I have about 100 plants indoors including quite a few seedlings. I have these little pesky flies (gnat size?) and I am wondering if they do any harm. On another forum I was reading about white fly infestations and people spraying for them. I sprayed the area with Neem and it has had no effect on the flies. Suggestions?
little flies around seedlings
Sounds like fungus gnats. They're mostly an annoyance, but if the grubs run out of fungus to eat, they'll start in on the roots of the plants.
More importantly, fungus gnats indicate the soil is probably too damp. For seedlings, this can mean quick death. Usually just letting the top half-inch of soil dry out will get rid of the gnats. Sometimes you need to use something like Gnatrol (commercial product) to get rid of them.
I think I read somewhere on here that puttiing hydrogen peroxide in the water will take care of those. But you can get rid of the ones you have already really quick with a beer trap. Or if you don't have beer I think you can use yeast. To make a beer trap you take a sheet of paper more or 8 x 11 and make a funnel out of it. Use tape on the seam so that you have a small hole like maybe 3/4" at the bottom of the funnel. You need a jar like maybe a mayonaise jar or peanut butter jar. Put the beer in, or water and yeast probably just an inch or so in the bottom of the jar. Put the funnel in the jar so that the bottom of the funnel doesn't touch the beer. The gnats will be attracted by the beer and fly in there and drown. You might need to tape the funnel to the jar. This sounds silly but it really does work. Good luck.:)
H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) sometimes works. I haven't had much success with it, or with cider vinegar traps. Keeping the plants dry, or using Gnatrol are the only things that work reliably for me.
Thanks! I will try both approaches. My husband is always looking for an excuse to open a can of beer! I was just on my way out to get some more Superthrive so I will check for Gnatrol - is it organic?
Don't think it's organic. I've only found it online. If you Google for it, you'll find lots of information.
AnnieJo, look through the "recipe" in the Brugmansia Forum (See link below.). It is supposed to help kill fungus gnats and it doubles as a mild fertilizer. One suggestion if you whip up a batch. Pour and mix the ammonia and the Tea Tree Oil outside. I found the odors offensive. Others love the smell of the oil. I've mixed up a batch, but haven't had a chance to use it yet so I can't tell you if it works from personal experience yet.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/803019/
Another trick is to put two or three banana peels on a plate near the gnats, they will go to the bananas like crazy when they are all there spray them with full strength vinegar and they are done. This has worked for us many times.
Josephine.
The banana thing would be easier than the beer thing for sure. But then DH will have to find another excuse for opening a beer.:)
Bettydee, I mixed up a batch of that Brug recipe, but left out the TTO because I couldn't figure out why it was in the recipe. What is it supposed to do? I don't have gnats in my gh atleast not yet. Will it work on aphids. I have them on my daylilies in the yard.
kenboy, who started the thread didn't say, but I suspect that it would act like any oil and act as a smothering agent. With the addition of the TTO, the recipe might work on thr daylilies.
In normal applications, Tea Tree oil is considered an antifungal. May be why it was suggested for "fungus" gnats?
Is it really not good for cats? Somebody said that on the recipe thread. I have 3 cats, who are actually my 4 legged kids.:)
Anti-fungal sprays would kill fungus. Fungus gnats are tiny little flies. The tracheal opening, the spiracle, is very small and is probably clogged keeping the insect from breathing.
Cats as in mammals or as in caterpillars? Either way, it may not be safe.
http://www.messybeast.com/teatree.htm
My two are indoor cats. So I feel comfortable using it outside in the greenhouse.
http://www.animalhealthcarevet.com/index.php?view=pageView&pageid=100002049
I don't use tea tree oil, but I use everything else in the brug recipe, indoors and out, and have for years. I use it on everything--that stuff is some of my main fertilizer. Why couldn't you just use it without the tea tree oil? Milk, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, wettable sulfur--any of those are anti-fungal and could easily be added to "the recipe."
What component would harm cats? Tea tree oil is used homeopathically as a healing aide by many people and I don't see what else the kitties could get into and harm themselves with. I am a wildlife rehabilitator and while I don't use it, I know many people that swear by its healing properties.
I just read those links Bettydee gave us. Wow, I don't think I'll be using TTO. I guess everything else can go in. I can't remember what the apple cider vinegar is for.
AnnieJo
The Tea Tree Oil is fine used by humans, but it is toxic to cats.