The ONLY Way To 100% Kill Fungus Gnats
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- How I eliminated fungus gnats from my houseplants
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You're my favourite plant guru, thanks for such great videos! I always learn a lot and you're so easy to listen to as well, you make the boring problems less stressful! Really fun video thanks!
Wow, thank you!
My stress level went down considerably when I added nematodes. They are good for every insect that lives in the soil, & good for aerating soil. They got rid gnats & thrips for me. Used sticky traps for the adults
Nice one!
This method works like a charm against gnats and thrips. I was able to dodge the outbreak at the end of the summer, and I'm very happy to continue using compost in my plants.
@@ThaoNguyen-hl6mbthey eat thrips?
@@sartaazsaas768 the baby ones in the soil
I'm worried my jumping spiders won't have anything left to eat. 😢
I love that you included how you plan to keep on top of everything moving forward. Terrific video I was laughing and commiserating at the same time 😫
Glad you enjoyed it!
Getting rid of the gnats is great and all… but I started growing carnivorous plants and find the gnats make a fantastic food source for my sundews and pings. They’re like living versions of those yellow sticky traps ❤
I do want to get into those for sure 👍
Do they work with fruit flies or mosquitoes as well?
@@sarahrosen4985 yep! Anything they can keep stuck.
They have unique care requirements, so do a bit of research, but they’re great for all house bugs.
@@sarahrosen4985 not sure. Depends where they live I think. They’ll be a predator for them though
@@sarahrosen4985my question as well! I have fruit flies & "drain flies" & nothing seems to work! I go through gallons of ACV with Dawn dish washing liquid, but they're always in my face! I've even poured straight bleach down my drains!
I have had success with a 1 centimetre of dry sharp sand on top of the rooting medium and underwatering via saucers. Keeping damp areas in your house mould free along with your drains clean is also prerequisite as they will breed in any source of fungus/mould hence the name Fungus Gnat. Boiling water onto soda crystals into water traps under the sink/bath and then fitting the plugs disinfects the pipework removing surfaces of food for the gnats. Many seem to get confused between gnats and fruit flies, vinegar will attract the last but doesn't seen to work with gnats.
The sand has also helped my mom too.
Never tried sand to be fair
My 16 year old saw fungus gnats crawling around on a succulent planting and he thought they were bugs I had specially trained to stay on the planter. 😂😂😂 I am talented but that is beyond my skill level. I let the soil dry out and put a sticky fly catcher by and they disappeared. It was so weird.
Hehehe THATS the funniest shit I have ever heard! You should buy your son a flea circus 🤡 and do stand up comedy!! Tell him thanks 😊 for me!!
That's funny!
We have a Christmas cactus and those gnats never leave it.
Funny video 😂 but as always informative 😊
It's definitely in your head you're not special😅
I haven't had any gnats in years by simply adding a thin layer of small size aquarium gravel to the tops of my soils so the gnats can't burrow in and lay eggs in the first place. Maybe about a third or half inch of the gravel only.
i have an army of mexican butterworts and sundews, it works well, also put the cider vinegar in a glass and poke holes in a clingwrap lid to trap and kill fruitflies
I need some of them!
I found gnats in a large ming aralia and immediately did the hydrogen peroxide treatments to minimize the eggs and larvae. And at the same time took yellow sticky sheets and literally covered the entire soil surface of the plant (about 80-90% of the surface minus where the stems are). I then threw BITS dunk into my 8 gallon water source so every time I water any plants will have BITS in there. After about 2-3 weeks the yellow stickies on the pot is clear. I know is over kill but it worked I guess. Fingers crossed.
Over kill is absolutely fine for these pests 😁
Thank you Richard, for another informative and entertaining video 😄 Love your channel so much! ❤️
Thanks so much!
I use aquarium grade bti and put a drop in my watering can! Works wonders! ❤❤❤ use to get mosquito bits but it never lasted long and we more of a hassle.
Good to know!
What is the brand of the aquarium grade bti that you buy and where can I find that? I've done a search for it, but don't see it anywhere/or know what I'm looking at! Thanks!
Omgggggggg, This video is so on point, I love it!! You hit the nail on the head about EVERYTHING - from letting the plants almost die of thirst to all the different solutions and whacking of the face and head 😂
I, too, was creeped out by Nematodes, but now I'm going to tell my husband to get some. He'll love that since he already recommended them a while ago 🤣🤷🏾♀️🙄
THANK YOU. .
You’ve got this ✊
I've used nematodes in my strawberry beds for snails and slugs. Works great. Never thought about it for gnats. I have had success with controlling them with apple cider vinegar but the key to this is to get it nearer the soil. I use little cappuccino cups with one drop of dish soap and cider and place that little cup on top of the soil. They are not gone, but severely reduced. I will try the nematodes though.
You’ll like the nematodes
I saw a bunch of fungus gnats in my vinegaroon's substrate, which is just coco fibre. I'm too scared of nematodes attacking my pet, so I just tossed out the old substrate, rinsed the tank and all of the decorations, and prepared new substrate. It took me the entire day. I bought yellow sticky traps and put two on top of the lid of the tank, so hopefully they don't come back because I don't want to do all that work again, my poor aching back...
I baked my soil and made sure not to keep soil so moist but jeez they never fully go away out here in Vegas
They’re a nightmare
@@SheffieldMadePlants they really are ugh
@@SheffieldMadePlants they are lol I hate them too
Your kitchen makes me so jealous. Those blue cabinets are to die for
Thank you 😊
I'm not sure what kind of gnats that I have, but I don't have plants. Maybe I can get a plant and do this plan. Great video.
Same here, they come in every time the door opens it seems like. Or at least every other time, because I'll see 1 or 2 here and there and then again after those are gone, another couple. They drive me insane😤🤯🤯 I cannot stand to have something like that in my home when I'm trying to eat or something. It's different if you're out having a picnic or something, or just eating outside... because outside is normal for bugs to fly around, especially if you're eating, but in your home, to me?, It's disgusting! Especially if it was to go in my food. 🤢 but I do have my sinks bathtub and everything closed off unless I have to use it but they stay closed off and I have the apple cider vinegar, soap, etc., "Trap".. because my bug zapper that was the best thing I ever had for nights, the bulb went out on it. So I'm having to use that instead. But they are such a nuisance!
Excellent news, congrats on winning with the pests! Now it's time to test if this will help with the constant dread that are thrips for me.
There are insects you can get for those too
Funniest fungus gnat video ever! Mrs. Sheffield must be thoroughly entertained!
😂
Always bag with clear polythene bags and isolate any new plants you buy.
This is awesome I believe the right soil is key I changed things up this year with fully drying out my soil and making my own mix worked like a charm no pest this year and hopefully years to come 🎉❤ if not I'm trying this
Spot on 👍
Never thought of using nematodes for indoor plants. I did use them in the lawn to control fleas. It helped there too.
Didn’t know they could be used on a lawn!
TIPS: Put a layer of sand on top of the potting soil in indoor planters. The gnats can't get through. Water slowly and carefully to prevent uncovering the soil. Store potting soil outdoors in a shed or covered container, not inside the home or attached garage.
Thanks!
I tried these two weeks ago, I added about three times the suggested amount, (just wanted to make sure) about an hour after i watered the plants I looked at the soil and noticed it was glistening, I wish didn't look through a magnifying glass though because each cm of soil looked like Medusa. Made me shudder. Had about another 12 gnats appear on the sticky traps the following days but now haven't seen any for about a week. 🤞🏻. I don't water for two weeks to a month at a time so will have to wait to see if anymore appear after the watering. The little pots got watered last night.
Great stuff 👍
I had fungus gnats not in my plants but in my vivariums. I'm talking you couldn't drink a cup of coffee without 5-10 landing in it, any water cups needed a lid because if you left it out for a few minutes you'd have some. I put a fan on the top of one vivarium that was too strong for them to fly against and when I'd turn it off dozens would rise from the soil. It was horrible. BTI didn't work, letting things dry out didn't work, the only thing that did work was nematodes. I still have them a few months later now but it's a manageable amount. I've had a little resurgence in one enclosure but I'll watch it and if it gets bad it's getting another round of nematodes. Only downside is they're expensive.
I stop overwatering by using a meter. I drain the plants until not water comes out. Spray neem oil every week, hydrogen 3:1 water & peroxide ratio to those plants with a problem and use those butterflies. I also burn cinnamon oil wax all day.
Glad it worked for you 👍
ive bought nematodes thanks to your video. I already put them in the soil. I just went around catching gnats in the air using sticky traps (IT WORKS GREAT!!! i cought 10 gnats in 3 minutes) to reduce the gnat population even more. hope this works. Ive got a second nematode batch in the fridge I will use in 1 or 2 weeks for another attack. will report back.
UPDATE 1: Ive noticed a reduction in gnats but theres still so many. Im going to do the second dose of nematodes today.
Please do
I have fongus knats as well but I also have like 6 pitcher plants in my collection so they mostly hover over those and then eventually fall in.
I need those!
Yes, I completely concur! Bring on the Nematodes. I used them when I had a big Gnat issue with sticky traps, they were gone pretty quickly and for months on end too. I’ve seen a few adults again (as new plants have snuck their way in) so time to order again.
Yep new plants is the problem!
It’s reassuring to know there is a tried and trusted solution if the little blighters do try to stage a comeback
Zevo plug ins work amazingly as well.
I had no idea mosquito bits were banned in the UK! I have no idea why. They are life savers for me here in Michigan. I wish I could send you some
Weird isn’t it
I'm very glad about this video, because they keep going up my nose. I've tried to stop breathing out Carbon Dioxide but it's so hard. Sticky traps fill up, and they seem to go in waves, a few days quiet then they're everywhere again. A single female lays up to 200 eggs, and they live about 2 weeks as grubs, then 2 weeks as gnats. I have a freezing house so most of my plants will die soon anyway, and I think gnats like warmth as they disappear on cold days. I bought Hydrogen Peroxide for nothing then ! 🙄
Yep I notice far fewer in winter
I find that just spraying the top soil, NOT the leaves, of my plants with ordinary cans of fly spray killed off my massive gnat problem 100%. I use it on new soil, too! :)
Mosquito bits for eggs and larva and sticky traps for adults have worked amazing for Me but I think I'm going to give the beneficial nematodes a try🙂
Let me know how you get on
@@SheffieldMadePlants I definitely will whenever I can get them🙂. Also I think it's extremely stupid You guys can't use the mosquito bits in the UK, I'm in the US
Great video. I didn't dare to buy them because they're quite expensive here and I didn't know if it was worth it. A bit sad that only expensive remedys work best.
They weren’t too bad for me. Where do you live?
I’ve used nematodes since I startedmy plant journey two years ago and no gnats or other pest issues. Keep expecting them to one day show up but for now I keep my fingers crossed they won’t 🤞
Great stuff 👍
In Florida, USA, we have lizards. I picked up a lizard and they helped get rid of some of the gnats but im not sure if it got the eggs or not.
Your video really helped me to understand what these Nematods are and how to use them. I finally ordered them, and they should arrive today! I have one question for you. I want to use them in my flower boxes, since that's where I had whole "herds" of them. Does fertalizer harm these Nematodes or can I continue to try to help my flowers grow while working on these fungus gnats?
I think you can still use fertiliser
Thanks for this informative video! I enjoy watching all of your videos.
I grow all my plants in leca, so you would think I wouldn't have a problem with gnats, but they seem to be breeding in my moss poles. Do you think nematodes would work if I poured them on the moss?
It’s going to be hard to get it to work I think
How about fungus gnats in moss poles ? Would these worms help?
Thank you for such great informative and entertaining videos! 😊
Not sure about that. Think they need soil
I don't understand why I never find fungus gnats in plant shops even thought they frequently water them...
I do all the time. They always buzz off when you disturb the soil
There is a difference in fungus gnats though... I know this cause the ones in Montana (USA) that are in my house.... they ignore the yellow sticky traps. Totally. And they ignore Apple cider vinegar.
But luckily, I can buy mosquito bits!
At least mine don’t ignore the traps. They’re broody though
I used these little critters,two weeks later no more gnats, I now always water my plants from the bottom
Great stuff 👍
Argh I’m going to try this! Working from home and one of those nasty buggers flew up my nose!!
Oof!
I used red wine and vinegar to get rid of the infestation of fruit flys in my flat! They went within a week (I was away) I don’t like red wine so I didn’t mind using it. I didn’t mix them although you could if you wanted too. X
Thanks for the tip
Fruit flies are not fungus gnats, although they look very similar. Completely different life cycle, so completely different methods of control.
Could not wait to see this because whereas I have mine under control they are not gone.
Nematodes for the win!
Great advice, why are they in my bedroom now? They also fly near light / screens and towards my nose? My nose, why?
Might be fruit flies you're dealing with...
I also tried all the other methods, none of which worked. Peroxide, vinegar traps, diatomaceous earth and mosquito bits, all totally useless, but since using nematodes I’ve only seen one or two gnats. Nematodes are definitely the best solution, they are comparatively expensive, but well worth the investment. I had seriously contemplated getting rid of all my plants because of fungus gnat infestation (incidentally, they came in a sack of a well known brand of compost!) but the nematodes have saved the day.
That’s great. Glad it’s worked for you
The spider in the corner of the room is happy with these little gnats, so... no problems anymore hehe
😅
You should mix trichoderma, beauveria bassiana, and pseudomonas in soil mixture
Most Pseudomonas species can be lethal to immunocompromised people (which includes everyone under five and over fifty). I wouldn't use it, nor would I use Trichoderma, which is associated with lung infections, asthma, and allergic reactions. I'm a Ph.D. Clinical Microbiologist with thirty years of experience in hospitals and have seen the deadly effects of commonly encountered fungi in transplant patients.
I'm a BTi fan myself. Weird that you can't get it in the UK, even after brexit. Rather than mosquito bits, I break off and crumble a few chunks of mosquito dunks into my watering can.
.. Last year my house was floating with gnats.. They came from out of nowhere, and it took me forever to get rid of them.. I lost 15 plants to them.. Unfortunately I didn't know then what I know today..
.. Where I live mosquito bits are not allowed, so that's not an option, but, I've got neem oil, also in powder form (it smells really bad), and that is heavy.. So I decided to feed the buggers, and feed them good.. I mix it in my soil and water as usual, then I spray with my oil mix and wait.. The gnats don't like soap, oil and peppermint..
.. Fungus gnats (latin name: Bradysisa ssp) are not even flies, but in fact mosquitoes, the adult gnats live in 6 - 7 days and during that time they don't eat.. They lay their eggs (hatch after 4 - 6 days at normal room temperature) even close to cuttings in any material, but when the pupae hatch (4 - 6 days) and become larvae (10 - 14 days) , that is when the problems begins..
.. Knowing that, it's easier to fix the problem, yes??.. Fungus gnats comes from outside like any other bug or insect.. They also live in gardens and green houses taking the veggies and plants in the flowerbed.. Even the perennials can be their favorite.. So no one's safe.. But this time I've got rid of them much faster and much easier.. Difference from last year, is also that I don't water my plants unless they really need it.. In different words.. I dropped the schedule and the seasons "do this do that".. Much much better and much happier plants 🤗🍀..
Great stuff 👍
@@SheffieldMadePlants I've only learned about the critters few days ago, myself, and your video gives a really good idea of what it's like, so thank you..
.. I use to take most my plants outside from May to October, so both my garden side and my front porch are well decorated, and that too is a help.. There are insects and birds out there to eat gnats.. Beside less watering from mee..
I’m so happy for you and your plants! I’ve never had an issue with gnats, maybe it has to do with the climate I live in… *knock on wood*
Hopefully you'll never get them
Watching these fungus gnats giving me goosebumps 😅
I use a katchy lamp too, but I don't have anywhere near as many plants as you Mr Sheffield 😅
Definitely wise 😅
I have a solution too! Tho it's for only 1 or 2 plants...so... storytime...
I used to have fungus gnats on my orange seedling, Josh. (His name is Josh) he's 3 months old c: and when he only had 3 leafs the fungus gnats were swirling around him! Buzzz and I didn't have the yellow sticky tape, I didn't have any solutions or mosquito bites or anything because I'm a kid duh! So what I did was... firstly I'd bottom water...but then, after each watering I would quarantine the pot.
I'd take paper duck tape and soround the top of the pot only leaving josh's stem out a tiny little hole and then when the fungus gnats went underneath the pot I'd put sticky tape around the pot to like...fall like a curtain in between the pot and the dish so that they don't have access to the holes under the pot but without actually covering them so that Josh's soil gets to dry out. It did took a while longer for his pot to dry out but when I would change the sticky tape at each watering I'd see the dry larva or the dead fungus gnats both inside and outside the pot because the larva would grow up to be a fungus gnat but it would just stick to the tape and die without actually being able to leave the covered pot. And then ones already out would just die because there's no more soil to make kids in accessible. I monitored josh the entire time this was happening to see his treatment and quarantine effects and it worked.
That's how I got rid of them, I would use the ducktape to manually catch them too cause they're really easy to catch when they sit down on a surface
Sincerity- a kid with duck tape and lots of patience...
That’s a unique approach! Glad it’s working 😁
@@SheffieldMadePlants josh's 5'th leaf is growing, I just checked him! :D
Same problem here. Really hard to get my hands on BTI and nematodes. I managed to find BTI tablets from amazon but they are quite pricey, so I use them sparingly. I only do bottom watering so that helps a lot with gnats.
The nematodes I bought were good value. £20 for all my plants
I saw a video in which it was recommended to spread the Mosquito Bits on top of the soil. When I did that, I got a huge moldy mess from the corncobs that the Bt is soaked into. It didn't work and I had to scrape the moldy corn off of the tops of my plants. I've also seen suggestions about soaking the bits in water overnight, skimming off the corn, and using the remainder to water plants. Too much mess!
Spray the soil with an ordinary can of fly spray. It works brilliantly and instantly for me. Being doing it for over a year and no problems.
Juvenile hormon analogue did it for me.
Check back with me in a few weeks when they come indoors, but putting my plants outside seems to have worked for me. I figure the lawn is more attractive than the potted plants. I had a ton of spider webs in my plants all summer, with big visible spiders, and I figure the spider webs caught the adults. Getting ready to bring the plants indoors I’m watering with mosquito bit water, and I did a round of insecticidal soap and neem last week. Everything will get a washing and another round of soap and neem before they come in. My big worry is my two giant ficus trees, I’ve brought in all manner of crazy critters in their pots. Mice, ants, you name it. Them I’m going to “repot” in the same pots, but with fresh dirt this year. Next year I’m not going to repot in the spring, but rather wait till summer’s end so everything has fresh clean dirt when they come inside. If I can get them delivered I’ll try nematodes before I bring my plants in too.
Sounds like a good plan. Hope you keep the nasties out
Well done sir and great advice and video!! But can I still judge you? Even just a wee bit? 😉👍
Go for it! 😂
With me carnivorous plants really did the trick. Plus I got to watch the fungus gnats sticking to the leafs and slowly dying and turning into food. HEHEHE
Ooo like the sound of that!
Congratulations!!!
Thank you!!
Yay to the Fungus Gnat destroyer! Congratulations!!! I noticed that my FG issue is seasonal. I tend to have more in the Spring and early Summer. I know the soil plays a big role in that. I notice them more when I repot my plants. 🤞🏼🫶🏼
I agree. They die down in the winter
Hi! You are amazing, I watch your videos on repeat 😊
Could you please let me know where I can buy those nematodes? Is there a link I can use?
Thank you
Thanks! I bought them from dragonfli.co.uk
Mosquito bits are banned in Canada too. Along with most insecticide
Oh really didn't know that!
That's absurd. Any reason as to why
@@rudolf895 it’s also most weed killers & insect repellents. The government banned them because the pose a risk to bees, birds, wildlife & children. Some agricultural companies can use SOME but all the good ones are just banned. Like systemic granules & sevin. We have insecticidal soap, which I’ve used, relatively effective. But, I couldn’t take it anymore, driving around trying to find ANYTHING stronger when I had thrips. So I had to use predatory insects.
Good to know. I didn't realize the nematode application was so easy. Are there any other pests these would help with?
Just gnats as far as i know. There are predators for other bugs though
the easiest solution to gnats: Hydroculture /hydroponic plants. Got lots of them in my home and I rarely ever see gnats :)
Hi, thanks for the ace vid and congrats on your win - can you put a link where to buy the nematodes please?
Thanks
Dragonfli.co.uk
cheers!💚@@SheffieldMadePlants
I thought that i won and then a few days later the next horde hatched.... Im ordering the yellow stickies now, my plants are all equipped with mosquito bits. Im afraid of nematodes, plus my plants are fruit producing, etc. I dont think i can do it lol March 1st im gonna evict my plants to outside if the problem isn't gone. Maybe the horde (fungus gnats) will go bother someone else.
Also i noticed the adult gnats started sitting on the ceiling where i cant reach them, guess they saw me killing their family. they also hide behind the pots, under the table, etc. lol sneaky little buggers.
Outrageous 😂
WHere can we get it?
It seems to me any time there's a problem in nature, there's a natural solution. Your fungus gnat war is a perfect example. The nematodes kill the gnats before they're pests, and they themselves are microscopic so they're invisible. No muss, fuss or toxic fumes and the problem's solved. Creation is a marvelous thing.
Amen to that!
I have them here too. Definitely an up and down problem. Usually worse in some seasons than others. When I replanted all my big orchids, they got a little too happy with the wet sphagnum moss in there. But currently there's fewer of them. I don't have loads of them, so I don't care too much. But sometimes they do get very annoying. But also... Ewwww! XD I think replanting more regularly can help against them as well.
😂 it's fine honestly.
Beni's are a game changer! Just dont accidentally splash a 5gal bucket onto yourself and imagine all the wormies hanging out on the skin for days and days and days
🙃
That is probably my worst nightmare 😂
@@SheffieldMadePlantstwo wash cycles for clothes and boiling hot showers is what I also found to be a quick(er) remedy, pls don't ask how I know 😹😹
Do you know if the mosquito bits will kill the nematodes
I don't know
Had you tried using unburnt matches in the top soil, they dont like the sulphur apparently. I dissolve the match sulphur in water then spray into the top compost 🦟🪴
Thanks for the tip!
Where did you get your nematodes from
Pls provide a link.
Dragonfli.co.uk
I often imagine what the misses must think when she's walking by to grab a cup and you're off over there in the living room filming yourself with your arms flailing about for a montage piece.
Your art does not go unappreciated, and it really ties the videos together :,D
Thank you 😊. She’s bemused 😂
I water my plants with water from my aquarium water changes…I’m wondering if that helps with fungus gnats because I don’t have gnat problems 🤔 🇺🇸
Not sure maybe
Humic & fulvic acid
How do you care for your plants when you are on a holiday?Any thoughts?❤
th-cam.com/video/ZPLH50S9WL8/w-d-xo.html
Congratulations
Thank you 😊
You're videos are very funny. I will keep these little wonders in mind in case I get fungus gnats! I get them sometimes.@@SheffieldMadePlants
An you put nemotodes in with chunky mix?
Yep
Can you tell me what kind of nematodes you used? I am seeing that some are bad so I want to get the right ones.
Not sure what they are specifically called. I got them off dragonfli.co.uk
@@SheffieldMadePlants You are awesome ty! I have been seeing so many good tips from your videos. I am ordering water conditioner right now as well as some of the terra cotta stakes :)
but what about those worms? Do they die later or what if all gnat worms and eggs are eaten?
They eventually die when there is no more food
Nematodes don’t seem to be working for me I have applied them every 2 weeks and they still don’t go away
Hmmm here’s the flip side of this. If the larvae get under your nails from feeling soil you don’t wash your hands properly now you ingested the larvae and now your health is at risk. I will stick with peroxide and water. Just saying! Yes I’m in the health field.
That's deep thinking..once you are digging in soil it just makes sense to properly wash the hands.
Do you have a link to the product or even how to spell what to search for?
Beneficial nematodes
5:57 What plant is that? I’ll have to give this a try. I’m in a battle with spider mites atm.
That's a coleus
I love in America Pennsylvania. We have those gnats also. Well they also live in your sewer pipes. So I waged war with my pipes. Hot water a bleach every day flushing my pipes that has seemed to work.
Jeez didn't know they hung around there
welp. i was eating while watching this. was, that is xD
Are nematodes safe in herbs ? Don't want to be eating worms if I add home basil to my pasta.
They're fine. They're microscopic and you'll be washing your basil 😁
thank you for the tips.. have you tried a carnivorous plant? ^^ .. you're welcomed
Yeah but it papers over the cracks
IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU ❤❤❤ I have also gotten rid of 99% of them alongside with you. You have been a great support during this difficult time 😅 thank you!! The nematodes + watering religiously with mosquito bits + not letting my soil be moist for long periods worked🎉
That is awesome!
I'm suffering with them now. I received mine from a elderly ladies " free" plant giveaway. Well they were nesting in the umbrella plant. Well that plant is dying the roots are absent maybe only one or two roots on it. Then when I brought them in my home they are having a party in all my plants soils. 😢 ive been so sad because I'm a beginner Gardner. I bought some spray that says it's safe to spray on plants and it's leaves only to kill my wandering jew and my pink panther plant and couple more. Been so depressed about it. I've tried that spray and peroxide too and they are still swarming around. I'm gonna try these little boogers. I just don't wanna lose my peace Lilly from my grandma funeral 2 yrs ago. Which has stopped "flowering ".
Thank you for your advice. ❤❤❤
@@Sdwheaton08 fingers crossed 🤞
I know you replied 9 months ago so I’m hoping you’ll see my comment. I’m about to start using the Mosquito Bits and plan to order nematodes. Does the Mosquito Bits harm the nematodes? Do you have to top water when using the Bits? Guess my question is-what is your sequence for treatment and then prevention. Thks!!
Where did you get the nematodes? I would love to get rid of these gnats 😭
This was so fun to watch; you really did look like a psycho in some of the plans 😂 I had a Ficus lyrata that came with fungus gnats. Sadly, it did not survive and I was too late to get a cutting or to repot into a proper medium. And yes, hydrogen peroxide could not save the plant. After that traumatic experience, I decided to mix my own potting medium for every single plant I get, and have been disinfecting the coco coir (even if it is from a reputable brand) by soaking it in boiling water (in a mesh bag) and then drying it in the oven in batches. After some additional air drying to make sure it is completely dry, I store it in airtight containers from Ikea (there is a 10 litre one available) with paper towels inserted to serve as a desiccator. You can check the paper towel a few days later and change it with a dry one if it feels moist, but one should not shut the container lid without being sure the coir is completely dry in the first place. All of this is rather tedious, but worth it in my opinion. The idea is to kill off anything unwanted and later introduce the beneficial microorganisms through select products. However, using the oven so much in summer is no fun, so get things ready when the weather is cool.😓
Thanks for the tip 👍👍
you can leave it to dry in the sun instead
@@coolpanda7520 I will not expose disinfected potting medium to the outside at all, because I will not risk anything getting into it. And nothing will kill microorganisms and dry the medium as quickly and as efficiently as an oven with no risk of additional contamination.
I'm surprised to hear peroxide didn't work. I was sceptical when I read about it, but it was cheap and readily available, so I gave it a try. I had one ficus lyrata and while the gnats don't actually hurt the plant at all (they're living off the fungus in the soil, thus the name...) they are most definitely annoying as hell. You must use a 50/50 strength and use it each time you water (just water as needed) thoroughly drenching the soil, which you ought to be doing anyway. A lot easier than what you described, but if peroxide didn't kill your little tormentors, then I guess anything short of nuclear weapons is in order.
@@jackrice2770 Yes, I use H202 a lot. But I think the plant's roots were maybe beyond the point of saving at the time. Who knows.
Year round i stay about 98% gnat free. My tip is ONLY bottom water and always keep the first 2in of soil dry. Apply diatomaceous earth to the top of the soil. DE only works with dry soil so avoid getting it damp.
DE doesn't do shit for fungus gnats, they don't have a hard exoskeleton.
How do you know when it’s time to water if the top soil is always dry? I have a moisture meter but I end up under watering if I just follow its indications.
I put terracotta spikes in some of my plants, but in some cases they dampen the top soil.
I never had a gnat problem until I bought a high end indoor soil. It was full of wood chips and other "forest floor" type stuff. It does not drain well at all, thus providing a wonderful fungus gnat environment. Once I realized this I'm slowly repotting into a different soil, using apple cider vinegar to kill the gnats and hydrogen peroxide in the soil. If this doesn't do it in my home I'll definitely get worms (lol). Thanks Mr S!
Thanks for watching 😁
In every store and even small florists there are fungus gnats everywhere now. I will no longer buy plants in stores. only for individuals or cuttings!! After having had this problem for several months, I will no longer take any risks!!
Yes, it's only since wood chips were routinely added to plant soil that I ever saw or heard of fungus gnats - after 50 years of indoor/outdoor gardening! I just use fly spray on the soil and it works 100%.
@@maccoll3644 What is fly spray please ?
You literally described every experience I had. I'll keep this solution for future use if i have a break out again, but my current solution was mosquito bit tea and sand. I mix 3 Tablespoons of mosquito bits into 1 gallon of water, let it sit 24 hrs, and water. I covered all the top layer of soil for all my pots with sand as well which dries fast and deters the adults form laying eggs. After 2-3 months of doing this I now also have almost no fungus gnats. The ones I see are probably from outside, but with the sand in place they just can' thrive anymore.
Great stuff 👍
Congratulations!
I've managed to greatly reduce the flying fiends by bottom watering and using pine bark, but I've had my first thrips infestation. It's minor, but I've already decided to use beneficial bugs (I just love a good alliteration) for all the unwelcome critters that might want to set up shop in my plants. I've used neem oil and lukewarm showers, and they work, but they come at a cost to some of my more delicate plants, such as browning leaves and overwatering. I've already accepted that these pests can only be managed, not fully exterminated. That's how it works in nature too, isn't it? So that's what I'll do, use nature to fight nature.
Predators is definitely a great control. If i got thrips that's what i would do too
What would you suggest for white mites? :) I've tried sachets of neoseiulus californicus, sometimes red mites cross from outside to my inside plants and destroy the leaves :) Is there a way of creating an enviroment (whether inside or out) for predator mites to successively breed? It can become costly :D@@SheffieldMadePlants
@@joshyc2006 personally, I'm planning on getting a subscription to beneficial bugs from a reputable company in my country (Belgium). For about 130 euros a year, I can get twenty sachets every five weeks.
I have a rather small plant collection (
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers!
@@joshyc2006 I’ve not had a problem with those yet so not tried anything
Yes! Natural predators! 🐞Ladybugs are cuter and they do the job, too. I bought 300 on Amazon. Still have some in the fridge, but the gnats are gone. You have to release them onto your plants after the sun goes down. You only see them here & there after. So it’s not like they are flying around your house 😂 Though I spent the first night checking.
You put ladybirds in the fridge
Don't you get the larvae of the lady bugs? Since they eat way more? (They're not cute at all, but. Only the adults are. :P ) I've never tried that though
Interesting thanks
@@SysterYster Yes, and the eat aphids and are not harmful to your plants. Win win! Except I freaked thinking they were something else and started spraying with Neem oil. I may have suffocated a few, sadly. But in general, Neem oil doesn’t kill bugs who don’t eat leaves.
You NEED a drosera capensis carnivorous plant or pinguicula! They'll eat these things up in weeks; especially the pings!
Sigh...🤦 I wish I would have found you last fall... The gnats became overwhelming and suggested remedies were not working, so I finally had to throw my beautiful plants away. I was sick to my stomach. I've been so fearful to take on any more plants since then. Today, my son rescued a few plants from the dumpster that someone else had thrown away, and it's sparking that desire to become a better Mama for these plants! You're an inspiration & I appreciate you sharing your knowledge! Thank you!
Thank you very much 👍