6 replies to this topic

[twigs]

What is the best defense against insects?  Right now I'm seeing some annoying fungus gnats moving in.  I'm treating with neem oil, but I'm not sure its working.  I hear Bayer Garden Provado works wonders, but seeing as I'm in the US, I can't get ahold of any.

Any recommendations?

[gardenofeden]

fungus gnats are mostly harmless. grow lots of Drosera and Pinguicula, they will mop up the adults

[loligo1964]

twigs, on 30th June 2009 - 16:22 PM, said:

What is the best defense against insects?  Right now I'm seeing some annoying fungus gnats moving in.  I'm treating with neem oil, but I'm not sure its working.  I hear Bayer Garden Provado works wonders, but seeing as I'm in the US, I can't get ahold of any.

Any recommendations?

Forget the neem oil, except on more touchy, sensitive species, such as Cephalotus and some Nepenthes. Go with Ortho Orthenex. It's very effective against a number of insect pests and is systemic -- so you're not treating the same plants every week. I use it on Sarracenia and Dionaea, especially when aphids are in season . . .

[twigs]

Thanks for the replies.  

The reason I am worried about fungus gnats is that last fall, our house was infested with the little buggers.  I'm not sure if they came in with the house plants, or had infested my VFT / Sundew.  Either way, they were a huge problem, and I would like to prevent that this year.

So the stuff is too harsh for Cephs?  Should I continue with the Neem for Cephs, or is there a better alternative?  Most of my indoor plants are Cephs now that I just got my big one and planted divisions.

[loligo1964]

twigs, on 1st July 2009 - 06:25 AM, said:

Thanks for the replies.  

The reason I am worried about fungus gnats is that last fall, our house was infested with the little buggers.  I'm not sure if they came in with the house plants, or had infested my VFT / Sundew.  Either way, they were a huge problem, and I would like to prevent that this year.

So the stuff is too harsh for Cephs?  Should I continue with the Neem for Cephs, or is there a better alternative?  Most of my indoor plants are Cephs now that I just got my big one and planted divisions.

There is a premixed neem oil preparation with an insecticide, fungicide and miticide -- Garden Light  Neem II -- and it is well-tolerated by Cephalotus and Heliamphora, though it can truly trash live sphagnum, so do be careful .  . .

[loligo1964]

twigs, on 1st July 2009 - 06:25 AM, said:

Thanks for the replies.  

The reason I am worried about fungus gnats is that last fall, our house was infested with the little buggers.  I'm not sure if they came in with the house plants, or had infested my VFT / Sundew.  Either way, they were a huge problem, and I would like to prevent that this year.

So the stuff is too harsh for Cephs?  Should I continue with the Neem for Cephs, or is there a better alternative?  Most of my indoor plants are Cephs now that I just got my big one and planted divisions.

There is a premixed neem oil preparation with an insecticide, fungicide and miticide -- Garden Light  Neem II -- and it is well-tolerated by Cephalotus and Heliamphora, though it can truly trash live sphagnum, so do be careful. Orthenex will work but is a bit on the harsh side for Cephalotus .  . .

[Alexis]

You'll never really eradicate them as they'll just come back. There's no real need to anyway - a simple capensis or binata will control the population though.