QuestionQUESTION: I bought a Song of India Plant several months ago from Home depot I water it every 10 days and it gets bright light. Recently I noticed 1 inch dark worms in the soil; there were also little gnat like bugs flying around the soil. Can you tell me what I can do to get rid of these pests?
ANSWER: Sharon,
After you water it you should wait an hour and empty the drain tray so the plant is not left sitting in water. The insects are fungus gnats and the worms are their larva. They are there because you have some root rot because you have been leaving the plant sit with a drain tray full of water.
Remove the drain tray and set it in the bathtub to let it drain overnight. Then water it with a bottle of rubbing alcohol and that will kill the worms. Then start letting it go 14 days between waterings and be careful not to leave water in the drain tray. The roots will grow back and in the spring you can go back to watering more frequently. Good luck.
Darlene
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you Darlene. One more question, can these fungus gnats kill the plant?
ANSWER: Sharon,
No, but the overwatering that is causing the root rot that is attracting the fungus gnats is killing the plant. The fungus gnats are the same as fruit flys that are attracted to overripe bananas on your counter. They are there because the bananas are starting to rot. You get rid of the bananas and they go away. You have to solve to problem of the rotting roots and they will go away. I told you how to do that. If you don't do that and keep the plant dryer your plant will die. Good luck.
Darlene
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Darlene,
Thank you. I woke up this morning and there were 18 worms around the bottom of the pot YUCH!!!. Should I dilute the rubbing alcohol with water or pour it directly on the soil. Also how much should I use?
Thank you again, Sharon
AnswerSharon,
For the ones around the bottom of the pot I would pour rubbing alcohol directly on them full strength. Otherwise I would dilute it just a little, 2 parts alcohol and 1 part water. Water it with that. Leave it sit for an hour then remove the liquid from the drain tray. Set it in the tub and let it run down the drain or in the garage and let it run down a floor drain or suction it out with an old turkey baster but get it out so the plant will dry out as soon as possible. The goal is not to keep the plant too wet so the roots stop rotting and the worms don't come back. Fungus gnats come in with fruit from the grocey and quickly attack anything rotting in your home. If you have plants with rotting roots they lay eggs and you get worms. You have to stop the rotting roots to stop the worms. Be very careful not to overwater and do not leave water sitting in the drain tray. Let the plant be dry for at least 3 days before you water it again. That will help the roots grow back and be healthy and you won't have the gnats. If the soil seems really bad you may need to replace some soil but try not to disturb the roots any more than you hve to to replace the poor soil. Add extra perlite to the new potting soil for better drainage and healthier roots. Use 2 parts potting soil and 1 part perlit. If you have more questions write again.
Good luck.
Darlene
