[CH] Gnats
Glisson Richard TSgt 12ADS/SGGB (Richard.Glisson@RANDOLPH.AF.MIL)
Tue, 24 Aug 1999 08:15:39 -0500
Howdy from Texas, folks. I'm kinda new to this "growing plants" thing and
got a little carried away. I now have 12 potted habaneros growing on a
table I built just for them in front of my dining room window. The problem
I'm having is with gnats. I just can't seem to get rid of the little
buggers. I kinda want the peppers to be "certified organic" so I don't
particularly want to use any harsh chemicals on 'em. The Venus flytrap I
bought is having its own problems, so it isn't gonna be any help. From what
I can figure out from the web, they're probably fungus gnats. Janie, from
www.chileplants.com <http://www.chileplants.com> , suggested to avoid
overwatering and to stir the top layer of soil with a pencil so it will dry
out. This will kill the fungus and deprive the gnats of a food source.
I've just started doing this, but was wondering if anyone else out there had
any ideas. I am working on a little something to trap them based on a
device we use when we want to survey an area for species/sex of mosquitoes.
It's basically a small fan with a light above it. The mosquitoes are
attracted to the light and the fan sucks them down to a killing jar. Since
the gnats seem drawn to my computer screen, I figure they must be drawn to
light also. I'm using one of my old computer fans with a 9 volt battery to
suck 'em down, but need to get some fine mesh so the downward rushing air
has a place to dissipate to after hitting the bottom of the jar. Otherwise
it creates an updraft around the fan and defeats the whole purpose of the
contraption. I plan to put some vegetable oil in the bottom of the jar to
hold the gnats. If it works, I won't have to worry about keeping the soil
dry all the time. Y'all have a good one.
Rick O-