Loosing battle with Fungus Gnats. Following 1:1 distille...
6ft to light, indirect
13” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 year ago
13
When I brought our olive in for the winter the gnats came out and I swear there were more gnats than soil in that pot. They got into everything!
I tried all the soil treatments but eventually just had to take it down to bare roots and repot.
After repotting I set a small air purifier next to her to increase the circulation and suck up any strays. Added fungicide to every watering until it cleared up. Then I added some top dressing. I also treated the top dressing with miticide so that if anything did crawl through it would run off on them.
Removed the air purifier after a couple weeks so it wouldn’t dry the air too much.
I had been using CJ’s Dead Bug and then found out that it’s not listed for gnats. 🙃 Switched to CJs Fruit Tree Spray (both for spray and soil drench) and that’s been great. It’s listed for gnats, spider mites, aphids and several types of rot and fungus.
Hope this helps.
I tried all the soil treatments but eventually just had to take it down to bare roots and repot.
After repotting I set a small air purifier next to her to increase the circulation and suck up any strays. Added fungicide to every watering until it cleared up. Then I added some top dressing. I also treated the top dressing with miticide so that if anything did crawl through it would run off on them.
Removed the air purifier after a couple weeks so it wouldn’t dry the air too much.
I had been using CJ’s Dead Bug and then found out that it’s not listed for gnats. 🙃 Switched to CJs Fruit Tree Spray (both for spray and soil drench) and that’s been great. It’s listed for gnats, spider mites, aphids and several types of rot and fungus.
Hope this helps.
@PlantJedi @HeraMonstera
I'm the worst plant mom ever. It went from pix1 to pix2 in 8 days, then it broke off at the base. First mealybugs took my Golden Pothos, and now both of my Dieffenbachias are dying from fungas gnats. I did repot this big Dieffenbachia yesterday but too little too late. Thanks again for your suggestions.
I'm the worst plant mom ever. It went from pix1 to pix2 in 8 days, then it broke off at the base. First mealybugs took my Golden Pothos, and now both of my Dieffenbachias are dying from fungas gnats. I did repot this big Dieffenbachia yesterday but too little too late. Thanks again for your suggestions.
@GoodBeachplum don’t be too hard on yourself. Ask anyone here how many plants they’ve killed. I threw out two plants just last week.
@PlantJedi
I'm still holding on that she will pull out of this but her huge leaves are just hanging and losing color. The stakes and twine are the only thing holding her up. There's only a quarter of her root system left. Can she hang on until her roots strengthen? I've got her sitting about 2 feet from an east window, best one in the house without direct sunlight. What else should I do?
I'm still holding on that she will pull out of this but her huge leaves are just hanging and losing color. The stakes and twine are the only thing holding her up. There's only a quarter of her root system left. Can she hang on until her roots strengthen? I've got her sitting about 2 feet from an east window, best one in the house without direct sunlight. What else should I do?
@GoodBeachplum Mosquito bits! So much YESSS! I’m telling youuu! 😅 I too have been battling fungus gnats for quite some time. I have sticky traps and tried my hardest to bottom water all the plants I possibly could. I have a lot of propagations and other rescue plants that don’t have much of a root system- so top watering or spritzing is really the only thing I could do! They started getting OUT OF HAND 😳 like GROSS- especially when I looked at the sticky traps 🫣 I had ordered mosquitoe bits for my mom after hearing several YouTubers suggest it wayyy before I even experienced this issue- (she ended up giving the bag to me). I started sprinkling some of the mosquito bits on top of the soil and mixed a bit thinking that would at least help. NOPE not so much! But then I came across a video on YouTube recently… she made mosquito bit “tea” using hot but not boiling water. Let is set and cool. Honestly, it tells you on the back of the bag 😂 which I didn’t read before hand… haha! But I feel like that’s the secret! It just marinates into the water so much better. 4 tbsp to a gallon of water. I ended up leaving mine over night and have been slowly watering my plants on their normal “schedule” since last week and I’ve seen maybe 2 gnats and that’s only because I brought a plant inside! This actually kills the larvae and stops them in their tracks!
@S.ham13
I've ordered it from Amzon. Should be here Monday. I really appreciate the info.
I've lost both my Dieffenbachias, one was huge (10-inch pot), and my gorgeous Calathea. All from fungus gnat larvae eating the roots. First, mealybugs killed my golden Pothos before I could get rid of the little monsters, and now gnats. I'll let you know if it works on my 5 remaining beauties. Thx so much.
I've ordered it from Amzon. Should be here Monday. I really appreciate the info.
I've lost both my Dieffenbachias, one was huge (10-inch pot), and my gorgeous Calathea. All from fungus gnat larvae eating the roots. First, mealybugs killed my golden Pothos before I could get rid of the little monsters, and now gnats. I'll let you know if it works on my 5 remaining beauties. Thx so much.
@GoodBeachplum YAYYY! I’m so glad that you are going to give it a go! Honestly, it been great not having to deal with them! Especially since I have been battling a Spider mite breakout 🙄 ever since I got back from a short vacation! Mehhh! Please please 🙏🏼 let me know how well it works for you- so we can do a happy dance together 😎
@S.ham13
Just wanted to update you. The bright yellow sticky papers are still catching gnats but they're getting fewer and fewer. I'm using the Mosquito Bits tea every week when watering. I guess I just have to be more patient and stay diligent until they're all gone. I did loose my Kentia palm to the little beasts this week. That leaves me with 4 out of 9 plants. I miss them so. Thanks again for the good advise. I'll get back again soon.
Just wanted to update you. The bright yellow sticky papers are still catching gnats but they're getting fewer and fewer. I'm using the Mosquito Bits tea every week when watering. I guess I just have to be more patient and stay diligent until they're all gone. I did loose my Kentia palm to the little beasts this week. That leaves me with 4 out of 9 plants. I miss them so. Thanks again for the good advise. I'll get back again soon.