Fungus gnats: What’s the deal?
It’s the time of year when fungus gnats are in full force. Here is some information to help you out.
Fungus gnats are small, black, winged insects that thrive on organic matter - such as cheap potting soil or old soil. It takes a hatched fungus gnat egg 18 days until it emerges as an adult. Multiple this by the 100’s of eggs a female can lay and you quickly have a problem. The adults themselves are not a threat to your plant, but are annoying. The larvae, however, can do a lot of damage to the roots of a plant. Fungus gnats can spread rather quickly if not caught in time. Placing sand or lava rock on the top 1/2 of soil will deter the fungus gnats from laying eggs in the soil. Sticky traps can be used to trap the adults and prevent them from traveling from plant to plant.
The method that will be outlined below can work for all new plants, existing plans, and for a number of pests. Get a hold of us if you are needing further information on care for your plants.
Any plant you bring home needs to be separated from the plants you currently have. Inspect the new plant for any signs of pests. With fungus gnats, you will see them crawling on the soil. Sometimes you won’t see them until they have hatched from the soil. You can use diluted hydrogen peroxide and pour into the soil. We use spray bottles and mix 1 cup peroxide with 3 cups water. Still keep your new plant away from your existing plants until you are sure there is no infestation.
Even better than using peroxide, completely change the soil. We recommend a type of ready to use neem oil to spray down any new soil you will be potting with. Spray and mix the soil, making sure you aren’t completely soaking it. We also use the diluted peroxide in a spray bottle and diluted isopropyl alcohol (81%) in a spray bottle. Think about the soil before you buy it. There is a chance of holes in the bag that let’s organic matter searching pests, like fungus gnats, in. So why not treat at the beginning? Add perlite and small pebbles to help with drainage (depending on the plant).
While preparing to repot, inspect the roots of the plant, clearing off as much dirt as possible. Check the back of the leaves as well for any trace of pests. Wipe down the plant leaves from the bottom of the plant clear to the top with neem oil. This will remove any debris/pests from the leaves.
Repot in your newly prepared soil. It is still a good idea to quarantine your new plant away form your existing plans for a week or two. This will allow you to observe the plant and re-treat if needed.
By using this method, you are giving your new plants, and existing plants, the best chance at being pest free and avoiding an infestation.
As always, we are here to answer any questions and help you with your plant needs!
