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We need HELP!!! First our mint, now our coleus, the gnats are… | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta-fællesskab

Molly

We need HELP!!! First our mint, now our coleus, the gnats are crazy!!! And this is while they are INDOORS!!!!! We had our window planter with our mint inside and it got very bad with gnats. We repotted them with completely new soil and pots TWICE and they just kept coming back. So we put them outside and they seem to be doing better all around. We sometimes see a few gnats on their soil but compared to how many there were inside we are thankful it’s just a few. It’s been about 1-2 months since we put them outside, and all of our inside plants have been fine!!! UNTIL NOW. We have a beautiful lush coleus on our new plant stand (same location where the mint was) and now it is INFESTED. We even have a sticky trap on it which picks up about 5-10 a day, but the soil is still COVERED in them!!! We moved them outside, but I am just so worried this will keep happening. And this specific coleus does not like being outside, she automatically starts wilting. I am trying to dry her soil out because I know they like moisture (she’s been outside for a day and a half now and she is still pretty infested), hopefully she will be okay. Also thinking about repotting and changing soil. Any suggestions would be GREAT as we are fairly new to plants and gardening 🥲

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3 kommentarer

  1. Evil Plant Dad

    Nematodes

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  2. Sunny

    They are thriving because the soil in the pots are staying wet too long either from overwatering or too much soil is holding water in the soil too long. This leaves an ideal breeding ground for fungus gnats. Additionally, poor airflow can cause the soil to slowly dry making the infestation worse. Changing the soil is a good start to help the pots with the worst infestations. The flying gnats move to other plants to lay eggs that produce larvae. The cycle just continues unless all the plants are treated and the area/pots/plants/tools are disinfected. There are many remedies. Search the posts to see them. A lot of them just creates busy work or creates a mess. The one I found completely and consistently effective is using the beneficial BTi bacteria EVERY SINGLE TIME I WATER THE PLANTS! There are BTi liquid drops or in the form of Mosquito Bits granules that I keep in a gallon of tap water for my plants. I have never needed to use yellow sticky traps. I only see fungus gnats when I buy new plants. I treat every new plant purchase with Mosquito Bits water or a healthy spraying of diluted isopropyl alcohol on and under the leaves/stems if the plant does not need watering when it arrives at my home. Good luck 🍀 🪴

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  3. Sharon

    I forget what they are called, but the small sticky traps that you stick into the soil are usually pretty effective at catching a good amount of gnats

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