(Submerge for how long?) It depends on what crawls out. I don't know how long FG larvae can go before they drown, killing them isn't my goal (like ants and spiders.) Seems like 5-10 minutes would be long enough. For a swarm of ants, I just wait until they have all left, sometimes a few hours.

OK, well this is a very good idea!

Seven Ways Of Doom:

1. Re-potting all your plants in new and sterile soil can help get rid of gnats if they are breeding in your potted plants. This is a rather drastic solution, but it is very likely to get rid of the gnats.
2. Do not water your plants excessively. As gnats like a moist environment and also like to breed around plants, watering your plants less may eliminate gnats. This is also a good preventative method if you want to avoid a gnat infestation.
3. Try adding some soap or dishwashing detergent to the water you use for watering your plants. I’ve heard some success stories from this method, but others say it is not the best solution to get rid of gnats. Different methods work for different people!
4. You can also try a homemade concoction to get rid of gnats. Simply add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a bowl of water. Then add a little wine or fruit juice to the water. Place the bowl near any potted plants you have to get rid of gnats. As the previous method, I’ve heard mixed successes with this solution.
5. Store all your fresh fruit and vegetables in the fridge. All the gnats that hang around your kitchen will go away!
6. Try some Neem oil. You can try putting it in pot plants and rubbing it on surfaces where you tend to see the gnats. You need to use the oil regularly (minimum twice weekly) to eliminate them.
7. If the gnats are coming out of your drains, try pouring a little vegetable oil down the drain. To determine if the gnats are coming from the drain place a piece of tape over the drain, leaving a little room for air flow, and leave the tape for about 12-24 hours. If there are gnats on the bottom of the tape when you remove it then you have discovered the source of your gnat problem.

thanks for the tips and taking the time to type it all!!

Wow, Clarence, I didn't know they could be hiding in drains.

They hide in any damp wet areas.They love the drains.As one of my all time songs states,They are coming to take me away to the funny farm.

haha hoho hehe and all that!! Thanks Clarence!
Cheers

Fungus gnats, drain flies, and fruit flies are not the same thing and do not share environments. So it would be good to know which one has, and their source, before treating plants that may or may not be involved. Fungus gnats require moist brown material, fruit flies require rotting greens, drain flies breed in water.

I've read many testimonials about Neem oil damaging some plants.
Bananas and tomatoes should never be refrigerated.

Dish soap is not made for plants and has substances in it that are not necessary for insecticidal purposes and could be harmful to some plants. If using this kind of method, please use insecticidal soap made for such purpose. For some reason this old wives' tale will not die, but may have been invented when there was no separate insecticidal soap vs. dish soap.

It would be a shame to damage or kill plants in the name of trying to make them better!

where did that come from.I started this post to help and inform not to P- people off,Quote:Bananas and tomatoes should never be refrigerated,that where I disagree my mato once ripen,go to the frig.

Purple got it right about fungus gnats & fruit flies being entirely different insects.As far as using dish soap,I & many,many gardeners have been using a little Ivory for years with no harm to plants. I have washed my hair in Ivory.Not as a rule,though.As far as Neem,exposure to sunlight right after spraying might cause leaf burn.Before I spray anything different on my plants I do a test on a few leaves,first.
sewNsow

Koi, hope nobody is p'd off, definitely not me. Your sad faces make me feel bad and maybe garden chat isn't the best thing for me lately. Trying to do things to keep my mind from worrying about my Dad, who is really sick, but if it's making me too cranky to have a decent conversation, thanks for telling me. Your protest begs further explanation, I agree.

If you don't think your tomatoes are tasteless after refrigeration, then there's nothing to worry about. It's standard culinary advice, but is an individual preference if it doesn't bother you. Under the context of the discussion, definitely a way to help get rid of or to not have fruit flies. The tomatoes I grow are always very tasty but the ones at the store, which are always refrigerated, are almost always bland but once in a while there's a good one. I edit myself to say let your taste buds and fruit fly situation dictate where to put the tomatoes.

I couldn't remember what happens to bananas so spent some time consulting various culinary and other sources and my blanket statement of "never" above is wrong. The things repeated over and over are that bananas will not be able to ripen further in the frige, so if they're already ripe, it's fine to put them in there. And how that will likely cause the skin to go prematurely brown, which is, to a point, only a visual issue, the fruit inside will still be fine for a few days after it looks kinda gross.

That's good to know a brand of dish soap you find safe by name, SewN, that's specific, and there are probably others. Just don't want people to assume that any soap meant for dishes is safe for use on plants. And glad to hear I'm not the only one who's washed their hair with dish soap, classic broke college student (and person who forgot to shop) stuff!

purpleinopp

My opinions were from personal takes on what has worked for me.I agree nothing is 100%,I grow my own tomatoes every year either in pots or inground,and past two years been growing them in my koi ponds filters,this year the tommy toe mato's got to over eight foot hidh and produced more than I could eat.I use a drop of dawn in quart of water,sure there other product out that work better,But I use what I can,when I don't have the money for other stuff.As for gnats and fruit flys,whatever gets them drunk and kill them.Tomatoes rarely last long enough to go in the frig around here,if they are green they either get pickled or wrapped in newpaper to help them along.Sorry about your dad being sick,I've had heart issues sent last may,two stents later,I'm hanging in there,hate all the pill I have to take.

I love that we can discuss and work through different gardening styles and ideas. So much information comes from being able to see things from many directions.

I know I have learned much from this thread.


PIP, I hope your dad will recover soon. It is so difficult to see our loved ones going through difficulties.

Clarence, so glad your stent procedure went well. My DH went through it, and is doing very well 11 years later. It did take him awhile to adjust to the meds. Hang in there.

Sending healing energy to folks!

The thread "Miniature Gardening Contest" in Miniature Gardening forum

Thanks for the good vibes and well-wishes. They won't help but feel nice, helpful, and are very much appreciated. I'm sorry for being so cranky to such nice people, thanks for bearing with me. Glad you're feeling better, Koi!

We all have bad days. It's good to have friends who can give you a boost when you need it. Best when you have some real goofball friends around. I married my goofball.

Karen