Question
My jade (which is over 30 years old) blooms every winter.  However the flower stalks seem to attract small black insects.  Do you know what they are and what, if anything, I should do about them.  I checked the gardening site you recommended to someone else but they don't discuss these particular insects.

Answer
Laurel,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. They sound like fungus gnats to me. If that is the case, they are difficult to eradicate. I have many house plants, so getting rid of them has been a constant battle. The only thing that has worked for me, has been to spray insecticide on the soil of all the indoor plants (as well as all window sills) weekly.

Hope this helps.

Greg