Hello everyone.  I'm in gnat hell.  Been battling for some time now and they are getting out of control.  They're now circling the bins containing my cuttings, just waiting for an opening.  Not on my watch!  It's all out war on these critters.

The source of the problem is a Sal's C & VdB that were up-potted to 1 gal. nursery pots on 10/09/13.  Added infected Better-Gro Orchid Bark to the bottom of the pot before adding planting medium.  

 

Put fig plants into their new infected homes :(  Shame on me for not nuking the bark first.  Now I know better.

Noticed a few gnats sometime around 10/15/13.  Watered the plants again on 10/28/13.  Gnats began to explode.  Waited until soil dried up and on 11/15/13 began treating with 4 to 1 Water/Peroxide Solution and Yellow Sticky Traps.

 

The problem looked a little better, then gnats exploded again around 11/22/13.  Waited for soil to dry up a little more and on 11/27/13 treated with 3 to 1 Water/Peroxide Solution and continued use of Yellow Sticky Traps.  Next pic is Yellow Sticky trap from 11/27.

 

VdB seemed to be doing a little better than Sal C.  Waited until 12/05/13 and treated Sal C. with 15 oz. of 100% Peroxide.  Had to cut off a few dying leaves.  Treated VdB with 15 oz. of 50% Peroxide/Water solution.  Yellow Sticky traps from 12/05 & 12/10.

  

Pics of Sal C., VdB and new growth on VdB

    

Just ordered Gnatrol and will treat plants as soon as I get it.  Before treating I will remove plants from pots and get rid of Orchid Bark that is on the bottom of each pot so I can start watering from bottom.  When condition is under control I will continue to water with diluted Gnatrol from there on out.  After reading several topics I will also add sand to top of both plants and I am buying several carnivorous plants.  My question is this; How do I water from the bottom?  I've read many topics about the benefits of watering from the bottom, but can't find anything on exactly how to do it.  Google searches return results for 'self watering' , 'automatic watering', watering seedlings and the like.  If there is already a topic that someone knows about, could you please post a link to it.  If not, could a member please post directions on how to water 1 gal. nursery pots from the bottom.  Maybe a few pics too?  Please help.  Thanks.

Here is my program when I have a gnat problem.

Carnivorous plants and stick traps, both do a great job with the active gnats.

Gnatrol, I mix one tbsp to gal of water and "only" water from the bottom. The pot should have numerous holes in the bottom
and around the sides at least 1/4 of the way up from the bottom. I set the plant in a tub or other container where it has the
Gnatrol mixture deep enough to water 1/4 of the way up the pot.

I tried the sand and diamatous earth. Both were a bust for me and I would not do that again.

The above program eliminated all the gnats and just a short period of time. However, I continued using the Gnatrol and
watering from the bottom "only."

Thanks for the quick response.  How long do you keep the pot in the tub? 

Danny, if you are using clear cups you can see when the moisture is about half way up the cup which is what I strive for. No
more than that. If your using solid color pots you will have to get a "feel" for when it is where you want it or a moisture meter
may be in order. I leave the clear 32 oz cups in for about 2-3 minutes which usually does the trick for me.

Thanks again for the response, Mike.  So, for all intents and purposes, I would put my 1 gal. nursery pot, with holes 1/4 of the way up and all around the pot, in a bin big enough to hold the pot and any other pots that I put into the bin.  The Gnatrol water should rise to at least 1/4 of the way up the pot and cover the holes.  Then I wait a couple of minutes and take the pots out of the Gnatrol water.  Do I do this every time that I would normally water?

I now have the icky looking fly paper stung over every places I have cuttings. If I ever use the moss again I will nuke it. I had switched to perlite for most of my cuttings, nut I had one still in moss in a cup covered with a plastic bag. I went to check on it and the bag was full of gnats.....I lost about an inch off the bottom of the cutting but I think I saved it..I had been so careful to nuke everything except this one batch. Now I water with gnatrol and  peroxide... I poured peroxide on the larva I found but I was expecting the bubble and look like they were dying, they just seemed to disappear... 

Danny, that is exactly what I do. I then take them out of the bin and prop them up at an angle so they drain well. I personally do not
water them again until they look stressed. I learned a long time ago that less is much better than to much water. They will let you know
when they need it. The Gnatrol should take care of them without the peroxide. Give it time.

I was battling them myself  until I bought some GoGnats 2 weeks and I haven't seen 1 the stuff works awesome 

While searching for stuff to combat these annoying little buggers I ran across this stuff on ebay  gnat nix ??? Anyone ever use this stuff? Seems like it could be a good preventative ??

Dave,
I tried to crush the gnat at the bottom of your posting....no luck :)

This is why I don't start cuttings until january or feb.  There is just too much time to baby the plants until I can bring them outside.

Ed,

This year I received a few cuttings which were pre-gnatted. I had some minor, but controlled problems while rooting. When I moved all my rooted cuttings outside is when hell broke loose. Do you not have a problem with gnats outdoors?

Vaccumming indoors daily, many times a day in addition to others precautions.. oh that is why I will not root them indoors anymore... keeping a few pet spiders seems to help also. 

Ed you are 100% right about that.......................

Here's my version of gnat control. Queen size knee high nylons with 1 inch of scented kitty litter on top just in case.

 

Tyler, green on black looks very mean! I am sure gnats are quite intimidated..
A good job, btw.

These were plants from last year that I took cuttings from that I decided to let them grow over winter. When I first put the 6 or so 1gal pots under the grow lights I started seeing the gnats. Since I did this to all of them I haven't seen 1 in the area. Some I have open due to shoots growing up but I think the scented kitty litter is working as I haven't seen any on those either.

Has anyone tried to spray the medium with Sevin ConcentratedBug Killer? It is made to spay fruits and vegetables and controls (kills) over 100 insects. It is a poison but by the time the cutting will fruit, it will not be effective anymore. I tried it today on one small pot (half a gallon) and tomorrow I will inspect it to see the results.

Just wanted to post an update.  Treated with Gnatrol for first time tonight.  Mixed 1 Tablespoon with a gallon of water.  Didn't have a container to place plants in to water from the bottom.  Will have one for next watering.  Gave each plant 24 oz. of Gnatrol treated water.  Feel like I'm fighting a losing battle.  New growth on VdB hasn't grown anymore.  Had to cut another leaf from Sal C.  This is what the last Yellow Sticky Trap looked like:



On the Sal C. there are two 'growths'.  They are round, shiny, hard and black.  Don't know what they are.  If anyone does, please post:

 

Also have very small spider webs between leaves on Sal C.  You can see them in the second picture above.  Looked all over and don't see any spiders.

Also a question about Gnatrol.  I have leftover Gnatrol treated water.  Can I save for next watering or should I throw it out?

I mix mine up a gal or 2 at a timee and save what's left. Just give a good shake before you use it again.

Aren't your gnats attracted by red vinegar ? Put a cup with half an inch of red vinegar nearby the pots and watch the gnats dive in it.
Replace the vinegar every two or three days. It will take some time to get rid of them, because new ones will keep on hatching .
And let us know if it works for you.

Thanks for the reply, Dave.  Couldn't find an answer for that anywhere.

jdsfrance, Didn't try the red vinegar because some said it worked and some said it didn't work.  I guess it doesn't hurt to try.  I'll put some out.  Thanks.

Just my two cents
I think that by using the same bin to water all the plants you could spread FMV to all your plants.
Vito

Vito, you are probably right.  But after reading quite a few threads on the forum about FMV, there isn't much you can do to stop the transmission anyway.

worms are our friends...