Dang nabbit! I was watering my cuttings this morning and noticed something flying around. At first I thought it was a fruit fly, but looked closer and it was the dreaded gnat! Come on, really? Just when things were going so good....

So I looked in the forum and read I need to use mosquito dunks. How much of the donut would you use for a gallon of water? Also do I just water regularly with it? I'm only giving a teaspoon of water once a week. Is that enough to kill any larvae?

I also read to put diatomaceous earth on the leaves & top of the soil. Does this work? I have some of this on hand because of my chickens so its readily available.

Ugh!! It never ends does it? Just when you think you can relax a little these buggers show up....

I can tell you that diatomaceous earth is very fine particles that will get in to the soil and hold water around your roots and kill them if you add too much.

Diatomaceous Earth also really only works when it's dry.
Use the dunks, but be mindful of the amount of water you use. And water around the inside perimeter of the pot, not against the cutting stems.
As they say "The battle begins!"

Hi Jenn42,
To kill the adults use a vacuum cleaner. Just be careful not to aspire the leaves.
No adults, no eggs, no larvae :)

Ok thanks!! I will try anything since I've come this far!!

I’ve added BioCare Gnat Stix to my arsenal of gnat repellants this year.   Highly gnat attractive, effective, easy to use and inexpensive!   I’m happy with so far, it traps gnats before I even see the dreaded pest.   Not a substitute for drench to eliminate larva, if already infested.   Good luck….

Thanks Jack. I will look it up & check it out.

Oh No!! I broke a nail!!!
Seriously; where there is one, there is more.
A F4F member swears that a (nearby) dap of
nail polish keeps the adult gnats away.

Gnats and fingernail poilsh :
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6740366

Oh Gno! :
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6780908

Well I definitely have nail polish! Can't hurt. Still gotta get the mosquito dunks though. Fingers crossed

Yes, mosquito dunks have the active BTi ingredient that kills the gnats at the larvae stage.

quick tobasco sauce! everything tastes better with tobasco sauce :)