Hello, there has been a lot of tiny black-winged insects flying around my apartment and I discovered seeing them flying around inside the pot of my monstera and running around in the dirt. I believe they're fungus gnats?

I also discovered my monstera is being attacked by thrips. I found the thin black insects (adults) on my windows near the plant and I see the tiny bugs on top of my monstera's leaf. Weirdly, they've only been on that one leaf (which is the first leaf that sprouted from my monstera after getting it)

I bought Safer's End All spray and have sprayed down my monstera's leaves and stems twice already but I'm not sure if it's helping. The stems are becoming yellow in some spots too.

Can anyone please guide me to save my plant and get rid of these pests? I'm in Canada, so no neem oil. Should I just cut off my monstera's leaf?

Not sure I'd worry about the mites unless they get too annoying.

Sounds like you're doing everything right from what I've read, but I don't have much recent experience with them that didn't resolve itself.
The nurseries I worked at as a teen would just turn off the ventilation and fire up a 200lb pesticide fogger on wheels.
Poor guy using it would wear a hazmat suit and respirator.

What do you guys have against neem oil,?
New to me, I'll have to check that out.

The Safer brand is what I saw recommended.

Depending on the weather, if you see activity take it outside and hit each leaf and junction with the stem with a hard fine blast with the house.
Start early, hit it again a couple hours later, let dry in indirect light, treat with Safer the following day.

Whether water or Safer, make sure to pay close attention to the underside of the leaves where they'll be most prevalent.

Humboldt said:Not sure I'd worry about the mites unless they get too annoying.

Sounds like you're doing everything right from what I've read, but I don't have much recent experience with them that didn't resolve itself.
The nurseries I worked at as a teen would just turn off the ventilation and fire up a 200lb pesticide fogger on wheels.
Poor guy using it would wear a hazmat suit and respirator.

What do you guys have against neem oil,?
New to me, I'll have to check that out.

The Safer brand is what I saw recommended.

Depending on the weather, if you see activity take it outside and hit each leaf and junction with the stem with a hard fine blast with the house.
Start early, hit it again a couple hours later, let dry in indirect light, treat with Safer the following day.

Whether water or Safer, make sure to pay close attention to the underside of the leaves where they'll be most prevalent.

mites ?? are there also mites there ?? i couldn't tell i really care about this plant so this sucks big time

i'm not sure where these pests came from, i haven't brought in any new plants recently and none came with bugs when i bought them from months ago

and that sounds like quite the intense treatment omg !!

every article i've read about eradicating pests have mentioned to use neem oil but i can't get that here unfortunately >:

i'm in an apartment so i have no hose, but i have been spraying the entire plant with Safer (i just did another spray tonight actually) and i sit it outside on the balcony to let it drip and bring it back in the next day (since it gets really windy and my plant looks like it'll get blown apart) only that new leaf has been affected from what i can see, but it seems my plant isn't doing so well if the stalks have some yellowing to them

Narumenma said:

mites ?? are there also mites there ??

Sorry, I got them mixed up in my response.

Haven't used Safer before, but I'd suggest to follow the instructions but maybe play it "safe" by going on the minimum amount and giving it some time.

Humboldt said:

Sorry, I got them mixed up in my response.

Haven't used Safer before, but I'd suggest to follow the instructions but maybe play it "safe" by going on the minimum amount and giving it some time.

oh wheww i was worried there was an additional pest

and gotcha! i also decided to purchase some sticky traps, beneficial nematodes, and mosquito dunks too.

Narumenma said:

oh wheww i was worried there was an additional pest

and gotcha! i also decided to purchase some sticky traps, beneficial nematodes, and mosquito dunks too.

Can't hurt.

Was trying to find some sticky traps for you but it got late, all I was finding where agricultural versions.

i think my plant is doing worse ahhh i can't tell if these are burns or if they're from the pests?







my plant has been sitting on my balcony after i treated it with Safer (which was the last time i replied)

Does any of that discoloration rub off on your fingers or a paper towel.

I'm guessing but if so maybe powder mildew?
The first photo is the only one that made me think that.

My bet is still a watering issue, especially for the other photos.

How many leaves is the discoloration present on?

Humboldt said:Does any of that discoloration rub off on your fingers or a paper towel.

I'm guessing but if so maybe powder mildew?
The first photo is the only one that made me think that.

My bet is still a watering issue, especially for the other photos.

How many leaves is the discoloration present on?

i tried rubbing off that discoloration with a damp napkin but nothing came off. and only two leaves have that discolouration currently, both of the only fenestration leaves my plant has >:

Fungus Gnats can be from a combination of to much water and not enough light. Monstera plants aren't normally a gnat pest problem in my experience.

it's been nearly a month ! here's an update: i managed to get rid of the thrips after a few sessions of Safer's End All spray and lint roller applications on the fenestration leaves. i've not seen any adults or the babies. my monstera is even currently popping out a new fenestration leaf despite fighting against two pests !!

i'm still struggling with the fungus gnat infestation though. i have many yellow sticky traps inside the pot but there seems to be no end of them. i'm currently using the pot popper nematodes and mosquito dunks in my water but i'm not sure if they're doing the job (or dissolving properly into the soil)....i keep the soil moist for the nematodes but i'm sure that's helping the fungus gnats too. any ideas to eradicate them? they're so annoying flying around in my face gahhh

Narumenma said:.i keep the soil moist for the nematodes but i'm sure that's helping the fungus gnats too. any ideas to eradicate them? they're so annoying flying around in my face gahhh

Good news on the thrips! Thanks for the update.

The gnats...I'm seeing everything from the sticky traps we talked about, to hydrogen peroxide, cinnamon,
diatomaceous earth, to apple cider:
https://www.google.com/search?...

Not recommending anything but the sticky traps, but the DE is worth looking into.

Very useful stuff, but it is carcinogenic if inhaled. Safe to eat but don't breath it.

Humboldt said:

Good news on the thrips! Thanks for the update.

The gnats...I'm seeing everything from the sticky traps we talked about, to hydrogen peroxide, cinnamon,
diatomaceous earth, to apple cider:
https://www.google.com/search?...

Not recommending anything but the sticky traps, but the DE is worth looking into.

Very useful stuff, but it is carcinogenic if inhaled. Safe to eat but don't breath it.

thanks for checking back in !! the two discoloured leaves i showed in the pictures before have browned at some parts and i was contemplating cutting them off entirely but decided not to, since i think it's getting sunlight still ;W;

i did try hydrogen peroxide in my water but no result. as for DE, i think that's viable if all else fails it does make me nervous about breathing it in accidentally ahahaha

i'm thinking i might even go with the sand solution at some point !

For some reason I get gnats often but luckily not in my plants so far. What I do to get rid of them, after much research and trial and error, is mix apple cider vinegar and water (50/50) with a few drops of liquid dish soap and a little sugar in shallow glass or bowl and secure plastic wrap around it with a rubber band. I poke several holes in the plastic so the gnats go in but can't come out. Usually within a couple of days they're gone. If I have them bad I'll place glasses in several places around my house.

I don't know if this would work to put near your plants or to actually place a glass in the pot with your plant but it's worth a try.

AllieCat said:For some reason I get gnats often but luckily not in my plants so far. What I do to get rid of them, after much research and trial and error, is mix apple cider vinegar and water (50/50) with a few drops of liquid dish soap and a little sugar in shallow glass or bowl and secure plastic wrap around it with a rubber band. I poke several holes in the plastic so the gnats go in but can't come out. Usually within a couple of days they're gone. If I have them bad I'll place glasses in several places around my house.

I don't know if this would work to put near your plants or to actually place a glass in the pot with your plant but it's worth a try.

ahhh thank you allie !! i will definitely give this a try ;W; i'm desperate to get rid of them, they're everywhere

AllieCat said:For some reason I get gnats often but luckily not in my plants so far. What I do to get rid of them, after much research and trial and error, is mix apple cider vinegar and water (50/50) with a few drops of liquid dish soap and a little sugar in shallow glass or bowl and secure plastic wrap around it with a rubber band. I poke several holes in the plastic so the gnats go in but can't come out. Usually within a couple of days they're gone. If I have them bad I'll place glasses in several places around my house.

I don't know if this would work to put near your plants or to actually place a glass in the pot with your plant but it's worth a try.

Gnats or fruit flies?

Fruit flies, yes, I've had good results with your and similar methods. Never had a problem with gnats.

Humboldt said:

Gnats or fruit flies?

Fruit flies, yes, I've had good results with your and similar methods. Never had a problem with gnats.

they're definitely the fungus gnats ; v ;

Humboldt said:

Gnats or fruit flies?

Fruit flies, yes, I've had good results with your and similar methods. Never had a problem with gnats.

Aren't fruit flies and gnats the same thing? Shows how much I know about bugs 🙄

alrighty i set up 3 cider traps, i'll update again if there's any improvement !

AllieCat said:

Aren't fruit flies and gnats the same thing? Shows how much I know about bugs 🙄

Decent comparison here: https://www.orkin.com/pests/fl...