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Anybody have natural remedies for black fly/gnat infestations besides… | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta community

Monstera_Man

Anybody have natural remedies for black fly/gnat infestations besides sticky traps and repotting the plant?

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4 comments

  1. Rhonda

    For fungus gnats I have used Mosquito Bit tea. It’s a natural bacteria that kills only mosquitoes and fungus gnat larvae. An alternative is to mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 4 parts water. I mix in mason jar so I can use lines on side to measure (plus hydrogen peroxide breaks down with light; turns to water so there’s no storing it unless in the dark bottle). Some people have been talking about adding sand and/or pebbles to top of soil to prevent easy egg laying. (Going to try) Sticky traps get the adults only. Which is great. Because it takes some work and patience to break the cycle of adults laying eggs, larvae, around and round

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    • GreenLeaf

      I always use the hydrogen peroxide method and it works amazingly!

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    • Rhonda

      Just remembered another thing ppl recommend, bottom watering because the soil doesn’t get as wet on top—and the surface is where the fungus gnat breed.

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  2. Queen Rat

    Nematodes are very effective, they are microscopic worms that you add to water and then water your plants. You have to keep the soil moist for a while so the worms can move around and eat all the larvae of the fungus gnats. Use yellow sticky alongside to catch any emerging adults. Best to repeat treatment a couple of weeks later also. Alternatively there is a type of mite - hypoaspis mites- you can buy that also eat the larvae. Best to make sure you haven’t used an chemical pest controls al least a month or two beforehand else it will kill the natural predator treatment.

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