topic Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!! in Garden

ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

Dazlin — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:11:44 GMT

I first noticed a few teeney knats flying around one plant. Now every plant has zillions of dead teeny tiny knats all over the floor around the pot. litterally had to vacuum them up. Some are still crawling in the pot. I'm treating the soil with a good pesticide. I've had to repeat this a few times already. Seems to be a little less, but still getting them. I'm really getting disgusted with this! Two types of plants that have been the most infested are 2 snake plants, and a peace lily. I'm assuming they're hatching in the soil...but why?? I use miracle grow, or a similar brand from Home Depot.

Plants look healthy...but I'm thinking to throw them out!!! Should I??

So much for cleaning the air...now I have bugs and pesticides.

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

nana59 — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:15:17 GMT

Step 1 -- open door....

Step 2 -- heave ho.........

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

RedTop — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:36:39 GMT

I suggest repotting; also thoroughly clean the plants with mild soapy water and rinse well before planting in the new dirt. Gnats, flies, and other insects love to lay their eggs in soft potting soil.

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

gardensla — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 23:49:34 GMT

Those are fungus gnats. There are a myriad of homemade and store bought chemical remedies, but the first place to try and get rid of them is to make sure you're letting your soil dry a bit between waterings. In winter they need less water. If it's really bad, toss the plant or risk others being infected. If it's not too bad go ahead and repot.

Here's a bit more info.

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

Dazlin — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:09:48 GMT

Ok thank you!! Fungus knats...EWWW. I'll see if this lets up. since I just treated them again this morning. I live in Florida...very humid here. Maybe I need to let them dry out more. Also..these plants were just bought within the the last 3 months, and repotted them as soon as I got them home. But, I have nothing to lose if I have to re-pot again.

If I re-pot...should I treat the new soil, just in case?

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

fthunt — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:12:51 GMT

LOVE that open the door suggestion! That's what I've done - those little buggers breed faster than you can spray and get those chemicals in your breathing air. I believe over wet soil is a possible cause or their eggs were in the soil when you purchased the plant and/or potting soil. Heave Ho! (that's why I've switched to candles)

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

Dazlin — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:16:00 GMT

@gardensla wrote:
Those are fungus gnats. There are a myriad of homemade and store bought chemical remedies, but the first place to try and get rid of them is to make sure you're letting your soil dry a bit between waterings. In winter they need less water. If it's really bad, toss the plant or risk others being infected. If it's not too bad go ahead and repot.

Here's a bit more info.

Great site...I'm going to do all of it!! Thank you!!!

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

lucymo — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:29:16 GMT

There must be something about Miracle Gro potting soil or Snake plants because I had the same problem except on a smaller scale. We just used the apple cider vinegar in jar trick and got rid of the gnats. The plant had actually dried out somewhat so I was surprised that the gnats came from there but they did. I thought my best bet was to rid myself of the plant because there can be gillions of eggs hatching every time I water the plant. I also had the plant on the deck during summer but treated it before I brought it back inside. I sure don't want to go through the gnat problem again.

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

Dazlin — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 21:58:30 GMT

WEll, I saw more gnats this morning on the floor, after treating several times, so I have repotted one snake plant, and will do the other 2 tommorow. One is a peace lily.

I washed the pot out, and hosed down the snake plant, roots and all. Lightly treated the new potting soil, but I didn't see anything alive in the soil.

I'll do the others, and if they come back...I'm done!!

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

Nataliesgramma — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 11:37:15 GMT

Sometimes if you put a clear plastic bag over the plant for a few days after you spray helps too.....

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

JustJazzmom — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 20:02:17 GMT

Were these plants ever outside or were they always indoors? If outdoors, the critters might have found residence on your plants before they were brought indoors.

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

Dazlin — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 22:07:18 GMT

All these plants are from either Lowes or Home Dept, and were all outside. Also, since I live in Florida, I was bringing them all outside for a good watering and washing leaves. I stopped putting them outside for a while now, and won't be putting them out anymore.

I re-potted the peace lily today and the HUGE snake plant which is about 3 ft. tall. I had it in a big HEAVY clay pot. NEVER AGAIN!! The dang thing is soooo heavy and sooo tall to work with. Broke my back!! So after I was all finished, washing, new soil, treating, watering and potting, I left it outside my front door to drain well. Then what happens...as heavy as it is..the wind caught up in it, and knocked the entire plant over...clay pot shattered!! UGHHH!!! I put it in a temporary container, and will buy a light weight plastic pot tommorro. If it lives after all this, I'll be shocked.

Not enjoying my plants

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

pattypeep — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:45:13 GMT

Per our local garden expert: yes, they lay their eggs in the soil. He suggests putting a good half inch of sand around the plant completely covering the soil.

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

Sassyboo3 — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:14:11 GMT

Overwatering caused the gnats. Just let the soil dry between watering....AND PLEASE STOP USING CHEMICALS! WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE ON THIS EARTH. EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE TO USE CHEMICALS WITHOUT IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM! There are organic solutions to every garden problem.

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

lucymo — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:28:07 GMT

@Dazlin You are having a hard time with the plants and gnats. I haven't seen anymore gnats since I poured water mixed with Dawn dishwashing detergent and a little liquid Sevin through the pot. I tossed one plant which seemed to be more infested. I doubt you will kill the snake plant as they are tough. Hope you get rid of the gnats soon. They are so annoying.

Re: ZILLIONS OF KNATS COMING FROM MY PLANTS!!!

Dazlin — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 19:35:58 GMT

@lucymo wrote:
@Dazlin You are having a hard time with the plants and gnats. I haven't seen anymore gnats since I poured water mixed with Dawn dishwashing detergent and a little liquid Sevin through the pot. I tossed one plant which seemed to be more infested. I doubt you will kill the snake plant as they are tough. Hope you get rid of the gnats soon. They are so annoying.

Thank-you!!. Yes I use the dawn mixture at times. Well, I'm all done re-potting, and set some ACV traps near these 3 plants too. I heard the snake plants are called plants of steal...hard to kill. I hope they make it!. I'm actually not too fond of them to be honest. I only bought them because they release oxygen during the night, which is opposite most plants, so I put these two in my bedroom. Hoping this annoyance is over....appreciate the great advice here!!!