Venus fly trap to help with gnat problem?

I'm very new to growing, so be easy on me. I continue to have a gnat problem. I've changed my watering habits (now, the ground seems overly dry (2 or 3 days) -but the leaves don't look thirsty- before I water), and used a water/hydrogen peroxide solution in the dirt (have done this 6 or 7 times 4-5 days apart), and still have one or two gnats flitting around my leaves every morning. I have put a piece of potato on the dirt, and found zero larvae on it. I keep the room my grow boxes are in clean, and am just at a loss as to what I should do. I bought some Venus Fly Traps at Lowe's today, and was wondering if there would be any adverse affects to sticking them in my grow boxes with my plants? Any suggestions, tips, or advice would be greatly appreciated! Happy growing.

I've heard of people using them but you have to be careful because they tent to dry out quickly

better to use a pest strip

Indoor Sun King said:

better to use a pest strip

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Little nasty but a much better idea. Since you already have the fly traps just put them by your window for extra protection.

cinnamon on the soil surface will help , but it's no cure

Thanks, folk! I'm excited about the fly traps, and will take care of them whether I put 'em in the boxes or not, but I definitely will put some cinnamon on my dirt. Thanks, again!

You know, I actually saw two or three little things buzzing around my plant when I was working with it today. I didnt even register it as a problem... Thank you for posting, and let us know how the strips work out - I may need to follow the same advice soon if they are harmful to my plant!

Chicken should of warned you about how much to use. Cinnamon has boric acid and too much is no bueno. Put it in "one" of your waterings. In a gallon container you only want a small pinch. Also if you let them really dry out a time or two it will kill off the bugs and larva, you need to keep a very close eye for leaf droopage so as not to water stress her. You wanna water her when the first leaf droops if you wait till a good amount droop it could stress her

Mo(no e) said:

I'm very new to growing, so be easy on me. I continue to have a gnat problem. I've changed my watering habits (now, the ground seems overly dry (2 or 3 days) -but the leaves don't look thirsty- before I water), and used a water/hydrogen peroxide solution in the dirt (have done this 6 or 7 times 4-5 days apart), and still have one or two gnats flitting around my leaves every morning. I have put a piece of potato on the dirt, and found zero larvae on it. I keep the room my grow boxes are in clean, and am just at a loss as to what I should do. I bought some Venus Fly Traps at Lowe's today, and was wondering if there would be any adverse affects to sticking them in my grow boxes with my plants? Any suggestions, tips, or advice would be greatly appreciated! Happy growing.

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watering too much

Oh, very helpful. Thanks. I've some yellow electrical tape that I've stuck inside-out to the inside of my boxes, and held off on the cinnamon (got caught up putting cooking herbs in the window with the Venus Fly Trap), thankfully. I was just going to sprinkle some onto the dirt. :/
I've another question; if you don't mind answering?
How should I go about flipping the lights? Mine come on currently at six am, and off at midnight. Should I move it all at once to either six or twelve, or do it gradually like the actual changing of seasons? I'm going to wait a couple more weeks before doing so, and have been keeping an eye out around here for that question already being answered, as to not make this the department of redundancy department.. but figured this is as good a time as any, having not found that answer?

you can use those small sticky yellow cards to catch the flkying gnats or any other small insect. also a fan to stop them getting comfy & laying eggs etc. Just remember that gnats love water, so careful not to water too much. Good luck

In the spirit of venus fly trap photos-this thing already being useful!

keep a cat in there too........mice love cannabis.
venus fly traps eat about every month or so. its not "Little Shop of Horrors."

DonAlejandroVega said:

keep a cat in there too........mice love cannabis.
venus fly traps eat about every month or so. its not "Little Shop of Horrors."

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I'm thinking you had better get more than a flytrap! The nasty little guys require all out war lol. Actually love the little guys caused they pushed me into hydro lol. I have not had to deal with them since. Some one on here suggested a mosquito dunk (not sure what it is) that are available at lowes, etc.

I grew up on a farm, and knowthe exactly what a mosquito dunk is, but have seen mixed suggestions here about them, so decided to stay away. And the three cats that live at my house are not allowed in my bedroom (where the grow boxes are)-not only am I allergic one cat ate a plant in the half a second my back was turned, and on a more different occasion knocked a whole grow box over trying to get at the plants. I don't trust them anymore.
I only just yesterday have seen any of the little shop of horrors - and it was one scene with audrey II. Awesome timing on the reference.
I will eventually move to hydro, just would like to be more comfortable with the entire growing process before hand.

Just get some Gnat Off from ebay. Works every time and does not hurt plants.

Gnat nix works too. Top dressing, and safe for ur plants!

You don't get fungus gnats from watering too much, this is classic correlation verus causation. Yes, fungus gnats tend to prefer moist environments, but will lay eggs whereever there is the slightest chance they could survive. They will lay eggs in soil that is more or less bone dry.

They tend to occur when an adult female fungus gnat (or more) comes by to lay a hundred or so eggs, at a time. They survive because there are limited to no predators in the indoor potting mix.

Underwatering is not beneficial and can/will hinder growth. I would recommend a biological control, like the Gnatrol or Mosquito Dunks or Bits. Both contain the Bacillus thuringiensis isreali bacterium endospores, and an associated larvacidal toxin it produces which kills fungus gnats, mosquito and blackfly larva. Mosquito Dunks are available at virtually every garden center and some carry the Mosquito Bits, which are somewhat more convenient to use. Dunks you can just soak in water, or break up and soak and water, for about 24 hours and then apply. Do it every two weeks.

Also, use sticky stakes or fly strips to catch the adults and keep an eye on the population. If it is really bad, use a vacuum cleaner to go after adults. There is also pyrethrin spray, an insectide derived from Chrysanthemums which breaks down rapidly (usually with piperonyl butoxide as a synergist). There is usually really no need to use anything more toxic for fungus gnats in soil. I keep living predators (Hypoaspis) in my soil that eat fungus gnats. Some people use beneficial nematodes, but those need to be applied periodically.