Fungus Gnats Annihilation

[Bamanana]

I have had a real fungus gnat problem this year and have had Southern Blight rip through my collection twice. Being fed up with these despicable tiny creatures, I have done the following:

1. Raid sticky tower things all through my collection
2. Bowls of water with apple cider vinegar
3. Pinguicula gigantea arrived last night
4. Hypoaspis Mites arrive tomorrow

I doggone well better not see another one of those little creeps. I am now also fully prepared for next years' gnat season too.

I lost several beloved orchids to Southern Blight (even after treating with fungicides) and don't intend to lose another. That is one shockingly fast moving fungus.

[Ray]

1) Water with a product containing BTi - Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis. It will infect the eggs and larvae, preventing them from maturing and reproducing.

2) Treat your plant regularly with a probiotic such as Quantum-Total. Not a 100% fix, but it does a good job at battling pathogens.

[Bamanana]

Thanks Ray. I grow almost everything in semi hydro and flush biweekly. Would that remove the bacteria you reference?

I use Optum routinely, but was not aware it helped with gnats too. You recommended it in my post about southern blight. I also saw where you sell it on your site and will purchase from you on all future orders. I use a kelp product routinely also, but will be buying your kelpmax in the future also.

---------- Post added at 12:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------

I meant Quantum 🙄

[estación seca]

Aim a fan on your plants. Adults are weak flyers. The fan blows them away so they can't lay eggs. After all the larvae in the pots mature you will be free of fungus gnats.

[Bamanana]

I have a ceiling fan on low 24/7. I will turn it up. Thanks.

Gee, I have an anti-gnat arsenal going on now!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Bamanana

Thanks Ray. I grow almost everything in semi hydro and flush biweekly. Would that remove the bacteria you reference?

BTI is a bacteria that is introduced to infect the fungus gnat larvae. You do not want to wash it out.

I use Optum routinely, but was not aware it helped with gnats too. You recommended it in my post about southern blight. I also saw where you sell it on your site and will purchase from you on all future orders. I use a kelp product routinely also, but will be buying your kelpmax in the future also.

---------- Post added at 12:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------

I meant Quantum 🙄

No, Quantum will not help with gnats. It may help keep southern blight at bay.

[Steve83]

Are the fungus gnats from your orchids, or other plants?

I've never grown Pinguicula, but my Drosera have done an outstanding job on fungus gnats. The yellow sticky paper traps work great too.

[BobcatJohnson]

I can attest that BTI does a wonderful job of getting rid of them. Takes a week or two for them to disappear, but disappear they will. I use a product called mosquito dunks to do the job. I buy it at my local hardware store. Comes in an 8 pack, and one dunk will last almost a month. The package says good for a month, but I find after about three weeks if I don't use a fresh one I'll get another outbreak. I've gone from having absolute clouds of the little blighters flying around my apartment, to only seeing one or two per day, and I'm convinced they are coming in from outside.

[Leafmite]

I use a combination of my tropical, unnamed butterwort and mosquito bites to quickly get rid of the fungus gnats when I have any issues with them.

Pings are great for getting rid of the gnats. I put mine under a bright desk lamp at night near the problem area, turn off all the other lights and, after a few hours, the leaves get most of the adult gnats. A second night will get rid of the rest. To prevent the larvae/eggs from becoming adults, I use the mosquito bits (they have Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis, BTI). I sprinkle these on top of the soil or put them in the bottom of the self-watering pot and, after a few days, the problem is solved and the pings have the energy to soon be in full bloom and making new rosettes.