I've had them many times over the years when I used to keep a huge bale of peat outside to add to potting soil. If it rains a lot, the gnats will perpetuate in those potted plants. Gnats are a sign of wet soil and are usually introduced via soil, or by placing potted plants outside in an environment that has them, like setting them in a mulched bed. They can't survive without high levels of moisture and they don't fly to distant locations to locate more. As said, let the soil dry and only water a sip if the plants get wilty. After a few weeks, try giving a more thorough watering and see if they are gone. If not, repeat sahara treatment. A bottom-watering scheme that doesn't allow for enough water that the top later gets wet can help also but that wouldn't be practical or attractive enough for an office. You can stick a toothpick or paper clip in the soil with tape - sticky side out - to trap the flyers near the surface. Supposedly they like yellow but I just used the tape on paperclips and got a bunch of the adults that way. Since I've gone to a no-peat zone, I haven't seen any more appear, even when bringing outside pots in for the winter. I would stop misting also until they are gone. That's just keeping the top later of soil moist, which is enabling the larva. If you get soap in the soil of a potted plant, it can take forever to wash out. Dish soap can have a lot of salt, too, so I don't know if that's a good idea for potted office plants that never get a cleansing rain. I've not found it necessary to try mosquito dunks but have heard them recommended many times for this problem. Once the gnats are gone, they won't return unless you bring a new plant to the office that has them, there are other plants in the office that go untreated, or you repot with soil that has them. So perpetual watering with the dunks should be unnecessary once they are gone.

Well diluted Miracle Grow and similar are probably the most commonly ones used by far. Do you only want organic ones? Most organics are going to have some odor, it is the nature of organic fertilizers - they smell. So organic gardening outside is great, inside not so much because of their slow effects, need for active soil bacteria to even work, and odor. Other than worm tea if one has a vermicomposting setup, IMO the best organics for using indoors are one of the many fish/kelp blends available. Not only are they better balanced, offer a wider range of nutrients, but the kelp reduces the odor of the fish somewhat. It isn't odor free but better and unfortunately the smell is the most notable price we pay if we insist on only using organic fertilizers for seedlings. Dave

The gnats are likely fungus gnats that have larvae in the soil. The larvae usually feed on green fungus that grows on the soil surface of indoor plants. I get these on my seedlings that I grow in the winter. The are basically harmless to a large plant like your Aloe. I control them with little yellow sticky traps that attract the gnats and kill them. You can also use beneficial nematodes added to the soil or Bt (Bacillius thruringus) added to your water. Both will kill the larvae. Steve

Look up fungus gnat larvae to see if that's not your problem. Resolving existing fungus gnat infestations includes allowing the potting mix to dry out somewhat in between waterings ;applying a layer of food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) to the surface. It will eventually work its way into the medium, eliminating the soft bodied larvae. Some people apply a thick layer of coarse sand in order to prevent the adults from laying eggs. Rather than the imidicloprid (not the right choice) or other strong chemical, opt for Gnatrol or even dissolved pieces of mosquito dunks. Both contain Bacillus thuringiensis-israelensis, a naturally occurring bacterium which infects certain Diperans...like fungus gnats or mosquitoes. Long term fixes include changing your potting mix for one that is faster draining (very coarse textured), or amending the potting medium with substantial amounts of perlite. Of course, toss the old stuff in the pot. And evaluate your watering practices. Fungus gnats require a very moist environment in order to thrive.