SUMMIT CHEMICAL CO 117-6 30OZ Mosquito Bits

This does work very well for fungus gnats, but I believe this may work best when used with a combination of products. First of all, I can not guarantee elimination if you use these alone for the gnats (maybe it does work alone, but I tried this as a last resort) as I used a combination of the following: First of all, for gnats I HIGHLY recommend using a “top dressing” that will cover the soil completely. I used a combo of sand and small quartzite gravel/volcanic rock (for anything edible I don’t suggest using sand - only use sand for ornamental plants and sand that is silica free/“play sand”). Make sure the dressing is at least 1 inch thick on top, but if possible the thicker the dressing the better. This will eliminate the majority of the gnats alone! I thought I eliminated all of them with only the top dressing and those yellow sticky traps, but I noticed a few stragglers so I added this to the repertoire. I was a bit hesitant to use this at first because of the warning label (it’s required by law!), but based on my research I felt comfortable using it. The main ingredient, “BTI”, stands for bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, which is a type of bacteria that is naturally occurring. The studies I’ve read have shown no serious health consequences for humans or animals (in some rare cases there was irritation to the skin/eyes but no long term serious health consequences). I would never use any product that puts my health at risk (and most importantly the health of my animals!), but if you’re still worried do your own research! To be extra (paranoid) safe I water my plants away from my animals and wash my hands thoroughly after use. Make sure you measure the amount correctly!!! This is vital. Also, when making a “tea” for gnat elimination, the suggested brewing period I find is too short. What I do is make a mix in my watering jug and let it sit for at least 12 hours. Then I stir it very well and apply. I have used it 4 times and the gnats are no more. I’m going to continue applying a few more times to be sure. I am hoping this will work for thrips as well (from what I have read it does). If this works for thrips I will update my review (Trust me when I say the gnats were an easy enemy compared to thrips, ha! Count your blessings if you’re only battling gnats!).THRIPS UPDATE - I do believe this works on thrips as well, but I’m not 100% sure yet. I have one pot that I should have changed out the dirt to help eliminate them, but honestly because the size of the plant it would be a headache, so I decided to leave it as is and do the following: First I added a top dressing of sand and rocks, then everyday for a few minutes I would do a quick examination of the plant and smash any thrips I found, I removed very sickly/damaged foliage, I also added sticky traps to get the ones I missed, then I applied the mosquito bits “tea” once per week (apply to your normal watering schedule if it isn’t the same as mine). I did this for 4 weeks and I have yet to find any more thrips; My sickly plant looks completely healthy now (I believe it’s been about 3-4 months since I completed treatment)! I am being cautiously optimistic about this though because their eggs might be dormant, but I will provide a final update once I believe I have won this battle (or not lol).FINAL UPDATE - So shortly after my last update my mom brought a plant home…. That was infested with thrips. Ah…ha ha ha ha…. *screaming at the top of my lungs* THANKS MOM! Thankfully they didn’t spread much. I restarted my battle as per above. It has been a year since my battle first started with thrips and they are NO MORE. I’m CONVINCED enough. How you wonder? Because I reused the SAME dirt that definitely had their larvae in it for several new plants (I know, I’m COMPLETELY mental haha) and there has been ZERO thrip activity whatsoever (the dirt was infested from a year ago). I’m totally convinced this also works on thrip larvae as I read in previous studies. Just follow my directions on thrips above. Was the battle worth it though? Probably not, to be honest. I would have been way less stressed if I just tossed the plant out and started over, but I hate giving up. If you have time on your hands, or are as nuts as I am, go ahead and become a plant saving warrior!

The use of biopesticides has undoubtedly become more common nowadays. For the plant lover, having a home filled with exotic foliage adds vibrancy to the living space. A challenge to maintain healthy plants requires paying attention to your interior lighting, watering, and ambient temperature, to name a few. The moisture-loving fungus gnat will establish itself in your potted plants in the blink of an eye. Once established, the gnat becomes quite a nuisance. Summitt's 'Mosquito Bits' provides a safe, effective, non-toxic remedy to help you take control of your interior environment as you endeavor to rid your home of the pesky fungus gnat. Granulated, I add the label's prescribed amount into a cheesecloth bag and soak it for 10 to 12 hours using bottled water. The volume applied is based on the pot's size. I use a turkey baster to syringe the juice onto the pot's surface. After a few days, the gnats are gone. No messy sprays or toxic residues to contend with afterward. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is the active ingredient and is effective against dipterous [two wings] insects. If you learn to modify your watering habit by adjusting the amount poured onto your plant, this goes a long way in combating the outbreak of the fungus gnats in your home. Follow the label directions; measured water pours are best, and err on caution regarding how much to feed your potted flora. @daFigz™

I used Mosquito Bits to keep mosquito larvae from hatching in the overflow saucers under my balcony plants. I have a few large planters with a saucer under each, and between overwatering and rain showers, they can create a standing water problem. The product seems to do a good job controlling the mosquitos. I hope I can find a smaller bag of Bits the next time I shop, as this was much more than I needed for one summer.

One cold snowy day recently I embarked on a "fun" inside job to pass the time. I decided to repot several of my house plants with new soil. I brought a bag of potting soil inside, and proceeded to repot 6 or so plants. To my dismay, a week later I had tiny flies dive bombing my face every time I sat down in the room. Some research told me they were fungus gnats, and this was the product to rid them. I soaked a small amount in the watering can, and then watered the plants. A week later I did this again. They have nearly been eradicated! Good Stuff!

I mix this with houseplant soil or put it on top of the soil if I'm not reporting yet to prevent fungus gnat infestations. It seems to control the gnat population, is easy to use, and goes a long way. Highly recommend for all plant parents.