Question
I have been getting tiny black insects in the deeper part of the soil of most of my house plants-christmas cactus,rubber plant, draconia. They are shiney black and are about the size of a fruit fly. They seemed to fly aound my  draconia but have not flown around the others.  I have been changing the soil completely on infected plants. What else can I do except destroy the plants?

Answer
Barbara,

Your plants have fungus gnats from being kept too wet. It is not necessary to change the soil. You need to cut the amount of water you give them in half and never allow the plant to sit with a drain tray full of water. Water the plants with rubbing alcohol one time and let it sit for an hour then remove the drain tray and allow the alcohol and water to run out down the drain an let the plants dry out so the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry before you water each time you water. Be sure not to leave the plants sit with water standing in the drain tray. Standing water rots the roots and attracts the fungus gnats. As new roots begin to grow they will be particularly susceptible to root rot if the plant is left with water in the drain tray. Houseplants are not swamp plants and cannot stand to be in standing water constantly. If the roots start to rot then fungus gnats smell the rotting roots and attack the plantss. They cannot be constantly wet. Good luck.

Darlene