Indoor Bonsai Homepage

Question: Can anyone recommend a good gnat killer for indoor bonsai?

(Posted by: thatguythatyouknowandisnice on 2007-06-04 13:16:18)

In my office I have two small bonsai, a dwarf juniper and a banyan fig. Both plants have tiny gnat- like insects flying around them. I keep them watered and they have green moss covering the dirt in their pots. They're both healthy looking, I'm just trying to get rid of the flying bugs. Anything specific I should look for when choosing a bug spray? I don't want it to stink (can't open the windows, I'm in an office building), and I don't want to hurt my plants. I'm not keeping the juniper indoors, I just bring it to work with me sometimes. Most of the time it's out on my back deck. Also don't worry, my back deck doesn't get full sun, only partial sun in the mornings.

Posted by: christine k on 2007-06-04, 13:32:32

Mix 1tsp dish liquid,1tsp cooking oil andthe rest water in a spray bottle.spray plants thoroughly,wipe off,and spray again,will clean, get rid of bugs,make shiny, and keep bugs off. best part is it wont harm the plant u or the environment

Posted by: Bill Choat on 2007-06-05, 07:20:45

Christine just gave you very good advice about the dish soap mixture. Now, about the juniper......it is an outdoor tree, and you need to get it outside. If the instructions you received with the juniper told you it can be grown indoors, they are wrong. It must have a cold winter to go dormant. You might want to read the Bonsai Care page on my website that will give you more information about care of outdoor bonsai: american-bonsai.com If you have more questions, you're welcome to email me at: wchoat@american-bonsai.com