How to safely get rid of gnat in my indoor herb plants

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by Vivi, Feb 2, 2010.

  1. Vivi

    Vivi Member

    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    Hi,

    I recently started an indoor herb garden. I have basil, oregano, mint, and rosemary all in separate pots. I noticed that I have little gnats in the house and at first I wasn't worried about then but now I see that my soil is turning whitish. My oregano has little black spots on it and the basil which is next to it is also developing some dry brown spots. I turned one of the damaged oregano leaves over and found what looked like a tiny gnat larvae (gross). Could these gnats be hurting my plants? How can I get rid of them without using harmful pesticides since I plan to use my herbs for cooking?

    My plants are in pots that don't drain, I am using aqua globes which my plants really seem to like. Leaving the soil to dry doesn't seem like a good idea since I have tried that and almost killed my basil. What products do you recommend? Please help me save my herb garden I put so much love and time into it.

    Orchid Cactus - Kitts Eppies & C.C.J Maintenance this will help you out a bit. I have quite a few
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 22, 2017
    Lorraine Leszczak likes this.
  2. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

    Messages:
    2,707
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    philly, pa, usa 6b
    proper drainage is a must in the long term for the majority of plants...too much moisture in the soil and for too long can cause many issues. root rot, fungus gnats, mold growth...

    i'd let the soil dry out a bit - at least the top 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch and then start watering again - so, no water for at least a week; maybe 10 days. that bit of dry-out time should be enough to stop the growth cycle of the gnats.
     
  3. SummerBug

    SummerBug Member

    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton, Alberta Canada
    I too have fungus gnats in my indoor plants, i have tried almost everything, drying the soil, insecticidal soaps, sticky strips and even repotting.. they worked for a little while but then they just started coming back. does anyone have any other suggestions as to how to safely get rid of these little buggers, hopefully for good :)
     
  4. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    4,398
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Neem oil is the only thing I know of that's safe for edibles. It's even used in toothpaste!
     
  5. kevind76

    kevind76 Active Member

    Messages:
    409
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg, Canada
    Try growing sundews next to your herbs.
     
  6. SummerBug

    SummerBug Member

    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton, Alberta Canada
    I have a venus fly trap any idea where I would find a sundew plant in alberta canada?
     
  7. kevind76

    kevind76 Active Member

    Messages:
    409
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg, Canada
    Not sure - they aren't that common. If you want some seeds, let me know. Most of my plants and seeds came from mail-order, as there are only two CP nurseries in Canada. PM me if you want more info.
     
  8. Ivy*Ginger

    Ivy*Ginger New Member

    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Hamden, CT
    I tried apple cider vinegar & drops of detergent. This killed a lot of gnats. I could see them in the drip dish. However, I hope it doesn't kill my ivy and ginger bonsai. Then, the atricle said to wait for a complete dry out of the soil and try again to kill the eggs.
     
  9. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    5,987
    Likes Received:
    608
    Location:
    Vancouver BC Canada
    I believe that mixture is usually prescribed for trapping fruit flies rather than fungus gnats. Are you sure what you're capturing are fungus gnats? Fruit flies are larger in size, quicker in flight, and are reddish in color.
     
  10. Ivy*Ginger

    Ivy*Ginger New Member

    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Hamden, CT
    They are probably fruit flies. When I picked the plant up after the treatment, I found many dead flies in the dish under the plant.
     
  11. pinenut

    pinenut Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    291
    Likes Received:
    25
    Location:
    Whitehorse, Yukon Zone 0b or 1a
    If you catch sight of them skittering around on the dirt, try sprinkling some diatomaceous earth on the surface and work it in a wee bit. Feels like powder to us, but its pretty sharp for a bug- cuts 'em up and kills 'em.
     

Share This Page