I have a number of potted ferns that have taken on fungus gnats (like fruit flies, only smaller, and more annoying). Does anyone know if the standard Neem oil / Sesame oil / 'natural' control methods are suitable and safe for ferns? I've used foliar sprays previously, with disastrous consequences, so I'm hesitant to potentially poison the entire plant... Thanks much! Darryl
The presence of fungus gnats is a sign of excess moisture in the medium. Replace the medium with one that's more porous if it remains moist or wet for a long period after watering. Another possibility is over-watering. In that case allow the medium to dry somewhat before watering. Fungus gnats can usually be controlled by a more judicious watering regimen without having to resort to sprays and other forms of control.
