Dear succulent lovers, are you also troubled by those annoying little black flies? They are like a swarm of little black mosquitoes, buzzing around your succulents, which is really a headache. Don't worry, today I will explain in detail how to drive these annoying little black flies out of your succulent kingdom!
Little black flies, where do you come from?
The little black flies, whose scientific name is Bradysia, are a major enemy of succulents. Although the adult flies are annoying, they don't cause much harm to the succulents themselves. The real headache is their larvae. These little things specifically target the tender roots, leaves, and wounds of succulents. Once they latch onto your plants, your succulents are in for a tough time.
I have great tips for getting rid of black flies!
1. Keep it dry and ventilated to give black flies no place to hide
Black flies hate dry environments the most, so keeping your growing area dry and ventilated is the first step in preventing and controlling them. You can try the following methods:
Reduce watering frequency: Water only when the soil surface is dry, keeping the soil slightly moist.
Use gritty soil: Gritty soil has good drainage, which can reduce soil moisture and is unfavorable for the growth of black flies.
Increase ventilation: Keep the air circulating indoors to give black flies no place to hide.
2. Physical control methods, leaving black flies nowhere to escapeBlack light traps: Black flies are phototactic, so you can use a black light or a regular incandescent bulb to lure them, and place a pan with pesticide solution under the light to trap and kill them.
Sticky traps: Place sticky flypaper in areas where the fungus gnats are active and near windows to trap and kill them.
3. Chemical control, to wipe out all black fliesPesticide spraying: You can spray pesticides such as imidacloprid, dimethoate, or permethrin to eliminate black flies.
Soil mixing: Mix the pesticide into the potting soil in the correct proportion to inhibit the growth of black flies.
Drenching method: Dilute the pesticide with water according to the ratio and pour it onto the soil.
4. Prevention is the key, to nip problems in the budSoil sterilization: Before planting succulents, sterilize the soil to kill any eggs in it.
Avoid using uncomposted organic fertilizer: Uncomposted organic fertilizer will attract black flies, so be sure to choose well-composted fertilizer.
Regular inspections: Check your succulents regularly. If you find any black flies, deal with them promptly.
Little black flies, you can't escape my grasp!Dear succulent lovers, as long as we master the right methods, black flies will no longer be a problem for us. Let's work together to let our succulents thrive in the sun, far from the disturbance of black flies!