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Houseplants are highly prone to a series of vulnerable plant pests which can ruin the health of the plant life as adversely as possible. There are about a large group of harmful insects that needs immediate treatment measures soon after the identification of infestation in order to save the life of the plant. Fungus Gnats, a tiny insect species belonging to the fly category is one of those destructive kinds particularly targeting potted plants or backyard plants where the moisture content is sometimes said to be above the standard level.
Greenhouse plants are the quite commonly observed with the attack of fungus gnats because of the fact that greenhouse usually maintains a high percentage of humidity in the air as well as other media. Therefore, the suitable environmental condition for the fungus gnats to breed will be the humid climate which means that during post summer season, houseplants and garden plants are likely to attract such gnats towards growing medium and develop their population strength by intense laying of eggs.
It is supposed that the adults of fungus gnats are reserved, and thus they do not cause any means of destruction in the plant. Only the larvae of the insect at the initial stage serve as a menace in gardens. The characteristic function of the larvae is the extensive feeding of the roots and root hairs of greenhouse plants or houseplants causing deformities like yellowing of leaves, short growth and wilting of leaves. All these plant disorders occur due to the hindrance of nutrient supply through the roots from soil.
In the context of their control methods, certain factors need to be preliminarily carried out, which includes drying of the soil media that is going to be filled in the post, ensuring adequate watering of plants, monitoring the stagnation of water, exposure of the plant to sunlight and maintenance of room temperature if it is a houseplant. Integration of soil with Organic Oil of Neem can stop the larvicidal activity of the gnats efficiently. Spraying of Neem oil over the saplings inside the greenhouse as well as the plants kept at the backyard can repel the adult gnats from breeding which in turn inhibits their population.
Author: Adam Teaser - neem
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