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Little black flies

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Salgor, Feb 4, 2011.

  1. Salgor

    Salgor Gardener

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    Hi All

    Looking for some advice. I have three peace lilies around the house and they are flourishing. However, they seem to be harbourning some tiny little black flies which are really irratating as they fly around the house:huh:

    I really don't want to have to throw them out so can anyone suggest something I could treat them with.

    Sally
     
    Salgor, Feb 4, 2011
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  2. Aesculus

    Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

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    could be fungus gnats... try holding back on the watering a little you might be overdoing it:thumbsup:

    - http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases/nonflash_index.shtml?black_fungus_gnats
     
    Aesculus, Feb 4, 2011
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  3. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi Salgor, I think Aesulus is right. It probably is a form of gnat which is loving the warmth of the house. As well as less watering you might find a gentle spray of soft soap will rid you of the black spots in front of your eyes.
     
    ARMANDII, Feb 4, 2011
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  4. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Don't water from above, put the water in the tray & let the plants roots suck it up.
    Fungus gnats live in the top of the pot & wont like it if that bit is dry.
     
    Phil A, Feb 4, 2011
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  5. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    I've been known in the past to put a thin layer of sand on top of the soil with house plants, and water in the way Ziggy describes. That was for a different reason though. I was finding that moss and fungi was forming on the soil. A friend recommended the watering from below trick that Ziggy describes, and the sand was just me experimenting, figuring that sand is very free draining and allows good air circulation, thus making it inhospitable for fungi. It seemed to work.
     
    clueless1, Feb 5, 2011
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  6. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    We water from the bottom and every few months skim the top layer of soil off the pots and replace with fresh. We do this regularly with the chilli plants that we overwinter indoors as they seem to be particularly susceptible to them. We've not tried the sand but may give it a go. :dbgrtmb:
     
    shiney, Feb 5, 2011
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  7. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    If it is the gnat I'm thinking of it hasn't visited you from the outside but actually lives in the compost in the pot. While I believe the soft soap spray will work but there are also insecticides that can be "drenched" into the compost that will kill them. The sand and also renewing the top layer of compost are good ideas and I'm sure would help.
     
    ARMANDII, Feb 5, 2011
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  8. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Mine have stopped just by watering from the bottom but I like the idea of sand on top, should help with the damping off fungus as well:thumbsup:
     
    Phil A, Feb 5, 2011
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  9. Salgor

    Salgor Gardener

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    Thanks everyone for all your tips.:dbgrtmb: I have found a tip as well regarding sliced potato on top of the soil along with reducing watering and only watering from the top.

    I have fund an insecticide by Raid which is for flying insects, moths, gnats etc. Do you think it would be OK to spray that on my plants.:scratch:

    Sally
     
    Salgor, Feb 9, 2011
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  10. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Unless it says it is for plants the answer is 'NO'! :rolleyespink: :)
     
    shiney, Feb 9, 2011
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  11. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    I agree with Shiney. Be careful what you spray on your plants!!
     
    ARMANDII, Feb 10, 2011
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