Question
I have my fern inside  the house for the winter and I been finding samll flys or nats around the house but not seeing them on the plant.Please help .
Tom

Answer
Tom,

That's because you are looking at the plant and the gnats are in the soil. The bugs are fungus gnats and are there because the fern is being overwatered and the roots are rotting and the fungus gnats are feeding on the rotting roots like they go after overripe bananas on a kitchen counter. You need to dry out the plant and keep it on the dry side for the next several weeks. You can water it once with rubbing alcohol and it will kill any fungus gnats in the soil that are feeeding on the roots. It will quickly dry out from that and then you should keep the plant dryer in the future.Ferns need a lot of humidity to survive the winter indoors but not a lot of water. Water it less than you have and empty the drain tray so it is not sitting in a tray of water constanntly or you will end up with the same probleem again. Spray the plant twice a day, morning and night and that will help increase the mumidity. Set a pan of water on the registers in the room it is in. Also your fern will do well in an east window with bright light in the morning. If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene