My spider plant has small bugs flying around it. I guess they are gnats? How do I get rid of them in the...?

soil and on the leaves without hurting the plant? Can I wipe the leaves with vinegar and use something else natural in the soil to kill the larvae?

My spider plant has small bugs flying around it. I guess they are gnats? How do I get rid of them in the...?
They are gnats specificly fungus gnats. They like dampness and fungus (hence their name...) the best way to get rid of them is to buy some yellow sticky cards and some knock -out gnats (which is a concentate of Bacillus thurigiensis...it kills the larva without being harmful to us...just don't drink it...) These can be found in a local garden center or online at: www.gardensalive.com


I have great luck with either one, but a combination of the two will give you the best results.
Reply:Forget the Insecticidal Soaps. Buy a cheap and small bottle of Pure Ivory Liquid Dish Detergent and a Spray Bottle.


Use 1/4 tsp per quart of water. Spray the gnats themselves, the plant, and the soil . This will suffocate them. You can get all this for less than $2.50.


As a Grounds Manager I ran into this problem in a Courtyard at a Dorm. Believe it or not it was ChemLawn that came-up with the non pesticide elimination. I use it to this day in my work and consultations. Besides, we all need dish washing detergent now and then. Good Luck.
Reply:You can spay the leaves with "safer" soap and put a fine grain sand on top of the soil in the pot. I've used it and it works every time. It smothers the larvae and within about 3-5 days all the bugs are gone.
Reply:I would change the potting soil and wash the container that it is in with bleach water, also give the plant itself a good bath washing the leaves and the roots well. Then set a baby food jar or small juice glass with 2 ounces of cider vinegar and two drops of liquid dishwashing soap close to the plant, this will attrack any remaining gnats and they will drown in this mixture, just wait a few days and look thr the bottom of the glass, you will be amazed!
Reply:My grandmother had flys, bugs and squriles all in her garden so she sprinkled paparika i think al around her plants and the pests were gone
Reply:They make "soap" sprays that will kill the insects, but not harm the plant.
Reply:This is white fly. Spider plants are bad for something called mealy bugs, which look like tan or brown scale on the stems. To be honest, this is an uphill battle. You can try systemic poisons (they are absorbed by the plant and kill sucking insects) and also try a horticultural oil to kill them topically. But this is a tough bug to kill, you may end up having to sacrifice the plant to keep them from spreading to your other plants.