Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: kermit on May 08, 2010, 10:54

Title: tiny black flies on surface of pots
Post by: kermit on May 08, 2010, 10:54

I have loads of tiny black flies on the surface of my indoor pots (chillies etc).  they seem to just be crawling around on the surface and then fly off for a bit.  Dont seem to be causing any harm to the plants, but its a bit annoying being in the house.  Tried general insecticide spray but doesnt seem to have worked.  Also tried fly paper with very limited success.  Any ideas?

Title: Re: tiny black flies on surface of pots
Post by: Yorkie on May 08, 2010, 18:59

They'll be sciarid flies - general cause is compost which is too damp.  Try keeping the compost more dry and they should go.  They shouldn't cause too much harm to the plants, if I recall correctly.

Title: Re: tiny black flies on surface of pots
Post by: goodegg on May 08, 2010, 19:06

you just beat me yorkie i was about to say the very same they dont cause any harm but are very annoying

Title: Re: tiny black flies on surface of pots
Post by: Yabba on May 08, 2010, 19:24

Often hear people saying "water from the bottom" ... especially chilli growers ;)

¥

Title: Re: tiny black flies on surface of pots
Post by: mumofstig on May 08, 2010, 19:33

they do not do much harm to established plants but they can spoil a batch of seedlings by munching the roots...I had a pot of basil babies collapse  :(

If you notice them in a particular batch of compost (I had one growbag that seemed full of them!) then I wouldn't use it for sowing in.

Title: Re: tiny black flies on surface of pots
Post by: 8doubles on May 08, 2010, 19:48

We put an Ultra Violet fly killer lamp next to the pots, that cut down the numbers a lot the first night. :)

Title: Re: tiny black flies on surface of pots
Post by: kermit on May 08, 2010, 20:23

Thanks for the replies.  I'll def try watering from the bottom.  Definetely just annoying  ::)