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redthreaddiy

Indoor Pest Problem

redthreaddiy
13 years ago

I brought in some plants that weren't hardy through the winter a few months ago. I brought in several pests along with them. Unfortunately, I can't correct my first mistake, so now, how do I get rid of them? They are little black bugs with wings - kinda like fruit flies. I see them crawling around in the soil and hanging out on the actual plants. They are in our Florida room, but seem to keep multiplying. gross! There are far too many plants that I don't want to lose, so how do I keep the plants but get rid of the bugs? I have been spraying malathion but it doesn't seem to do much. Thanks!

Comments (11)

  • morz8 - Washington Coast
    13 years ago

    Crawling around in the soil and black fruit fly types are surely fungus gnats. BTi (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis) can be safely used indoors (or anywhere safely). Use a BTi solution to water your plants on their normal schedule a few consecutive times and you will break the breeding cycle in approx 3 weeks, be rid of them.

    "These persistent gnats live short, prolific lives. An adult fungus gnat lays up to 200 eggs during the one week it spends as an adult winged gnat. The adult then dies. Legless larvae hatch out in about four days. After two weeks of feeding, larvae spend about three to four days as pupae before emerging as the next generation of adults.

    Most fungus gnats are merely annoying and cause relatively little damage to plants. But several species of fungus gnat larvae feed on roots, causing damage to African violets and other houseplants. Others burrow into stems and leaves. Fungus gnat-damaged plants may show signs of wilting. Gnat damage may weaken plants and make them susceptible to root rots."

    None of my local nurseries carry BTi, I order online and have used both the liquid and granular forms. In a pinch, you can buy a card of mosquito dunks and float a dunk in a container of water over night, use that water to then water your plants. The dunks work, but don't give you the option of mixing stronger for heavy infestation, using less for light infestations but it's just a convenience thing.

    Last time I ordered BTi, I bought Gnatrol granular (one brand name) here:

    Here is a link that might be useful: Gnatrol - BTi

  • redthreaddiy
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Thanks so much - I will give your suggestions a try! I don't notice any damage to my plants and they are just very annoying. Thank you for all of your help!

  • Kimmsr
    13 years ago

    Fungus Gnats are common in house plants because most people are too diligent in watering and the soil the house plants are growing in is too moist for the plant but just right for these wee buggers to hatch and grow. While spending money on "stuff" can control them the simplest method is to allow the soil in the pot to dry between waterings, dry out to a depth of about 2 inches.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Fungus Gnat control

  • morz8 - Washington Coast
    13 years ago

    Kimser, that may work to help prevent, no so much help once you've got them established.

    I've watched adult gnats fly down and crawl in and out of the drainage holes at the bottom of plant pots - they will lay eggs in any residual moisture not just pot tops.

  • taz6122
    13 years ago

    1/4 of a mosquito dunk per gallon of water should do the trick.

    When growing tropical aroids (like I do) letting the soil dry this time of year is not an option unless I want them to go dormant.
    When raising seedlings letting the soil dry could mean death.

  • Kimmsr
    13 years ago

    As the article from Colorado state says the easiest method of control is to allow the soil to dry out between waterings. About every article I have seen from about every horticulture school says the same thing, allow the soil in the pots to dry out between waterings.
    The Fungus Gnat larva need a moist soil to hatch and grow in.

  • rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
    13 years ago

    Kimmsr, reading and following the advice of articles can be very helpful, even more so when the information in utilized in conjunction with real-life experience.

    The situation with fungus gnats cannot be handled as simply as allowing the soil in the pots to dry out between waterings. One has to take into account the type of potting medium, the kind of plants, and other factors. Once established, fungus gnats seem to do quite well in potting mixes that are not overly moist, but NORMALLY moist.

    Recommending Bt-I products is excellent advice. I would further suggest that the potting medium be amended in the future so that it is formulated with less with fine textured organic matter (peat moss) and a greater percentage of larger and/or inorganic particulates (perlite, granite grit, bark, etc.) I never have fungus gnats though I never allow a pot to dry out.

  • redthreaddiy
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Drying out does nothing for me. I am buying the Bt-I products and hoping for the best!

  • taz6122
    13 years ago


    The Fungus Gnat larva need a moist soil to hatch and grow in.

    DOH! So do plants.

  • jean001a
    13 years ago

    It's important to know that using Bti will require 3 weeks to break the gnat's life cycle.

  • Kimmsr
    13 years ago

    Reading, and understanding, various articles published from reliable sources is a good way to learn. Those articles, along with real life experience that can support what is in those articles, can go a long way toward helping someone solve problems others have solved years ago. If numerous articles, from reliable sources, tell you the same thing more than likely the information is pretty good.
    So if a large number of papers from respected horticulture schools say that allowing the top 2 inches of soil in a pot plagued by Fungus Gnats will break the life cycle of those pests it more then likely will. If one allows the top 2 inches of soil in a pot to dry out and finds that there are no more Fungus Gnats then that person would grasp that concept. What I have found over the years is that when this method fails it is because the person it failed on did not follow directions.

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