Fungal Gnats (?) Complete Havoc on Everything..

[Talking2plants]

There were a couple little, fruit fly-like insects on my Plumeria tree, and now I’m contemplating nearly anything to get rid of them.
When first seeing a couple, I grabbed the Neem oil, mixed a batch up, and after a week or so noticed that the many plants in my green-room were losing leaves and failing in general.
I’ve
-put in lighting/zappers to kill them
-hung several sticky fly traps
-repotted
-placed aggregate/very fine substrate on top of each plant to attempt their movement to other plants

They are infiltrating everything and the sheer number is honestly hard to believe… help.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

They probably come from larvae that live in your green room soil, try hitting them a source by watering with very dilute peroxide.

 

[Talking2plants]

Using peroxide in the water to kill them is a novel idea, though using neem oil and finding that the plants were suffering from that makes me a bit concerned. I’m growing really temperamental and some are barely hanging on… I looked at one of the sticky fly trap things, literally no room on the bottom couple of inches of it- so bizarre after all I’ve done.
What is the concentration you are thinking?

 

[Oliver Buckle]

One part household peroxide (3% , don't use the stronger commercial stuff) to four parts water and drench the soil. They say the oxygen released also helps improve the soil.

 

[Beegee79]

I have had to use neem oil on poinsettias because of whiteflies. Last spring I sprayed them and must have overdone it because all the leaves wilted and fell off. I thought they were all dead until 2 of them came back and are now full of foliage. I kept them outside all summer and the dang whiteflies infested them again. I learned you need to be careful with neem oil. I doused one of them really good with neem then 10 minutes later hosed it down to rinse off the neem oil then quickly moved it inside. So far so good. I don’t know how much neem oil you used but if you overuse it, it can damage your plants. Good luck I hope you can get rid of the bugs.

 

[Beegee79]

One part household peroxide (3% , don't use the stronger commercial stuff) to four parts water and drench the soil. They say the oxygen released also helps improve the soil.

This helps too if the plants are wilting from being overwatered. It puts oxygen into the soil and addresses the root rot.

 

[cpp gardener]

Try letting them dry out more. The gnats prefer moist soil.

 

[big rockpile]

Use Mosquito Bits.

big rockpile

 

[Sheal]

I tried the peroxide nearly two weeks ago and it's made no difference. I'm now in the process of using my own method which I know works - although it's a time consuming process. All plants are removed from their pots and soil disposed of. Roots are washed and are currently soaking in buckets to kill off any larvae. I've disinfected the pots and am now waiting for the last of the flies to die off indoors before re-potting with fresh compost that I add a little water too, then microwave for two minutes and leave to cool off before use.

 

[pepper2.0]

Use Mosquito Bits.

big rockpile

Doesn't that only work in water?

 

[big rockpile]

Doesn't that only work in water?

Nope sprinkle them on top the soil. Been using it for years.

It kills Mosquitoe and Gnat larva. Will not hurt plants.

big rockpile

 

[pepper2.0]

Nope sprinkle them on top the soil. Been using it for years.

It kills Mosquitoe and Gnat larva. Will not hurt plants.

big rockpile

Good to know! I've never used them only seen them used on YouTube for rain water storage and stuff like that.