Gnats

[boondyke69]

OMG... I never has them before I had live plants...now they seem to be taking over...
the word online says make a "trap" with vinegar. keep plants drier...

geez, I finally have plants in my house I haven't killed...

Any ideas that do not involve spraying the plants? (no nasty bug spray allowed)

I can elevate the plants to keep them off the bottom & out ot the dripper wtaer as it drains

Thanks!
Sue

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

Hi Sue,
Are you using organic soil? That is usually the culprit.
Remove as much as you can, just replace it with clean soil without additives.
The vinegar will help, it might take a cycle to clear them out.
I went thru the same thing, it does end!
Anne

 

[boondyke69]

yep on the organic... figured no nasties in it then...

I will get dirt...lol

thanks!

Sue

 

[EvilLost]

OMG... I never has them before I had live plants...now they seem to be taking over...
the word online says make a "trap" with vinegar. keep plants drier...

geez, I finally have plants in my house I haven't killed...

Any ideas that do not involve spraying the plants? (no nasty bug spray allowed)

I can elevate the plants to keep them off the bottom & out ot the dripper wtaer as it drains

Thanks!
Sue

I have had excessive problems with organic soils bought at Home Depot.....I have switched to "FOX FARMS OCEAN SOIL" (the stuff everyone uses for hydroponic "gardening").....and my plants grow MUCH faster and I have not had a single gnat incident. I ***HIGHLY*** recommend this stuff.



As for cleaning the bugs, there is the "CO2 bomb" method that frog hobbyists use. You place the plants in a glass container of some kind and get dry ice, put it in plastic cups and place it in there with the plants. Cover the top and let the co2 fill the container....it will kill everything inside and not hurt your plants at all. Obviously this is hard to do with a 4' plant but with most smaller plants its easy enough.