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  • Fungus gnats in potted plants

    Created by Judy Brown on December 29, 2014 at 9:51 am

    Can anyone help me with this problem. I sent an email last week explaining my problem with bugs in my hoseplant soil. Briefly, I’m talking about indoor potted plants. When I re-potted the plants this summer, shortly afterward I started noticing gnats in my house. I soon discovered they were coming from the soil in my plants. (there was a gray, fuzzy covering on parts of the soil, and then small mushrooms (?). When I used the yellow gnat sticks, they were covered in a day! I’ve used a very strong poison which is supposed to kill the larvae, I’ve re-potted the plants, using new pots, new name brand soil, washed off the plants and root system, you name it I’ve done it. Thing were OK for a while. Now one of my plants is infested again!. I know I didn’t overwater – being very cautious because of the fungus thing! If I see one more gnat, I’m going to move out, or drop kick the plant out the door. (the plant seems to be doing quite well in spite of it all). Please help me!!! If any of your products would help, please advise me. The sooner the better. Thanks!!!! Judy Brown

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  • December 29, 2014 at 10:12 am #157407

    Eric Vinje
    Keymaster

    Judy –

    I’ve provided a link to our fungus gnat cotrol page for you to read. My suggestion is to stick with the yellow sticky traps – they will capture the egg laying adults and use Beneficial Nematodes to fight the larvae in the soil.

    https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/fungus-gnat-control/

    December 29, 2014 at 1:10 pm #157420

    njbrownie
    Member

    Thank you so much!!! Do I need to change the soil again? If so, what would you recommend? Also, would you mind telling me specifically what products to purchase. I know the yellow traps, but I’m not sure about the rest. I would surely trust your recommendations over my judgment!!!!! I’m about to go crazy with these things!!!!!

    December 29, 2014 at 1:54 pm #157429

    njbrownie
    Member

    Now all I need is the exact products I need. I know the yellow sticky traps are a must. Then should I use beneficial namatodes, mosquitoo bits, gnat nix, all three, or any particular combination?
    Thanks!!!

    December 29, 2014 at 4:34 pm #157442

    Eric Vinje
    Keymaster

    You should be fine with the Yellow Sticky Strips and the Beneficial Nematodes. However, you may want to have some Mosquito Bits on hand too. They will attack the larvae differently and will not harm the nematodes.

    December 29, 2014 at 8:43 pm #157449

    njbrownie
    Member

    Thanks again! Will I also need Gnat Nix? Also, are you familiar with a product named GNATROL WDO – by Valent? I ask because I used that not too long ago. It was supposed to help with the larvae only. I just put some on the soil, but I still have the gnats. Do you think the GNATROL will kill off the Namatodes?

    December 29, 2014 at 9:13 pm #157450

    njbrownie
    Member

    Is using hydrogen peroxide useful in killing fungus gnat larvae? I read where one part hydrogen peroxide to 4 parts water can be used when doing regular watering of a house plant infested with fungus gnats. Would that and the yellow traps work?

    January 2, 2015 at 9:17 am #157595

    Eric Vinje
    Keymaster

    Gnatrol is a very effective product and similar to the Mosquito Bits we recommended.

    We offered Gnatrol for years when it was sold in smaller containers. However, it is now only sold in large sizes and is relatively expensive. There are a few hydro stores online that are breaking the Gnatrol packaging down into smaller sizes — but this is highly illegal, actually a federal offense, and we do NOT recommend purchasing from them.

    I feel confident that you will get rid of the fungus gnats with the recommendations discussed above.

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