As I've said, the fungus gnat larva LOVE to eat cuttings. This happens to be a fig tree cutting that was starting to root. I noticed the leaves falling off and the cutting wilting. Here is a close up of the nasties. THIS IS WAR.....
Fungus Gnats (CLOSE UP & GROSS)
That isn't a pretty sight. What are you going to try first? I wonder if a watering with BT would kill them. Hope you find something. Looks like they are really hungry and calling all relatives!!
This is lost..
keep them much more dry and the gnats will die.( other cuttings )
This shows how tiny they really are.
Brugie- I'll wait for the BT to come. I have asthma and can't use any strong chemicals in the house, or outside for that matter.
Ludger, all the other cuttings are rooted and the fungus knats don't seem to bother them. Everything downstairs looks really healthy. The only plants I've lost are cuttings that are in the rooting stage. It seems that the fungus knats like the woody stems and attack from the bottom up. The fig that WAS rooting was hard wood. I do try to keep things on the dry side, the figs were moist however. I'll have to keep a better eye on it. Thanks for your advice.
Kristi
Kristi, these gnats like wet things, no matter if kompost or young roots or a wet steem. The skin of brugs is having much water in it.
If they ever will come back, repot the cutting in dry soil and water only a little bid. Wash the cutting before repotting.
Thank you all for helping to me, I had to find out whether fungus gnats are "Trauermücken", they are and now I do know.
Thanks so much Ludger I'll go VERY dry from now on.
Have you tried a small dish of water set near the plant with a drop or two of cooking oil in it? They may head to the water to bred in and the oil will smother them. Plus, it's very non toxic for you. May be woth a try at least. :)
I'll give it a try RA49, my mom told me to try a glass of wine also. Had to ask if it was for me or for the knats (LOL)
After seeing those horrible things, You need some also.
It should be titled
UP GROSS AND PERSONAL.......(Up Close and personal)
sorry..I think I've been watching to much TV
Datdog....are those the larvae?? GMO!!! Gee I have them also. My amaryllis pots were full of them.........they were making the soil jump I had so many! I have had to move all my seedlings into my son's vacated bedroom once they break the soil line in their mini greenhouses to keep them away from them.
Cala told me to buy the mosquito pool dunk, because they have the right kind of BT that works against gnats, Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis. I used it once and I have not seen another of those little flycreeps again!
http://www.ghorganics.com/BTI_For_Fungus_Gnats.htm
kell, how much of a mosquito thing did you put in how much water? I have some of the "Mosquite Dunks" left from last summer & the active ingredient is the same as in your link! How long did you let the thing soak before using the water? This is good news. I think that's why I lost more than a few cuttings this winter after they had rooted. THANKS!!
I took half of one and put it in a 2 gallon watering can. Let it soak then reached in and broke it up with my hands. After a while more soak..like a day. I watered all my pots indoors. And then made up a second batch. I just guessed.............. but it seemd to really have worked. I had my soil jumping with them.......... they must have hatched. My yellow stickey things were covered but I still had more! Good luck
I wonder if you could crush those BT dunks and mix them into the potting soil?
Thanks kell for the information on the BT, I'll have to try it.
They were hard to crush unitl they got wet Sue..........but that is a good thought!!