yellow post-it notes as attracters for fungus gnats?
I have a very moist house by default. I have these horrible fungus gnats that hover around my plants. I heard that if I somehow plant yelllow stickies in or around the plant, they will attract the fungus gnats and get stuck. Is this true? I’ve tried expensive chemicals ,but they just won’t go away.
Use fly paper and put a small layer of horticultural sand on top of your soil. The sand acts like broken glass to their bodies when they try to bury themselves in your soil.
those yellow cards are what horticulturalists use to detect those pesky creatures, not to control them by any means . those cards are put up to see the numbers of gnats not for control . you’re keeping your plants too moist therefore gnats are growing . they are born in the soil and take flight. you may want to try watering from a new perspective . get a saucer for the plants and water from the bottom as to let the plant absorb though the bottom of the plant . stop watering from the top to keep that top soil in the pot on dry side thus discouraging gnat growth.
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cherylann, good answer…thumbs up!!!
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Use fly paper and put a small layer of horticultural sand on top of your soil. The sand acts like broken glass to their bodies when they try to bury themselves in your soil.
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I read in a gardening magazine about using yellow index cards covered in petroleum jelly as an organic pest control for whiteflies and gnats. I have not tried it myself, but I believe this may be what you are referring to in your question. The article suggested taping the cards to popsicle sticks or straws and sticking them in the soil. The gnats are attracted to the yellow color and then get stuck in the goo. Could be worth a try. Good Luck!
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I agree with cherylann, I grow plants for a living and also do the spraying. We use a chemical called gnatrol to kill the eggs the gnats lay, I use sunoil to kill the gnats, the gnats lay their eggs only an half inch of so in to the top layer of soil, you can either by new soil and wash your containers before replanting, these gnats are a pain and are very active in the winter, I wish I had a quarter for every one I have killed in the last 16 years, they like it damp and cold, as it warms up they go away. You may have your home to cool and not enough light along with the soil not drying out between watering. Most people overwater their house plants, a quick way to dry out your soil is put your plants on top of the refridgerator for a few days until you notice the top layer dry, I prefer to use a container for my house plants called WATER-SAVER, you do’nt have to water as often and it’s good for when your on vacation. GOOD LUCK and kill those gnats.P.S. the yellow sticky sheets can be used for collection of the gnats and other insects, that can be a back up, but prevention is key.
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The cards you are referring to are commercially made and called "sticky cards". Available at a greenhouse supply house. They are yellow, yes and coated with an adhesive like flypaper! Post it notes will …. not work. I am not sure if sticky cards are used in greenhouses as a monitoring tool or as a control. Why don’t you call a commercial greenhouse grower? I am sure they would know since this is a common greenhouse pest. Yes, fungus gnats can be a problem if soil surfaces are constantly moist. However if you don’t water your plants…..
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