[slinky]

not to do with gardening really but its my houseplants......there are little tiny THINGS crawling on the soil and they are white,and im sure they are turning into little flies.any idea what they are and how do i get rid.oh and good news for all you that gave me advice on russian vine........it died

[gobs]

Don't know what to do with flies.

The Russian vine! How did you do it? You should patent that! :roll:  

[Aunt Sally]

Could be spring tails.  They jump when disturbed eg when watered.

[gobs]

Are the flies themselves white at all? :? Cos you get little black flies with indoor plants sometimes, which I believe to be harmless.

[slinky]

re the russian vine...not sure how it died,think the dog may have been peeing on it!!!!!
and the little bug things do jump when you water the plant,the flies are just little black ones but they are EVERYWHERE!!!!!

[gobs]

I think they are the little black flies I'm thinking of(can't remember their name), they like moist conditions. You could change compost, add some vermiculate and only water, when soil is dry.

[Cynara]

The little dark flies are fungus gnats. They don't do healthy plants any harm but they are more of a nuisance when the compost is wet (the fungi in the compost grow better in waterlogged conditions) Try keeping  the compost a bit drier, not standing in water. The plants will appreciate it too.

[slinky]

oke doke.thank you!!

[gobs]

That's it gnats, white little larvae and black flies, that's them!

[mkhenry]

re the russian vine...not sure how it died,think the dog may have been peeing on it!!!!!
and the little bug things do jump when you water the plant,the flies are just little black ones but they are EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Cover both side of a bit of cardboard in Vaseline leaving a space for you to hold it and wave it over the area.
Hold the card fairly close when you do this. Repeat for about 3 days for about two or three minutes a day. If you can see the eggs on the surface of the soil then press low tack sticky tape cut into 3" strips onto the area.
This will instantly reduce the infestation and also reduce the amount of eggs produced.
After 8 or 9 days do it all over again.That should be the end off the problem.
If not repeat until the you break the cycle and the problem is solved.

This is the same as the treatment for flea beetle or any hop   ping insect.

[slinky]

oh that sounds like fun,will have to try that!!!!will give it a go later with the kids as they love bugs so theyll enjoy that