Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - July 22, 2009
From: Abilene, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Pests
Title: Why are there gnats in my houseplants?
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
I have flying brown gnats in my house plants. Can you tell me why?ANSWER:
The focus of research and the extent of expertise of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center are limited to North American native plant species. Since few if any native plants are grown indoors, your plants and your question are outside of our purview.
However, we may be able to point you in the right direction for getting a satisfactory answer to your question. Gnats around houseplants are usually one of a group of insects in the fly family called Fungus Gnats. Here is an excellent article from South Dakota State University discussing Fungus Gnats, their life history and control. The article was written for orchid growers, but the same principles apply to all houseplants.
More Pests Questions
Sticky material dripping from tree in Austin
July 22, 2012 - The tree in my backyard is dripping what I surmise is sap - a thick,fdrake1@ sticky substance in July. What kind of tree is it and is there anything one can do prevent this from happening? Thank you...
view the full question and answer
Weird growth on oaks in Middleburg FL
February 05, 2011 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants;
I have this plant/fungus that grows on my trees here in northeast Florida & nobody has been able to identify it for me. It looks like a clump of pine needles growing on the ba...
view the full question and answer
Snails in my flower beds
May 06, 2009 - I live in Kingwood, Texas (north of Houston). I have been inundated with snails in my flower beds in my front & backyard. I really didn't want to use a pesticide, but they were eating all of my flo...
view the full question and answer
Replacements for yuccas from Georgetown TX
August 07, 2013 - I have lost some softleaf and variegated yucca to a beetle grub destroying the root system - like the Agave snout beetle does. I have put an insecticidal drench on my remaining plants, but suspect wi...
view the full question and answer
Swarming insects on non-native willow in Washington PA
September 25, 2011 - I have had a very large, beautiful pillow willow bush/tree growing next to our garage for about 8 years. Last year at the end of August, it began to attract white-faced hornets and yellow jackets by t...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |