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tiny annoying little gnats "help"

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:19 pm
by lillgardnr
hi all, I was wondering if any of you have any helpful advice on these nasty little nats...they seem to have taken up residence in every pot in my green house....I was hoping for an easy fix :roll: , but really would hate to use poison...(some are veggies) any ideas??? :D

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:00 pm
by webmaster
Welcome to the Helpful Gardener Forum. :)

How often have you been watering them? They could be fungal gnats which come from overwatering.

This is what HG suggested in a previous thread about [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=739]gnats[/url]:
Probably fungus gnats and that means you've probably been overwatering. I like BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) for control; should be able to find it at any good garden center. Follow up in two weeks to get the next hatch and then again whenever you see more, Could be fruit flies if they're fruiting plants...

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:06 pm
by lillgardnr
ahhhh, well that explains it...wasn't able to get the whole roof up on the new greenhouse before the first rain...and one whole side was soaked.
"damn silent g" :oops: that explains why I couldn't find any posts...

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:16 pm
by opabinia51
Your watering problem should corrected ASAP to decrease your gnat population. The larvae are in the soil, feeding on the soil fungi (which is actually good to have, the fungi. So , don't go using fungicides). A light sprinkling of diatomacious earth will helpf with the problem by mechanically killing the larvae.

For the gnats, place sticky traps around the infected area.

Good luck with the problem and be sure to keep us updated! :)

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:51 pm
by Newt
Potato slices also help to collect the little nasties.
https://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/AAMG/houseplants/fungusgnats.html

More organic ideas.
https://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r280300811.html

Newt

Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:08 am
by lillgardnr
thanks all,.... :wink:
potatoes...hmmmm, love it...now that's what I'm looking for....I'll try it today... :D ....I'll keep ya posted on how fast it works....