Compost flies!

I’ve been plagued with these wee beasties in the last couple of years. In fact ever since I started using pest free compost. The sticky traps are useful, as is covering the top of the soil with horticultural grit. These measures only control it but don’t actually solve the root of the problem. so to speak. The only thing that has worked for me is nematodes, bought on line. Having said that I’ve done this palaver twice now and it seems I need to do it again. Every time I repot a plant it starts all over again.

yes thanks venus fly trap

Thanks everyone I’m going to try the cardboard and sellotape and letting them dry out maybe water from the bottom see how that works.
shelflife they can’t go back outside it’s too cold for houseplants outside now.

tanith I read that it's best to let the soil really dry out , practically starving the plant of liquid until absolutely necessary.The idea being that these little flies and their eggs can only develop in damp/wet conditions. I tried this, it worked, but then when I had to water them again, they came back.
I hope someone will come along with another good answer soon.

madeleine45

I just cant remember its name right now but I have one of those little fly trap plants, where if a fly lands on it it traps it and uses it as food. So perhaps you might get one of those plants and put it into the middle of the fly ridden plants and let it work its magic.!

Venus fly trap ?

tanith

I repotted lots of my houseplants over the Summer but now I’ve brought them indoors I’ve got lots of tiny flies driving me mad. Any suggestions to get rid of them? I’m assuming they were in the compost.

Wow I could have written this myself and in fact was even going to post about it. They are so annoying aren't they ?

I just cant remember its name right now but I have one of those little fly trap plants, where if a fly lands on it it traps it and uses it as food. So perhaps you might get one of those plants and put it into the middle of the fly ridden plants and let it work its magic.!

I woukd be tempted to put them back outside!

If you've any in the house, 3% hydrogen peroxide diluted 1:4 worked for me

Apply when due for watering. Took me two applications a few weeks apart (to cover the hatching cycle).

Also you can buy yellow sticky fly catchers to put in the pots to catch strays (you can make them yourself with yellow card and sellotape).