Hardy Hibby Seed Trade

i had the worst luck with lady baltimores out of all my hardies i planted only had 1 start out of 6.. I'll give it another week then try some more... the rest are up in a few days so... if nothing else at least showing roots.. But i didnt check the seeds for holes and that maybe a factor...

those pesky little weevils..

ya i just looked at the seeds i do have and theres holes in a bunch of them so i thinking the ones that didn't grow aren't going to... I have more soaking lol... I hate bugs lol

I just wish I could figure out a way to keep the gnats down on the plants I have indoors. I spray them everyday with soapy water and that doesn't seem to help much.

MechelleT, one of the things I have discovered to help control the gnats is just a glass of water filled just about to the top. Maybe an inch away from the top and then just set the glass among your plants. It will not get them all but it will help. . The gnats get in the water and drown. Also cinnamon on the top of the dirt, or sand so they cannot lay eggs in the plant container. I think I got this info on a thread from Pirl and Wilfred. D-Mail Pirl, she is always lovely about sharing her knowledge. I also hung up one of those sticky fly catchers, but I caught myself more than it did the gnats.

I tried the cinnamon to keep the soil from getting moldy and that seems to be good. Will try it. Thank you! Mechelle

Here is a thread on weevils on Hibiscus.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1055744/

As far as gnats, get some Systemic insecticide. Just put it in the soil where the gnats live. The plant will take up the insecticide into its shell and kill any sucking or chewing insect. Soap and water won't kill them. Malathion spray will

Heck I need that for my brugs too. Do you have a brand name of a certain spray that you use?

MechelleT The systemic you can find in Lowes or Home Depot I'm sure. I bought my bottle from a garden center. Can't remember the maker as I lent it to my daughter to use. It comes as granulates that you measure and mix into the top soil of pottted plants. I think there may be a spray that does the same.

The spray is Malathion 50% Insect Spray. Home Depot and the like, carries it. So does Walmart. It don't matter who makes it. It is all the same. Will kill spider mites also.

Thank you blomma, I will be picking some up asap!

another thing my friend does is fill the tops of pots with aquarium rock so gnats can't get to the dirt. she swears by it.

I had another friend tell me to put sand on the top. They can't work their way through it to lay the larvae. She has a degree in horticulture and she said that gnats are a sign of overwatering, but the sand would stop them..
Hey if I do the sand, water less, and use the insecticide, I can't go wrong can I?

The gnats are not necessarily a sign of overwatering. They can be brought in from purchased soil. My son got a case of it by bringing his plant in to a local nursery to be repotted. The gnats came in with the soil. The Systemic stuff took care of it in time.

I don't know how sand would do any good. You would still have them flying around. They have to go somewhere. You would have to spray the house with a aerosole fly spray to get rid of them.

MichelleT Rely on the insecticide first. Good luck.

I found some Houseplant indoor and outdoor insecticide and after a couple of days of spraying, I think I got them all finally. We'll see how long it lasts. Thanks blomma

MichelleT You are welcome. Glad it worked. I would give it a week of spraying. Also, aim the spray at the soil of all your potted plants. Spray 2 or 3 days away from when you think you got them all.

I have used regular fly spray in every room to be sure I got those just flying around before they return to the soil to lay more eggs.

Ha, haven't seen any buzzing around today. We'll see about tomorrow. I don't know what's worse, them being here or my DH complaining about them, lol. I never had them here until my SIL brought her avocado trees for me to babysit..