Successful fungus gnat traps - DIY project

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by JKeys

I was so happy when I saw that my homemade traps worked. I grow all of my orchids in my bedroom so I think you can see why I don't want any gnats around. I noticed them buzzing around and had to get rid of them.

I tried everything, but in the end, these homemade traps worked! I found it online.

You need a small plastic cup, some apple cider vinegar (or bear or fruit juice, I used vinegar) plastic wrap and a rubber band. You also need a few drops of dish soap.

Pour about an inch of vinegar into the cup. put a couple drops of dish soap in and stir. Then, cover the cup with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band. Pole a hole in the plastic wrap with a pencil and move it around to make it bigger. Voila! your trap is ready.

I made a few and put them around my room. After just a day, I have found at least 10 of the little buggers floating around on the bottom.

I should try this!
sounds easy enough to set up.

Gnats are not as numerous as they once were in my growing area, but they are making a comeback.

They seem to sleep during the summer as I do not see any. then once the weather cools off, they come back.
little buggers, I'm going to get you all!!!

[JKeys]

Kingdrag, if you look them up you should be able to find them.

[kindrag23]

Cool info, I actually have a care book for predatory plants.

[Joseia]

@Paul: I have never even thought of growing carnivorous plants at home, but I just took a look at some pics and they look cool! Some look like they came from another planet. I showed my wife, and she just said "Looks like another fix for the plant addict". Lol, I love my wife, she knows me sooo well.

D. Capensis looks really neat, so I may try that one out as a beginner and see how it goes. Can these plants take care of mealys, mites and scale too?

[Orchid Whisperer]

JKeys, for years I have used something similar to trap fruit flies when they find their way into the kitchen.

[kindrag23]

@Joseia I love my venus fly traps. They are so interesting.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Joseia

D. Capensis looks really neat, so I may try that one out as a beginner and see how it goes. Can these plants take care of mealys, mites and scale too?

Generally no. In fact some types of mealies (don't know about scale) can attack dews and pings -- primarily at root level. (Root mealies are an all around potential scourge it seems.)

Originally Posted by kindrag23

@Joseia I love my venus fly traps. They are so interesting.

They are neat but the fact that vfts require a cold winter dormancy in order to maintain health/vigor does make them a difficult plant for long term success for many people.

[Island Girl]

^yea, Venus Fly Traps live/grow here in NC... It can get cold here.. Def. freezing, sometimes colder, so I always wondered why they sell them at Lowes, with no instructions on winter care....

Thank You Paul!! Thanks for that species suggestion! I wasn't sure if they had winter rests, but I did plan on looking them up, but I will go with your suggestion! (& will still research to make sure I give it the proper care, of course )

Thanks JKeys! I will look them up!

NY, the gnats are worse here when it's warm! Especially the fruit flies! I have traps all over... I go on a daily killing spree too... heheh I recently bought a store-bought trap to see if that worked better, I think it might just be a sugar mix, and a little acidic, with something else to it... Doesn't work near as well as the 'homemade' version with sweet wine.

slc, that could work. I have an 18 year old cat, who doesn't have many teeth (long story, result of a different vet, because our usual vet had a bad fire) I have to feed her wet food many times a day, so always have some sitting out, and the fruit flies LOVE that... I think that's what they are attracted to, honestly. (constant battle) But, fish food would smell similar, so that seems like it would work well... Just make sure there's enough liquid for them to drown in, and you put a couple drops of dish-soap in there (breaks the surface tension, so they can drown )

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

^yea, Venus Fly Traps live/grow here in NC... It can get cold here.. Def. freezing, sometimes colder, so I always wondered why they sell them at Lowes, with no instructions on winter care....

Because then when they die, people (particularly with kids) will go out and buy a replacement.

Since I have had a couple queries about my pings, I figured it would be easiest to just create a ping thread, which I did here:
Pinguicula (aka butterworts)

[RosieC]

Cool. I like Butterworts but have trouble keeping them (have one that grows, but have had trouble with others).

I haven't had too much of a problem with fungas gnats this year, but I'll keep this tip in mind in case I do.