Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I have a Coral Cactus plant and a bunch or little gnat looking bugs have decided to take residence in my plant.  How do I get rid of them, I have a jade plant next to it but they don't go on that plant.  Please let me know.

Thanks

Hope

ANSWER: Dear Hope,

It is difficult to tell from your description what kind of bugs you have.  Do you have a picture?  Are they on the top of the plant or at the base?  What color are they and do they secrete any substance?  Even if they haven't spread to your other plants I'd isolate the coral cactus.

If you could give me some of this information I may be able to help you.

Maureen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


bugs   QUESTION: Hi,

They tend to hang out at the base of the plant, and in the dirt, If you water the plant they fly up. no secreation. I have moved teh coral cactus to another place.

Thanks very much for your help.

Answer
Dear Hope,

It looks like you have fungus gnats.  The gnats themselves won't bother your plant, but to trap them get some yellow sticky paper and hang it near the plant and they will stick to it.  The more serious problem is the larva that they leave in the soil which can feed on fine roots.  The best way to stop the cycle is to let the soil dry out.  Fungus gnats and their larva like moist soil that is made of organic material. Drying it out will kill the larva and catching the gnats on sticky paper or spraying the plant and top of the soil with neem oil will kill the gnats.  Keep the plant away from your other plants until the problem is resolved, which usually takes a few weeks.  I'd then repot the plant in a soiless mix which is sterile, made up of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite, and keep the plant as dry as possible.  Cactus ans succulents really don't need much water and can develop pests like gnats, rot, mealy bugs ,etc. if there is too much and the soil is too inviting.

Fungus gnats aren't a huge problem if you can limit them to one plant and treat that.  They are more common in the summer with humid conditions and organic soil.

Hope that helps,
Maureen