Fungus Gnats! Help!
blossom_girl
16 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (17)
komi
16 years agosalvialvr
16 years agoRelated Discussions
please help....I got my first fungus gnat and I don't why
Comments (1)See the other current discussion here. Id that doesn't answer all your questions the search will pull up many more discussions about them. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Fungus gnats...See MoreHelp a newbie w/Crinums please?
Comments (11)Thanks Jodi! These bulbs were bought off of ebay as a gift for me, I didnt see the auction/s personally, and the gifter said the only info was that they were pink & wine, which they came labeled as. I am figuring they are the more common type, but ya never know? I did browse through all the crinum auctions over the last several days, ongoing and ended auctions..no luck. I am figuring that the "wine" one may be 'milk & wine', but then again, since the other is just labeled 'pink', the other may only say 'wine' referring to the color of the blooms. Whatever they are, I am sure I will love them and they will be beautiful. I guess I should put them in a bigger pot, they are in a pretty little one right now just till I figure out what I'm doing, and so they can be on top of the fridge with that lil bit of bottom heat. I think DH would pitch a cow if I put a big old ceramic pot up there, lmao! not that I would, but I could just see that scene playing out in my head! Hi Patricia! Thanks, I wish I could put them in the ground. We'll see what they look like after they bloom, maybe if they are a hardier type, or even to zone 8, I may be able to get away with mulching them real good over the winter. I have had other plants survive for a few years here that are supposedly zones 9 and up..we'll seeeee :) Dumb question here...are they evergreen in warmer zones? Would the foliage die down in say, zones 8 or 9 and come back in the spring? thanks again guys! Daniella...See MoreCoriander from seed problem
Comments (6)Suggest that you give them plenty of light, and use ONLY a good seed starting soil that has been sterilized. Not to advertise, but Gardens Alive offers a really great product called Natural Beginnings. Its a soiless mix, and contains coconut husks. For several years now, I have been using ONLY this mix and have great germination results. My tomato and pepper plants reach up to almost 2 foot in less than 60 days. All of my seed starting is done in small plastic pots, and I do NOT use those peat pots. The reason is simple, no nurseries I ever see, have ever used the peat pots for starting seeds. Years ago, I used them, I still see an occaisonal peat pot coming up when the garden is tilled. So that tells me thay just don't break down like they are supposed to. Also, when the seeds are first germinating, I place a clear plastic hood over the plant trays to help keep the moisture in. I don't dunk my pots in water, but instead, water from the top. Coriander has shallow roots at the beginning, so they may not be getting sufficient water. I also use a very mild water soluable fertilizer after the first set of leaves show up. Fungus gnats only show up if the seed starting soil has been exposed to outdoors during the summers. The gnats lay eggs, and these hatch into tiny grubs that feed on the roots, then emerge as flies and infest ALL other nearby plants. Two items that can kill off these pests is yellow sticky traps, placed horizontally, close to the seed trays when they are growing. Also, a mix of a specific Bt strain and water will kill off the soil dwellers. Always start with sterilized soil. If you have houseplants, its a sure bet that every single pot is infested with the gnats. I see them here, surviving indoors even in December, even though I have no plants growing until about now.The sticky traps are usually loaded with bugs within a few days, once they are seen flying near the plants. I would leave the traps out until they get loaded up and then replace with a fresh one. Coriander/cilantro also likes cool weather in shade, and will quickly wilt if there is too much heat and sun. Avoid using regular potting soil, garden soil and any soil that has been outdoors. Because the gnats are very common here, I also water in some beneficial nematodes before I plant in my garden. These nematodes attack the grubs and other soil dwellers, so there are less hatching and reproduction....See MoreFungus Gnats becoming a Major Problem - Chemicals Safe?
Comments (12)I have been growing lots of plants from a seed, and using various store-bought soils like Miracle-Gro etc. In the past I have had problems with storebought soil and their guaranteed fungus gnats. So this time I looked up how to prevent them and went with the microwaving the soil method (50% power for 15 min) Nevertheless, it's so easy for even one to find its way in if someone gives you cut flowers or you open a window. So of course I got infested. It was crazy -- in no time I had tons of visible clear skinny fungus gnat maggots in the soil, not to mention tons of flying adults. Drying out the soil doesn't work b/c they can suspend their development to wait for moisture to return. Plus my plants were using a lot of water. I tried everything else: dishsoap solution, BTI, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, cayenne, etc. Nothing made a difference. THEN I read about hot water. Yes, simple hot water! You might think it will damage/burn your plants but no, they tolerate it very well. What doesn't tolerate it at all are the fungus gnat maggots! If you don't believe me, you can test it yourself -- pluck a few out of the soil when they come to the surface at night. Put them in a dish and put some hot water on them. They die instantly. How hot? Hand hot. In my apt, it's as hot as the water is allowed to get. But the temp is one that doesn't burn you but it's too hot to keep your hand under the faucet for more than 15-30 at a time. To apply to plants, you dont need a lot. Just enough to cover the entire surface and take a few seconds to soak down through. With small pots, maybe a 1/2 cup or a cup. I've tried this on all my plants (marigolds, irises, morning glories, vincas, four oclocks, mint, basil, pansies, petunias, impatiens, snapdragons, etc. I was so excited about the results, I had to post -- this is my first post! Just a few days ago I had complete infestation in several pots (pulled out 20 maggots each and still had tons more writhing around) and tons of adults flying around. ONE treatment of hot water wiped the maggots out almost entirely -- there are even very few adults left now b/c no babies are taking their place. But I will keep it up in case they are laying any eggs. The plants don't seem to mind the hot water treatment one bit and I've already done it 2-3 times for many. p.s. Yellow sticky traps work really well too to catch the adults and hurry the process along....See Moreaachenelf z5 Mpls
16 years agomehitabel
16 years agoamyleee217
16 years agoblossom_girl
16 years agoGinge
16 years agoaachenelf z5 Mpls
16 years agohighjack
16 years agoterpguy
16 years agoaachenelf z5 Mpls
16 years agohighjack
16 years agolittlem_2007
16 years agohighjack
16 years agomehitabel
16 years agoLinda Brink
4 years ago
Related Stories
MOST POPULAR7 Ways to Design Your Kitchen to Help You Lose Weight
In his new book, Slim by Design, eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink shows us how to get our kitchens working better
Full StoryBEDROOMSHow to Choose the Perfect Bedsheets
Don't lose any shut-eye over scratchy or ill-fitting sheets; our mini guide to materials, thread count and fit will help you sleep tight
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESMake Sure You Read This Before Buying New Plants
Follow these 10 plant-selection tips to avoid buyer’s remorse
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Keep Your Citrus Trees Well Fed and Healthy
Ripe for some citrus fertilizer know-how? This mini guide will help your lemon, orange and grapefruit trees flourish
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN10 Big Space-Saving Ideas for Small Kitchens
Feeling burned over a small cooking space? These features and strategies can help prevent kitchen meltdowns
Full StoryCONTAINER GARDENSContainer Garden Basics: How and When to Water Potted Plants
Confused about soil moisture, the best time to water and what watering device to use? This guide can help
Full StoryFARMHOUSESHouzz Tour: Some Old Tricks for a New Atlanta Farmhouse
A ‘pretend story’ helped this builder create a new farmhouse that feels like it was added onto over several generations
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGTake a Summer Vacation in the Backyard
From Airstreams to tepees, backyard camping provides all the comforts of home with a touch of rustic
Full StoryHEALTHY HOMEWhat You Need to Know About Dust and How to Fight It
Breathe easier with these 10 tips for busting mites, dander and other microscopic undesirables
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESEdible Gardening Essentials: Tips for Traditional Hand Watering
Save the expense and hassle of a complicated garden system with a simple watering can or inexpensive hose add-ons
Full Story
highjack