Hydrogen peroxide on phal bark mix!!

[greenpassion]

It seems like I'm determined to do the wrong thing. Several weeks ago I read about using hydrogen peroxide to get rid of fungus knats on plants. I don't by any means have a big infestation, but I have seen them around some of my regular house plants. I even read that one can actually water the plant with a mix of H.P. and water to kill the larvae. Then I noted seeing some knats around some of my phals, and what do I do? I spray the bark mix with the hydrogen peroxide mix. Just NOW I read that hydrogen peroxide will kill orchid roots!!! Now I'm worried I've done damage!! I've only spritzed a couple of times, but when will I see signs of my ignorant move??😣

[Dollythehun]

I'm sure you'll be fine. But buy a ping. They love fungus gnats.

[Leafmite]

I had a fungus gnat explosion. My pings were covered and I still had plenty. I finally used mosquito bites to get rid of them. If you lived closer, I would be happy to give you a butterwort. I just divided them and they are already multiplying again. The fungus gnats make them multiply and bloom like crazy. :|

Was it a new bottle or older? An older bottle that has been opened for a time would have been nearly harmless (it becomes water and oxygen).

I put cinnamon on a Cattleya's roots once and killed them so I know the feeling. And, I have accidentally gotten alcohol on roots, too. It happens.

[Ray]

Drugstore grade hydrogen peroxide will do no harm to your plants. Within seconds after pouring, it has released all of the excess oxygen, so is just water.

Look for a Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis) product, and use it on all of your plants to kill the larvae.

[Mountaineer370]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I'm sure you'll be fine. But buy a ping. They love fungus gnats.

I had to Google "ping for fungus gnats." I see it's a carnivorous plant (Pinguicula). I learned something new today.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370

I had to Google "ping for fungus gnats." I see it's a carnivorous plant (Pinguicula). I learned something new today.

Beat me to it. Was just going to say exactly same thing.

[Dollythehun]

Leafmite had a lengthy thread on them if you search for it. They're pretty amazing and my few gnats are g.o.n.e.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I'm sure you'll be fine. But buy a ping. They love fungus gnats.

Oh yes! I used to have pings! I may just do that!

---------- Post added at 12:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:45 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

Drugstore grade hydrogen peroxide will do no harm to your plants. Within seconds after pouring, it has released all of the excess oxygen, so is just water.

Look for a Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis) product, and use it on all of your plants to kill the larvae.

Is that the ingredients of those mosquito dunks?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

Is that the ingredients of those mosquito dunks?

Yes

If I may make a recommendation here:

Many of your postings here are about fixing a problem. I think you might do better by figuring out what you're doing culturally that is causing them. "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure," and results in less work and fewer losses.

[greenpassion]

True. But the gnats are coming from the other plants near by that require moist soil, which draws the bugs. The orchids are as culturally fine as I've ever been able to achieve thus far. I wasn't trying to fix something wrong with them so much as I was experimenting with whether or not hydrogen peroxide actually does what they say, without first checking as to whether it can be used on orchids. This is something I do need to change-doing something without checking first.