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09-21-2014 07:55 AM
I bought a type of cactus from the Q about 4 years ago. Am so not a plant person. I have 2 black thumbs along with 8 black fingers. But thought I would give it a try. Only have to water this thing monthly. Love it! This should be the winter it blooms a white flower the size a a baseball that is suppose to be very fragrant. It has gone crazy growing this summer. Anyway, I will be bringing it back into the house when the air gets chilly and I alway have a problem with what appear to be fruit flies coming out of the soil and all over my apartment. I spray with some kind of pesticide and keep little bowls of stinky vinegar/dawn scattered around my apartment. Still have them. They do go away once winter kicks in but they make me crazy. I swore after last fall I was just going to toss the plants. I know they are in them again. Can anyone tell me what I can do about this. I live in a small town with no nursery to help me. Only a home depot and they can't tell me anything. Can anyone help me??? I really want to keep these plant!!! Ideas??????
09-21-2014 08:18 AM
09-21-2014 09:20 AM
Fungus gnat larvae breed in damp potting soil. To get rid of them, make sure the soil completely dries out before watering again; the larvae will die in a dry environment. A cactus will be able to handle it. Also, watering once a month might be too much. Try watering once every two months. You can also put mosquito dunks in your watering can. Mosquito dunks contain Bti, a natural larvicide. The Bti will spread in your soil when you watering your plants.
09-21-2014 09:55 AM
As Valu said, drying out the soil is key to resolving this problem.
This may be the time to re-pot the plant and make sure there is enough drainage.
09-21-2014 12:04 PM
Fungus gnats is what I was going to write too about. One other solution is using the cactus soil and replanting the cactus. The gnats' larvae have difficulty going through the sand to get to the surface.
If its a regular houseplant in regular potting medium, I would add a layer of sand to the top of the soil to prevent the larvae from tunneling upward.
From the internet:
Step 1:Make the sand trap Collect all infected houseplants, and remove the top 2 inches of potting mix to dispose of the larvae already laid. Discard the soil immediately, and replace this top layer with sand, which is free of organic matter and dries out quickly—an unappealing medium for fungus-gnat eggs. Let the soil below dry out completely before the next watering. This should eliminate all fungus-gnat larvae present and prevent new eggs from being laid.
Step 2: Set up the open bar Adult fungus gnats are easy to lure and drown using any sweet liquid that smells of decay. A nice $2 bottle of alcohol-free wine from Trader Joe’s is one of the best and cheapest fungus-gnat baits I’ve found. Pour the liquid into a small saucer, and place it near a previously infected plant (or by all infected plants if the infestation is already rampant). If you let it sit overnight, then you should awake to a disturbingly satisfying collection of dead fungus gnats floating in the liquid. Discard and refill the saucers until the adult gnats no longer appear.
09-21-2014 12:27 PM
Our local master gardener suggests putting a layer of sand on top of the soil. Completely covering it. I believe he said about 1/2 "".
09-21-2014 12:47 PM
09-21-2014 02:44 PM
Once again thank you, thank you for the ideas.
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