Numerous indoor plants are frequently attacked by fungus gnats. Fungus gnats resemble little black fruit flies in appearance. The fungus gnats will swiftly spiral out of control once they discover your houseplants. The ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is found in Mosquito Dunks (BTI for short). BTI has the capability to eradicate pests other than mosquitoes. Additionally, it can eliminate those annoying fungus gnats.
Before working with Mosquito Dunk, put on a set of plastic gloves. In people, it might irritate their skin.
Numerous indoor plants are frequently attacked by fungus gnats.
Divide the dunk into fourths. Never use the knife you use to cut the Mosquito Dunks for food; keep it separate.
One quarter of a dunk should be placed in one gallon of water and left to organically mix with the water over night.
For plants, are mosquito dunks safe?
Small insects called house fungus gnats can seriously harm indoor plants. Although safe for humans to consume, their larvae have the potential to permanently injure container plants by feeding on the plant roots.
Fungus gnats can possibly harm any indoor plant, but they are most harmful to peace lilies, African violets, geraniums, and spider plants.
One of the many techniques for removing fungus gnats from plants is the pest management device known as a mosquito dip.
This is a quick and secure method to get rid of gnat infestations. But for maximum effectiveness, it needs a special method.
How quickly do fungus gnats respond to Mosquito Dunks?
Here is another simple BTI method for killing fungus gnats. Make tea with mosquito bits! Simply combine 1 gallon of water with 4 tablespoons of mosquito bits. After soaking the Bits for 30 minutes to remove the BTI, scrape the granules that are afloat. (The Bits can also be put in a nylon stocking before being submerged in water. Because of this, it is simpler to separate the granules, which can then be composted or thrown away.
To ensure that the BTI is completely incorporated, stir or shake the water once more. Then, hydrate houseplants and container plants with “BTI tea in their soil or potting mix. The larvae of fungus gnats that were in the soil at the time of application are controlled by this treatment. Use your Mosquito Bits/BTI tea solution within 48 hours for the best effects.
For three weeks, repeat this technique every week. Repeat this treatment once more if fungus gnats show up later. Shop for Mosquito Bits here.
Keep a container of Mosquito Bits on your potting table with your other gardening tools because fungus gnats can be a persistent issue.
Are Mosquito Dunks only permitted in water?
Mosquito Dunks, which kill mosquitoes before they can develop into flying, biting, disease-carrying adults, are a safe, nontoxic option for homeowners, ranchers, and farmers wishing to eliminate mosquitoes. A mosquito dunk is what? A mosquito dunk resembles a little, floating, beige donut in still water.
How can mosquito bites be used for potted plants?
Fungus gnats typically overpopulate potting soil for house and container plants, and Summit Mosquito Bits, a biological control that kills mosquito larvae, is now certified for the control of these pests as well.
A biological larvacide known as BTI serves as the main component of Mosquito Bits (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis). Both mosquito and fungus gnat larvae are fatal to BTI, a naturally occurring bacterium.
According to a news release, fungus gnats can infest potted plants and can be challenging to eradicate. In the potting soil of houseplants and container plants, fungus gnats lay their eggs, and the larvae reside in the moist potting soil. The fungus gnat maggots’ ability to consume plant roots during their larval stage allows them to harm plants. The fungus gnat maggots pupate after two to three weeks to become the small, black adult gnats that frequently fly off in a cloud of flies whenever a potted plant is moved.
Shake the granular Mosquito Bits onto the potting soil of houseplants and other container-grown plants to get rid of fungus gnats.
Prior to planting, Mosquito Bits can also be combined with potting soil. The BTI in the Mosquito Bits are released when the plants are moistened. The BTI is subsequently washed below the soil’s surface after additional watering. Larvae of fungus gnats consume the BTI and perish.
A quick and efficient method of eliminating sizable populations of mosquito larvae is also provided by the BTI in mosquito bits. Mosquito Bits granules, when applied to stagnant water where mosquitoes reproduce, cause a biological mosquito larvicide to be released at the water’s surface. Mosquito larvae that are hungry consume the Mosquito Bits when they settle in the water and perish.
According to a news release, Mosquito Bits are effective in virtually all standing water, including ponds and water gardens, rain barrels, roof gutters, bird baths, flower pots, and saucers. They can also be used in tree holes, unused swimming pools, used car tires, animal watering troughs, and anywhere else water gathers. In grassy or marshy locations where the mosquito population is dense and a speedy kill is required, mosquito bites are also useful.
Just scatter one teaspoon or one tablespoon of Mosquito Bits per 25 square feet of water’s surface. For seven to fourteen days, mosquito larvae will be killed by mosquito bits. For continuous mosquito control, further Mosquito Bit applications should be made at intervals of seven to fourteen days.
There are two sizes of Mosquito Bits: an 8-ounce shaker bottle and a 30-ounce jug.
Summit Responsible Solutions, the company behind Mosquito Dunks, also produces Mosquito Bits. The same bacteria, BTI, which is lethal to mosquito larvae and fungus gnat larvae but nontoxic to other living things, is present in both mosquito bits and mosquito dunks.
How can I naturally get rid of mosquitoes in my potted plants?
Civil engineer Ryan Larsen, sometimes known as Dr. Drainage, works for the storm water management firm NDS Inc. He has the following suggestions:
1. Get rid of any standing water near your home. Maintain clean gutters, and look for anything that can hold water, such as overturned children’s toys, cans, buckets, and pots, at least once a week. Garbage bin covers, daily water changes for outside pet bowls, and weekly water changes for birdbaths are also recommended.
2. Bring indoor potted plants. Additionally, potted plants frequently accumulate extra water, which provides mosquitoes with the ideal environment for breeding. During the humid summer, keep them inside.
3. Distribute aromatic oils and herbs over your lawn.
Mosquitoes can be repelled by plants naturally using certain herbs and essential oils. For example, the harmless smells of citronella, lemongrass, and chrysanthemum deter insects. On your outdoor tables, add scented candles and oils to keep insects away from the food.
Spread coffee grounds around. Wherever you find standing water in your yard, scatter coffee grinds. Any mosquito eggs already there will have to rise to the surface and will be oxygen-deprived. This will eliminate any mosquitoes before they hatch and stop them from procreating.
5. Plant plants that repel insects. Plants such as lemon balm, mint, chrysanthemums, marigolds, basil, garlic, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, and others can deter flies. Fortunately, mosquitoes detest these herbs and plants, although they are incredibly attractive to look at and smell.
6. Construct planter boxes with a drain. Think about employing a catch basin with a drainage pipe as a drainage option in planter boxes. A raised atrium grate that keeps leaves, mulch, and other debris out of the system allows excess water to enter the basin and connects to a drain pipe so that it can drain to a safe area.
7. Install lights around your yard that deter insects. Installing LED lights, yellow insect lights, or sodium lamps in your backyard will help keep those pesky critters away. Home goods stores sell outdoor lighting and mosquito-repelling fixtures that are integrated.
8. Have a professional spray an organic treatment on your lawn. Nontoxic insect management methods can be very effective and kill fleas, ticks, and other insects without endangering the family pet. Pick pet-friendly, natural or organic products and strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s directions.
Nine. Construct a French drain. Using drainage products that you may buy at a hardware or home improvement store is a typical way to get rid of standing water around your home. A common option is a French drain, which consists of a gravel-filled trench that is slightly slanted and surrounds a perforated pipe. It offers a simple path for water to travel through, collecting water over the full length of the drain as opposed to just in one location, and rerouting both surface water and groundwater away from your house.
Where are Mosquito Dunks kept?
Just place a Mosquito Dunk in any area of water or a water feature. Other aquatic species are not harmed by it. It releases a bacteria that is only poisonous to mosquito larvae as it slowly dissolves. In water that has been treated with a Mosquito Dunk, larvae will start to eat the BTI as soon as they hatch, killing the larvae before they can develop into biting adults. It lasts for at least 30 days and is effective against all types of mosquitoes, including the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits yellow fever. The surface water treated by each Mosquito Dunk is up to 100 square feet.
If there is standing water around your property, put Mosquito Dunks in it. This includes ponds, gardens, flower pots, bird baths, rain barrels, roof gutters, unused swimming pools, and more.
Because the dried BTI isn’t technically a living bacterium, Mosquito Dunks can be kept for an endless amount of time. According to field studies, the eight-year-old Mosquito Dunks product is almost as successful at eradicating mosquito larvae as the new one. Mosquito Dunks should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated area.
Using Mosquito Dunks to kill mosquitoes is risk-free and non-toxic. They kill mosquitoes within hours and keep doing so for at least 30 days by using a microbe that is poisonous solely to mosquito larvae. Each Mosquito Dunk treats 100 square feet, and each package comes with 20 of them.
What rapidly eradicates fungus gnats?
So your African violets have been invaded by fungus gnats? Let’s now discuss methods for managing both adult flies and fly larvae. Here, we advise using an integrated pest management strategy to cover all your bases and permanently safeguard the inhabitants of your greenhouse and houseplants.
Organic Fungus Gnat Control
Surprisingly, one of my top suggestions for getting rid of these pests is a common household item. You can saturate soil in hydrogen peroxide (the standard topical variety, 3 percent).
Pour a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to four parts water through the soil in the root zone of the pot until it starts to emerge from the bottom. On contact, fungus gnat larvae are killed by the peroxide.
Neem oil works well as a soil soak to get rid of fungus gnat larvae. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to dilute the oil with water, then immerse the plant’s roots in the solution. To deter adult gnats, you can additionally spray the plant’s uppermost part.
Neem oil contains concentrated azadirachtin in its natural state. It is safe to use indoors, in greenhouses, gardens, and hydroponically. Use it as directed by the manufacturer, much like you would neem oil.
Sprays containing pyrethrin are also effective at killing fungus gnat larvae. Use pyrethrins by misting the soil’s surface and all plant surfaces with a light mist. A light mist will do; you don’t want the plants to get drenched. Spray the soil exactly where adults usually rest to completely hydrate the top if there are fungus gnat larvae present, then prevent overwatering. Let the soil dry to a depth of at least two. When the issue has passed and the insects are no longer a concern, reapply these after three to four weeks.
Adults and larvae are the targets of a predatory Hypoaspis miles mite. Additionally, it preys on other insects like thrips and springtails, which can be a pest in a greenhouse or garden. Since solitary specimens are more difficult to treat, these are best used outside or in greenhouses.
As you can see, there are numerous biological control treatments available for the removal of fungus gnats. Apply pesticides along with wise cultural habits and effective preventative measures, and you’re good to go!
Cultural Control of Fungus Gnats
Avoid flooding your growing media. These insects thrive in the moist growing medium found in houseplants. Do not leave standing water in saucers next to growing medium or below houseplants for an extended period of time. Keep your growth medium away from your potted greenhouse residents and fix any irrigation system leaks that develop. To get rid of any larvae that may be feasting on the organic elements in your compost, pasteurize the growing medium. If you don’t like the notion of doing it yourself, use heated commercial growing medium mixtures. While you take care of the issue, keep any sick plant material and growth medium away from other people.
Biological Removal of Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnat larvae can be killed by a specific strain of bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis. Most commercial BT sprays do not contain these bacteria, although they are also present as active components in some commercial products. You should see a reduction in your fungus gnat issues if you use them to fertilize your growth media.
By scattering Mosquito Bits or Mosquito Dunks over the soil’s surface and soaking them in, you can also introduce this bacterium. These are suitable for usage both inside and outside. They aren’t just used to kill mosquitoes! As they decompose, Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis is released into your soil, where it can begin to kill larvae. Mosquito dunks are more substantial and take longer to work.
The eradication of the fungus gnat larvae might also be greatly aided by the species of beneficial nematodes. The fungus gnat larvae and many other soil-dwelling pests will be eliminated by these microscopic soil dwellers, which you cannot see. Use a pot popper to incorporate these nematodes into the soil when treating an indoor plant. Commercial formulations can cover a larger garden or the entire yard since they uniformly distribute the nematodes with water.
Be warned that using a hydrogen peroxide soil drench and helpful nematodes at the same time will kill the nematodes! Nematodes should not be added back into the soil for at least a few weeks following the infestation. Nematodes should be used in cooler weather if you’re working outside because heat will kill them before they can perform their job. Keep in mind that you must apply more than once, twice a year.