Fungus Gnat Larvae

[MtnDweller]

Night before last, as we were eating dinner, I saw a gnat flying around my newest orchid. (Read: Issue with a new phal)

Yesterday, I found and purchased some acceptable orchid mix at Lowe's.

This morning, I went to apply the dish soap, cinnamon extract and water recipe that Bud shared with me. And in doing so, I took another look at the medium and roots and found fungus gnat larvae munching away. Well, I misted the plant real well and soaked the roots/medium.

I decided to go ahead and re-pot the phal today as I didn't like the idea of the larvae being in there. When I removed the medium, it seemed as if it were breaking down and the roots in the center were yellowing.

One question, I know that air pockets in soil for other plants is not a good thing, but what about having them in orchid medium. Are they tolerable? I think I may have one or two. They are small and not gaping holes. This was my first re-pot attempt and wanted to make sure I didn't break any roots.

[Bud]

you need to push the media lightly around the roots and shake it and tap it on a table so you do not have air pockets...pockets can culture bacteria and some other bug caves to shelter in...thats why sellers pack moss on the roots and really cramp it full to let the moisture stay longer ...but it doesnt give even moisture on the roots...

its good you repotted it...decaying media is not good...it becomes a haven for bugs

the eggs are gone when you repotted...but you need a yellow sticky to get rid of the flying bugs that can still lay eggs

[camille1585]

I agree about tapping the pot on the table to remove the large gaps, butI'm curious to know where you heard that air pockets grow bacteria?? Other than in soil in aquarium substrates/wetlands? Orchid substrat is so airy by nature that in that case the entire pot would be nothing but a bacterial culture. The fact that it's so airy helps avoid that even. You need air circulation in the pot
As for growers packing the moss in tightly, packing it in has nearly nothing to do with bugs and bacteria, but only even water rentention.

[Freddie]

I'd probably rinse the roots thoroughly under luckwarm running water before repotting and dip them in water and cinnamon. Make sure to clean all the pots and utensils before and after, and disinfect surfaces/saucers. As for the dish soap/cinnamon recipe, I think that stuff is brilliant! Never fails to work for me. I sometimes also add a bit of cooking oil to it, apparently makes it harder for pests to stick to the plant.