While watering the plants today outside, I noticed the gnats flying around. I have not seen them for the entire summer and early fall in those numbers.
This is in Los Angeles, zone 10a. It is getting cooler and maybe that’s what they like since it is getting windier as well and they can hide from it.
I hope my newly rooted figs can make it before a massive attack.

I hate them!

Igor,
These will work for up to 1 gallon pots.... nylon kneehighs twist tied around the cutting.
100% gnat proof.....  I haven't lost a cutting to gnats since last year when I started using them.

Tyler

 

Tyler,

Could you take a photo closer so I can see what you do around the stem, please?
I might do that, hate to see them dying.

Geez… I checked Amazon for those nylon knee-highs and discovered that they come in different sizes, colors, sheerness, ultra-sherness, etc… What a zoo :)

Tyler what size is best for 1 gal pots? Other features?

How do you water the plants wrapped in them?

Bought mine in Target.  Cheap ones.  I think they came 4 to a pack.  Don't remember if they were Queen size or XL.  They work great!  Trying to find larger ones for 2 gal. pots.

 

Danny,

Thanks for the photo. Are those the knee-highs or Ankle High socks?

I bought a box of 10 pair... queen size at walmart for less than 10 bucks I think?? Igor I just wrap the opening of the stocking around the cutting then secure it with a twist tie or wire.

I water buy dipping the bottom couple inches of the pot in a pail of water for a few seconds... which I think is better for it anyways. If you try to water from the top it will just run off.

Igor - You're welcome.  Tyler turned me on to the idea.  They're knee-highs.

I've been using the little FootSox from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=foot+sox

They are small and they only cover the top opening of my cups (not the holes in the bottom). I have not had any gnats in my humidity bin until a couple days ago. My son was trying to root some tomato cuttings and he stuck his two cups full of potting soil (sans sox) in the bin. They attracted gnats within 24 hours. I removed them and the gnats disappeared with them. They did not infect the other cups that were covered. My drain holes are on the bottoms of the cups, so maybe they can't get in there anyway.

Paul,

Before I used the nylons I tried 1" of sand on the top of pots. That seemed to work for the top somewhat (though I could still watch the gnats running around on the sand which I didn't like) but they did find their way under the pots into the openings. The pots usually have little plastic stand offs just enough for them to fit under. So I'd keep an eye out. Especially after you take it out of the humidity bin.

edit... oh you said cups which obviously would sit flat on the bottom. I think the nylons are a good idea once you pot them up though.
Tyler

Yes, in this case, they are flat bottomed sitting on flat surface. Once I go to soil, I am usually outdoors (where I have never had a gnat problem). However, since I have some cuttings in cups now and I'm starting another batch of cuttings tonight, I think I'm going to be raising figs indoor this winter.

Paul,

What I saw was outdoor, not inside the house.

[QUOTE=greenfig]Paul,

What I saw was outdoor, not inside the house.[/QUOTE]

I hope I don't get a chance to see that. I assumed that being indoors, the gnats bred out of control due to lack of predators that might otherwise be present outdoors. Maybe I can train the squirrels, rabbits, gophers, moles, voles and birds to catch the gnats.

Gnatrol works good. I did the panty Jose thing a couple of years ago and it worked good but some winters I have close to 1000 plants. Not all figs.

[QUOTE=garden_whisperer]Gnatrol works good. I did the panty Jose thing a couple of years ago and it worked good but some winters I have close to 1000 plants. Not all figs.[/QUOTE]

Dave,
How often do you apply Gnatrol?

Once I see gnats I water with gnatrol once a week. Not if the soil is to wet But I treated 2 days ago for the first time this year. No more gnats

Hi greenfig,
Are the pots grouped and shading each other ?

Gnats don"t like sun. If you can get enough space around each pot so that the sun can hit all the pots
that should take care of the gnats. Of course if your trees are softy ... that could kill the plants ...
Do you have standing water under the pots ? Try to avoid that .