
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| I think that may be what my house plants are suffering from. They are brown/black in color and transfer from plant to plant. |
RE: remedies for gnats
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The ways to control Gnats and Fruit Flies are very different because the source of the pest is very different.
Getting rid of fruit flies is as simple as putting the ripening fruit in the refrigerator, cooling it so the fruit fly eggs that are on the fruit won't hatch.
Getting rid of gnats is more difficult because it depends on which you have (for some people gnats are any wee flying insect) and where they came from. Since most gnats come from soil, something that will either kill the eggs, larva, or nympths on that soil will do it. Diamotaceous Earth, Bacillus thuringiensis - Israeleanus, some people report drenches of peppermint tea works too. |
RE: remedies for gnats
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- Posted by Rosa 4-ish (My Page) on
Sun, Nov 14, 04 at 10:09
I use fine horticultural sand on top of the soil. Cut back the watering some. Works like a charm, cheap and not messy.
Diamotaceous Earth is fine too but do not breathe this stuff-use a mask. The finely ground diamtoms it's made from that cut insects bodies to shreds will do the same to your lungs in short order!! |
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