Planted Tank Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Arapahoe County, Colorado
Posts: 593
What kind of bugs? If you're having fungus gnats, little tiny black flies, sometimes crawl up from the soil, then a spray/systemic will not do anything since they're not eating plant's roots/foliage. Fungus gnats are a sign that you've got over-wet conditions. You're watering too often.
Are there other bugs? If you have other bugs that are sucking juices or eating leaves i.e. mealy bug, scale, caterpillars, spider mites, etc, then I'd use a systemic. Just goes in the soil, no over-spray to worry about. Otherwise I'd reccomend a neem oil spray. Do it outside if you're able or put towels or something down so you can drench foliage thoroughly and let it drip. May need repeat applications.
But again, if you're having fungus gnats, don't bother buying anything. Change your watering routine, let the top third layer of your houseplant's pots go dry between watering (let them go extra dry for now to help kill the larvae), half dry if succulents. Fungus gnats are eating rotten roots, wood pulp, etc in the soil, not the plant. Too much water.
Alternatively, let em go dry til about wilting, then water w/ dish soap. A natural dish soap, scentless, do about 1 tbsp/gallon. This will also help kill the larvae. Adults live like 7 - 10 days, you can use fly paper around base of pots for adults.
dry, dry, dry!
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