if you think your 'floaters' have grown wings and are flying around your plants, you may have fungus [soil] gnats. little black dots flipping around the soil-level if you're growing in dirt. they are pesky and use resources, i understand.

after i pot a plant, i throw a few tablespoons of clean play-grade sand on top of the soil. this makes it impossible for the fungus gnats to reproduce. never have fungus-gnats again.

-cheap tip #2
durt

If this works, you are my new hero.

Pappy

i like the way the sand forms a hard, chunky surface on top of the dirt. and maybe the silicates are also good? they are organic.
-durt

__________________
http://www.myspace.com/durtro

it works better if you but a half centimeter think layer on the top and the finer the better. it cuts the stomachs of the gnats when they go to lay eggs and it shredds the larvae when they try to break the surface.

__________________
they call me ishmael, and mobys music sucks. smile if you get it.

yes, you do need to cover the top layer of soil with sand completely.

__________________
http://www.myspace.com/durtro

Using sand is a really good tip. I'm gonna have to try this on my umbrella tree that I have growing in my apartment, it's infested with the little buggers and I didn't want to use a pesticide.

diatomaceous earth works well also but you just have to dust the soil.

it's made from shells which have been ground up into microscopic little pieces
which are razor sharp and eliminate all crawlies.

it's available at Lowes for about $8.00 USD per bag (the bag i bought will
last me for probably 2 years or more)

just thought i'd mention it as another, very viable, very effective option,
and it's organic too.

__________________
peace, bozo

Those that give up Liberty to have temporary Security deserve Neither......Benjamin Franklin.

bozo's mother cab, bozo's bud box, bozo's bubble cloner, bozo's multi-strain micro-SOG

The Complete guide to Sick Plants,pH, and Pest troubles! MynameStitch

As I transplant into the final size bag, I have been putting on the sand. So far, they haven't grown in number. Last year, I went through alot of neem oil. That was way too much bother. This seems to be working.

Looks like, simple really is best.

Thanks again.


Pappy