Help!!! Fungus gnats in my new phal!!

[pinky]

Somebody must help me!! I just realized that there are fungus gnats in my new phal =[ (they look like fruit flies in the sphag..) This happened to me with my other phal also... But, is it just me, or do all phals come with these annoying little pests.?? I cant stand them =[

Does anyone know of a quick & easy way to actually get rid of them permanently?????

[sunshine]

Fungus gnats won't hurt your plants and are just a nuisance. Insecticidle soap should get rid of them. Sometimes they go away on their own. My chids go outside from May-to October and I've found those gnats in some of chids when I have brought them back inside. I just leave them alone.

pinky, love your tat I have 2 tats.

[Tarad]

I have never seen those little brats, but sounds like they are harmless. Hey get a dust buster and suck em up in there Tara

[11Orchid126]

While fungus gnats don't harm the orchid, they carry diseases. Best to get rid of them. Insecticidal soap will do the trick.

[Olive Cook]

I've had them from Lowes orchids in the warmer months. I've never known how to get rid of them, and yes, they are SO very anoying when you grow indoors...
good luck!

[Dendian]

I had a bunch of gnats come in with a Cym. I bought at Lowes, along with some aphids.

I sprayed the plant with insecticidal soap and now I have a pile of dead gnats and not an aphid in sight.

The flowers were gonners (because of the aphids) but the plant is fine. I got a BIG discount because I showed the garden manager the aphids....

[tangers40]

gack. i hate fungus gnats. i have them living in my big xmas cactuses, i think. they've been obnoxious this winter. i was cooking some pasta/sauce on the stove one night, walked away for no more than 10 seconds or so, came back to stir, and there was a fungus gnat floating on top of my food. ughhhhhhhhh and don't leave a drink out uncovered or you'll be drinkin em. anyway, i'm letting my cactuses dry out a bit more than they like right now and that seems to be helping.

[katrina]

They are relatively easy to get rid of BUT you have to stay on top of it or they come back fast.

[pinky]

I was just reading on one of these threads about how cinnamon is a great insecticide & fungicide. I was about ready to go run out & buy a $7 bottle of cinnamon extract....but then I read how you can just put cinnamon powder in rubbing alcohol for 24 hrs, filter it, and use that the same way (which is cheaper!!) So, I think over the weekend I am going to have a go at that and see how the little fungus gnats like cinnamon! Wish Me Luck

[purplegirl]

Physan will do the trick. My gnats were VERY stubborn, brats as well as gnats. I tried the cinnamon remedy, which uses soap, but they liked it, apparently. I mix a teaspoon of physan into a gallon of water,label it, flush out my pots periodically. They haven't been back since I started this.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by purplegirl

Physan will do the trick. My gnats were VERY stubborn, brats as well as gnats. I tried the cinnamon remedy, which uses soap, but they liked it, apparently. I mix a teaspoon of physan into a gallon of water,label it, flush out my pots periodically. They haven't been back since I started this.

Physan is not an insecticide. ?? Can you explain why is it that you think this is killing fungus gnats.

[shaz]

I had fungus gnats, as all my orchids are houseplants I didn't want to spray anything.

What I noticed though was that they seemed to like 1 window in the lounge and they were sometimes on others - so I started to do daily rounds around my flat checking the windows - the gnats are easy to kill like that (squishing them with a tea towel) and after a couple of weeks of twice daily killing they were gone (I still do regular checks so as to catch adults before they lay eggs).

This obviously wouldn't work in a more open space but for a small flat like mine it is enough.

[Irene]

Originally Posted by katrina

Physan is not an insecticide. ?? Can you explain why is it that you think this is killing fungus gnats.

Is Physan a fungicide? If so, maybe killing the fungus gets rid of the gnats.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Irene

Is Physan a fungicide? If so, maybe killing the fungus gets rid of the gnats.

They are attracted to excessive moisture and broken down soil/mediums which is the perfect breeding ground for their little ones. The larva then feed on the broken down medium...as well as plant roots.

To the best of my knowledge, fungus, algae or the likes really have nothing more to do w/the situation than the fact that they can also be symptoms of medium that is very wet. Fungus gnats will invade any overly moist environment.

I'm asking because while it doesn't make sense to me...I admittedly do not know much about physan. Anything is possible and perhaps there is a reason beyond my understanding as to why it would control the little buggers.

[purplegirl]

It kills the fungus, so the larvae die as well. So, goodbye gnats. Also--replace any gravel in humidity tray with fresh. Humid environment is fine if kept fresh.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by purplegirl

It kills the fungus, so the larvae die as well. So, goodbye gnats. Also--replace any gravel in humidity tray with fresh. Humid environment is fine if kept fresh.

A fungicide such as physan is not labeled for control of insects. If the environment stays overly wet...physan or not...fungus gnats will thrive.

I would reserve the use of Physan to situations/uses that is is labeled for.

Pinky -- I've had them from time to time. I first get the plant into fresh medium...washing the roots in a mildly soapy mixture before repotting. I also try to avoid a Peat heavy mix...the peat really seems to attract them. If you have a lot flying around...you can use those yellow sticky traps to catch the adults and a slice of potato on the top of the pot will collect the larva. Allow the plant to dry a bit between waterings and in time...you will eradicate them. Diligence is the key w/these little buggers. They are a nuisance but I think they are easier to get rid of than mealies or mites.

As to your question about all plants coming in with them. They are a major g/h pest if the g/h keeps things wet...they will most likely be in a lot of the plants. I've learned to pick up the plant and thoroughly inspect it...if any little gnats are flying around...I won't buy it.

I googled for info and found this great link for more detailed facts on this pest...
Fungus Gnats, Shore Flies, Moth Flies, and March Flies Management Guidelines--UC IPM

[Phalcycle]

Originally Posted by katrina

A fungicide such as physan is not labeled for control of insects. If the environment stays overly wet...physan or not...fungus gnats will thrive.

I would reserve the use of Physan to situations/uses that is is labeled for.

Pinky -- I've had them from time to time. I first get the plant into fresh medium...washing the roots in a mildly soapy mixture before repotting. I also try to avoid a Peat heavy mix...the peat really seems to attract them. If you have a lot flying around...you can use those yellow sticky traps to catch the adults and a slice of potato on the top of the pot will collect the larva. Allow the plant to dry a bit between waterings and in time...you will eradicate them. Diligence is the key w/these little buggers. They are a nuisance but I think they are easier to get rid of than mealies or mites.

As to your question about all plants coming in with them. They are a major g/h pest if the g/h keeps things wet...they will most likely be in a lot of the plants. I've learned to pick up the plant and thoroughly inspect it...if any little gnats are flying around...I won't buy it.

I googled for info and found this great link for more detailed facts on this pest...
Fungus Gnats, Shore Flies, Moth Flies, and March Flies Management Guidelines--UC IPM

Very good info and advice!
There are so many mixes that are commercially blended with peat based. It would be wise to make your own, that way you can choose what goes in!

[lmartiny]

I've notice a few gnat type bugs in the GH. I'll spray.
By the way, are those the same gnats that fly into your wine glass when your strolling at sun down?

[pinky]

I just repotted the phal with the fungus gnats...It probably was due to the fact that the phal has probably been sitting in a pot of compressed mushy wet sphag moss all its life before I rescued & repotted it!! I dipped the plant itself into Brookn's mixture of cinnamon extract, dish soap, and tepid water, before putting it into! its new medium. I hope it feels much better now

[Brooke]

Lynn don't spray for them get the yellow sticky traps to attract the adult flies before they reenter your media to lay their eggs. Yes those are the same flys attracted to your wine glass. You can also sit containers of vinegar or wine, but why waste the wine, around to drown the pests.

ALL peat based mixes have eggs in them unless the peat is baked or microwaved to kill the eggs. Using a coir mix instead of peat will eliminate them. The gnats will not lay eggs in the coir.

Brooke

[psyc1210]

adding to what Brooke said, if you use LECA for potting, they don't seem to be attracted to that either. Since I've potted everything into LECA, I haven't had any gnats

[cerastes]

I've used old fashion fly paper with good results. I got rid of the fungus gnats and they have not returned.

[pinky]

just wondering, does anyone know if the larvae is orange? b/c I repotted today and there was a bunch of orange roundish things. It was kind of yucky

[plucker]

I think spider mites are orange.

[Brooke]

The larvae of gnats are white and about the size of a grain of rice.

If you are talking about orange things inside the pot, growing in the media, then it is a fungus.

Brooke

[pinky]

yea than that is what is must be because it was a vibrant shade of orange. thanks

[koshki]

These things are driving me mad. I don't have anything in peat, but I do have a whole bunch of masdies in sphag, which I keep quite wet. Could this be the source of my problem?

I have about a half-inch of red wine in my glass right now...is it worth sacrificing to the gnats? Does this really get rid of them? (I can switch to vodka!! )

[rcb]

I also don't have anything in peat, and not much in bark either, and I've got them around. I've noticed they like coffee as well. At least I found one in my coffee this morning yuck!

The little sticky papers I think work the best. Think they are called fly paper?

[koshki]

I've got some yellow sticky paper around, but the little buggers avoid it a lot.

I left the wine out to try to drown them. Might not eradicate them, but at least I'll get rid of some of them.