Flying Bugs on Houseplants

Feedback About This Post:

RE: Flying Bugs on Houseplants

If they are black fruitfly-type bugs, and they also seem to be everywhere in your home... I had them too! I always empty and wash my pots, rinse the plant roots and put fresh soil in before bringing plants inside for winter. This year I did NOT use a "soiless potting mix", just the regular, and had a fiesta of bugs after a few weeks. Overly wet soil seemed to boost populations, but then I sprayed with a Rose Pesticide with Pyrethrin, saturating the soil. Then I placed a thick layer of sand on top of the soil. Bugs are gone! Give it a day or two... may take a second application of spray. I think that the sand prevents the Fungus Gnats from having a place to lay their eggs. You may not even need the spray! Try the sand alone first! Why use dangerous chemicals?

Post By Paula (Guest Post)

RE: Flying Bugs on Houseplants

Here's two tonics that can help. The first one uses items found in every kitchen. The second feeds your plants while controling pests. Both control a wide range of house plant pest.

1/3 cup of cooking oil, 1tsp of baking soda, 1 cup of water. place in a hand held sprayer and spray pest away.

1 Tbsp of dish washing liquid and 1 Tbsp of seaweed extract with 1qt of lukewarm water. Place mixture in a hand held sprayer and spray. you'll feed your plants while sending pest packing.

Word of caution- fuzzy leaf house plants like the African Violet don't like their leaves wet, so don't spray them. Dip a q-tip in your solutions and touch any pest on the leaves carefully. Results then is undamaged leaf and a pest running for its life.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Flying Bugs on Houseplants

I just discovered that a dilute solution of Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap (Heath Food Stores) ued as a soil drench is killing fungus gnats!

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

Disclaimer: ThriftyFun.com cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. Read the full disclaimer: http://www.thriftyfun.comdisclaimer.ldml If you find any information on ThriftyFun.com or in our newsletters that is either erroneous and/or potentially harmful to others, please Contact Us, immediately.