black flies and eggs on houseplant

hwalkerh

Hi

I have a house plant that has loads of black flies and eggs on a house plant i got recently. What are these?

I have put it outside but it is a nice plant is there anything i can do to get rid of them to save the plant?

Kay_Peel

These are common little blighters. They are fungus gnats and they usually prey on houseplants that are overwatered and getting unhealthy.

Kill the eggs by letting the plant dry out then repot it with fresh compost. Plant a small garlic bulb in with the new compost.

Try watering your plant differently. For instance - Don't be afraid to let it dry out a bit and instead of keeping the compost constantly moist try to give it one good watering every 10 days or so (Plunge it into a bucket and only take it out when all the air bubbles have stopped bubbling on the surface).

The gnats don't like dry compost and won't lay eggs in dry conditions - and they don't like the smell of garlic either!

Or throw it away if it's badly infected, weak and beyond help, I'm afraid.

hwalkerh

Thanks. i haven't had the plant long so i think it probably came with the problem, the plant itself is healthy and new.

I'll have a go at getting rid of the flies and eggs and then pot it into some new soil

Kay_Peel

Oops - correction to the above.

plant a clove of garlic in with the new compost - not the whole bulb. Sorry about that! :eek: