Annoying gnats from indoor plants

lsmith · Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 1

My office has an abundance of annoying gnats that seem to be coming from our indoor plants. My company has hired a pest control service to fog our office. What is a better way to control this pest? Any suggestions?

Dchall_San_Antonio · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 2001 Location: San Antonio,TEXAS

Get some mosquito dunks. Break off a quarter of one and put it in a quart of water. Water the plants with that water and refill the jar to let the dunks soak until the next watering.

It would be better if you had two jars going. Put the water in the first jar (without a dunk) at least 48 hours before you are going to use it on the plants. Let the chlorine gas out for 24 hours and then pour it into the jar with the dunk for another 24 hours. Then water with it.

EMH · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 30 Location: Prosper, TX

Try a product called Orange Guard. It is an orange oil type product that is ready to use. The concentration is just right that it will not burn your plants. So when the gnats are buzzing give em a squirt. They'll be down and out for the count.

cynthiac · Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 59 Location: DFW

I've also heard that keeping the top layer of soil to wet in house plants will give you bunches of fungus gnats. When I have problems with them I let the top layer of soil dry out. Also be sure to wash out the pans/trays under your plants that hold "old water".

Here's an article on the subject:
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2000/061700.html

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Sticky traps may be an option for you too.
The eggs are laid in the top soil. Clearing out and replacing the top inch of soil will help too. Once the eggs and larvae are killed, there will be no more adults.
Also, if you can find the yellow sticky pads or pest strips, place one by each plant. The color attracts the adults and they stick to it and die.
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