How To Keep Fungus Gnats Off Your Plants And Out Of Your Garden
Fungus gnats are garden pests that sometimes become a dreadful indoor nuisance. This happens when adult gnats materialize in great numbers from potted plants or even flower boxes that are found to contain damp soil that is laden with hummus. They are mosquito-like insects, which are attracted to light. Because of this, they are most often seen at windows.
Their larvae, or maggots, feed-in soil that has a high amount of organic matter. They do injure the root systems of bedding plants such as poinsettias, geraniums, cyclamens, carnations, and African violets. Foliage plants are also prone to fungus gnats.
The symptoms of the various plants that are suffering from fungus gnats are possible foliage loss, yellowing, poor growth, loss of vigor, and even sudden wilting. These pests become extremely serious when an infestation occurs in mushroom houses.
Although they are completely harmless to humans as well as animals, fungus gnats do inhabit dead plant materials and fungi. If you believe that you have these pests, a complete and reliable identity is best if you take a specimen to your local agent or local garden center.
Part of the prevention process is twofold. Carefully inspect new plants before purchase, and do not take your plants outside for “a bit of sun and fresh air” then bring them back in the house.
This type of treatment is almost guaranteed to create an infestation. Remember that plants can benefit from direct sunlight through a window, or even utilize an artificial light. Lack of sufficient lighting is the most ordinary factor that limits the growth of plants in many spots of your home.
Purchasing supplementary electric lighting ordinarily is the easiest and definitely, the least expensive manner to provide just enough light for plants that you feel do not receive an adequate amount of natural light rather than take them outdoors.
Also, be sure and use only sterile potting soil. Remember that these pests love overly moist plantings, thus do not overwater your plants, nor have potted plants that do not have adequate drainage.
Remember that these pests need damp soil to begin their lives. If your home is heavily infested, you may consider purchasing an electrocution-light flytrap to attract and therefore kill many adults at night.
There is also a plethora of available “sticky” traps that can be hung over the plant that will cause the pests to stick to the cards which when no longer useful can be thrown away, unfortunately, though that only traps the adults, and does nothing against their larvae, or maggots.
To deal with that, it is highly suggested that you avail yourself of either a commercial pest control company, or remove the offending plants.
Commercial mushroom growers who are plagued by these garden pests ordinarily use naled (Dibrom), diazinon, or methoxychlor. Commercially run greenhouse growers have been known to use other means such as Gnatrol, or Vectobac. Most licensed commercial pest companies use oxamyl.
Do keep in mind that preventing them is much easier than eradicating them and besides you wish to keep your houseplants as healthy as possible so that you can enjoy them for a long time to come!
Their larvae, or maggots, feed-in soil that has a high amount of organic matter. They do injure the root systems of bedding plants such as poinsettias, geraniums, cyclamens, carnations, and African violets. Foliage plants are also prone to fungus gnats.
The symptoms of the various plants that are suffering from fungus gnats are possible foliage loss, yellowing, poor growth, loss of vigor, and even sudden wilting. These pests become extremely serious when an infestation occurs in mushroom houses.
Although they are completely harmless to humans as well as animals, fungus gnats do inhabit dead plant materials and fungi. If you believe that you have these pests, a complete and reliable identity is best if you take a specimen to your local agent or local garden center.
Part of the prevention process is twofold. Carefully inspect new plants before purchase, and do not take your plants outside for “a bit of sun and fresh air” then bring them back in the house.
This type of treatment is almost guaranteed to create an infestation. Remember that plants can benefit from direct sunlight through a window, or even utilize an artificial light. Lack of sufficient lighting is the most ordinary factor that limits the growth of plants in many spots of your home.
Purchasing supplementary electric lighting ordinarily is the easiest and definitely, the least expensive manner to provide just enough light for plants that you feel do not receive an adequate amount of natural light rather than take them outdoors.
Also, be sure and use only sterile potting soil. Remember that these pests love overly moist plantings, thus do not overwater your plants, nor have potted plants that do not have adequate drainage.
Remember that these pests need damp soil to begin their lives. If your home is heavily infested, you may consider purchasing an electrocution-light flytrap to attract and therefore kill many adults at night.
There is also a plethora of available “sticky” traps that can be hung over the plant that will cause the pests to stick to the cards which when no longer useful can be thrown away, unfortunately, though that only traps the adults, and does nothing against their larvae, or maggots.
To deal with that, it is highly suggested that you avail yourself of either a commercial pest control company, or remove the offending plants.
Commercial mushroom growers who are plagued by these garden pests ordinarily use naled (Dibrom), diazinon, or methoxychlor. Commercially run greenhouse growers have been known to use other means such as Gnatrol, or Vectobac. Most licensed commercial pest companies use oxamyl.
Do keep in mind that preventing them is much easier than eradicating them and besides you wish to keep your houseplants as healthy as possible so that you can enjoy them for a long time to come!
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