A Venus Flytrap grown in the same area will take care of a lot of them.I don't like the look of gnats although they say they don't do much damage. With new plants, if I can remember, I sprinkle a little systemic on top of the soil just in case there is something there besides gnats.

I have Bonide but the odor bothers me and I have tomato seedlings started. Is there something else besides Bonide that is safe for edibles as systemic? Buying a Venus Fly Trap sounds like a fun thing. I never thought of that. I thought the gnats laid eggs and the larva were what caused the damage. Do you think the gravel will keep the plants too wet?

They will eventually disappear. You can place small cups of water (or almost any liquid) nearby where they will fall in and drown. It won't get them all but it made me happy to see some disappearing this way.

They won't hurt your plants if they are healthy and strong but if you had tiny seedlings then it might be another matter.

The gravel won't keep it too wet if you don't water more than you should. A small layer of sand will accomplish the same thing as the gravel or even a plastic layer or paper layer would be effective. The plastic could cause other issues though.

Neem oil is supposed to break the cycle of a lot of insects but the odor is a bit pungent.

Sometimes the cure is worse than the problem... I try to not worry about them too much anymore.

Well, I got a Pitcher Plant and a Venus Fly Trap yesterday. Things don't look so bad this morning and the tomatoes are doing well. Some of the repotted begonias aren't but hope they make it. They have been regressing all winter so hopefully the repotting will help and things are responding to Spring.

Thank you for the help.

Those must be some very hungry plants or you didn't have many fungus gnats. What about your aphids? What have done for them?

When I've seen begonias "regress" and I want to save them I put them under any kind of humidity cover. A baggie is often all that is needed. Gallon sized with zippers are excellent!

Here is an example of saving a rhizome and also starting some seedlings.

You can even root new plants in them!

Here is a plastic food container on a primulina.

hydrangeas and begonias under the same lid

When I sprayed fungicidal soap a few weeks ago that seemed to take care of the aphids. I bought the Pitcher Plant and the Venus Flytrap for the gnats but for fun too.

I don't seem to be able to grow begonias here. Before I moved here I had cane begonias in full bloom all summer kept them over winter with hardly any problems but I lose them here and they don't thrive and rarely bloom, So, I have a bunch of sad begonias that I almost consider throwing out. But, I won't, I'll keep them til I can figure it out. Your begonias are always so pretty. I seem to even have trouble propagating them.

I switched to a 5:1:1 mix for my begonias and other house plants last fall. I let them go absolutely dry before I water again. All my fungus gnats have disappeared this year, not one, nada.

They can damage plants, some species feed on the roots, others burrow into the stems or leaves.

I've used a couple drops of dawn dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle and sprayed it until it suds.it smothers them they die immediately, if you can spray them In thin air. I also hang up fly traps they stick like glue . The best result has been using beer in and small container or a dishes that are yellow filled with vinegar do not dilute it . Just make sure no vinegar gets on the plants, of course . Those knats are very prone to things that are fermenting, so that's why the beer Works . They also like the color yellow ,so hence the yellow dishes of vinegar . They Swim In and drown.

Thank you for all of the ideas. I tried vinegar but not in a yellow bowl, It was so bad that my Greatgranddaughter was swatting them. The plant stand is in the living room. They are better. I have been thinking about what I have been doing and one thing is I think I was fertilizing too strongly when I did fertilize. Just about once a month during the winter. That and maybe all the stuff I add to the soil isn't necessary. I really watch watering but the soil stays moist a long time. The gnats are even in the bedroom where there are no plants. Not a cloud but a couple here and there. I had spinal fusion surgery in July and couldn't lift anything so I put the garbage in the bathtub in garbage sacks and had to wait for my Granddaughter to come take them outside. I got a lot of gnats then and have never gotten them under control. My back is good and I can garden outside and lift so for the few weeks I was in a brace was a good thing. I am not throwing out plants and am already thinking of ordering more.

I didn't know if I should say this - please don't laugh or shake your heads LOL - I am repotting out of the mixed up stuff I made to a simple potting soil with perlite : ) Poor plants.

Is it possible that some of these are actually fruit flies, they multiply in droves, especially in the garbage.