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[Imaoldhippie]

No option, use it outside away from the house.

[781Florist]

Not sterilizing soil or planting anything, but I am glad to know that someone else has little fruit-fly like bugs appearing out of nowhere without any food being left out.

I think they must come in from the Air Conditioning vent or something.  I just bought a plug in thing called Evo that traps flying bugs soundlessly (but it has a blue light I don't care for) and it seems to have worked.  At least I have learned that I can't microwave them and that I need to bake soil in the oven if I see bugs in it.

[gardenman]

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@Desi wrote:

Well in theory it sounds fine, however.... I did it once, can't recall if I though I saw some mold or insects. Did it in a toaster oven, and it made the kitchen wreak! So if you do it, be prepared, keep windows open etc. I would just pitch it and buy new soil knowing how it went.

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Yeah, the smell is not good. Jim Crockett, the original host of PBS's "The Victory Garden" recommended sterilizing soil on a barbecue outside. Fire up the grill, put the pot of soil on the grill, cover, and let cook.

[kindred cats]

Ask Martha Stewart....she knows everything! 

[Desi]

Wish i had known that, lol!

[Trailrun23]

if your houseplants have soil that gets and stays too damp, you will always have gnats or other bugs...I sprinkle a few Mosquito Bits on top of the soil and have not had any problems since doing that. It is non-toxic.

Check your garbage disposal if you don't leave food out but still see fruit flies. I run some bleach or lysol through it periodically to prevent them being attracted to a bit of fruit or peel that may have been stuck under a blade. 

[sabatini]

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@Trailrun23 wrote:

...I sprinkle a few Mosquito Bits on top of the soil and have not had any problems since doing that. It is non-toxic.

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@Trailrun23, I only learned of Mosquito Bits a few months ago.

I've had two separate battles with fungus gnats, & BOTH battles began when repotting indoor plants with new potting soil...not cheap brands.

The first time, what finally got rid of them was when I added a layer of fine sand to the top of the soil.

I wasn't a fan of the way it looked, however, & it was eventually absorbed into the soil.

With the 2nd bout of fungus gnats, (repotting with Miracle Grow), a coworker told me about Mosquito bits, so I gave them a try.

I bought the MBs at Ace Hardware, then as per instructions, made a 'tea' of them, and watered my plants with it.

Game changer.

FINALLY, no more fungus gnats!! 

Since then, I've read so many complaints about fungus gnats being in nearly all potting soils.

I wonder why that is?

[Robertak]

Probably around 2 mins, until its steaming hot.

[Lucky Charm]

I had such and influx of flying pests, never had this problem before!  

We moved this spring and I brought all my plants with me (hundreds of miles).  They adapted well.

When I repotted them, that's when the problem started.  I actually add bagged lawn soil to my potting soil mix (always have).  I thought maybe because that bag had been opened and not properly closed maybe it gave some time for gnats/pests to *move in*.  

So most plants got tossed, but I kept a few out on my back deck.  I've had plants for decades and it would break my heart to lose them.  Didn't know what I was going to do for winter because it gets cold here.

I will try the mosquito bits.  And I will bring them in one at a time and keep in my bathroom to make sure all is clear before I put them back in my reading nook.  It looks so bare in there!