My Bird of Paradise is always wilted I notice very small black flies in the pot could they be the problem?

Question

Or am I overwatering it? my other plant is fine but it's much bigger. I water them both every other day and use miracle grow on the wilted one, I am not experienced in plants in general so any comments are appreciated.

Answer 1

YES! you could be over watering it, and that will attract the Small Black flies! Actually called Fungus Gnats! These gnats lay their eggs in the potting soil and when the egg hatches it produces tiny almost clear worm like larvae, these (worms) will borrow into and eat the bulb like roots and in really bad infestations separate the entire top of the plant from the root stock.
To help rid yourself of them this is what you do;
1`. Take the plant out of the old potting soil and wash it off with dish liquid and water and pot it in a new pot and soil.
2. cut down on the water to once a week.
3. cut a potato and put it skin side up, white side down into the earth. The larvae will be more attracted to the potato than the plant. Then every other day put the potato slices in a plastic bag and tie it shut and put it out into the trash, replace it with new potato slices until you don't see any more fungus gnats flying about the plant!
I live in the U.S. but fungus gnat problems are global and my job as an Integrated Pest Manager for a Huge Commercial Greenhouse gives me some real incite into global problems!

Answer 2

If it is a Sunny location and has good drainage,
over watering shouldn't be a problem...
But it sounds like Root Rot due to lack of drainage.
Put some holes in the pot and set it in a saucer.
ALSO.. take it easy with the Miracle Grow,,
too much of a good thing....well you know the rest....
read the directions.

Answer 3

Hi,
Go to this site that I have provided below.
Those little flies are probably fungus gnats.
I use this product in the liquid form, that is the type of bacteria used in those mosquito-dunks that one puts in outdoor bird baths.
Gnats are from over watering and organic breakdown of planting media, along with the start of "root-rot".
This product is 100% safe for all that could come in contact with it except the fungus-ghat's larvae. They are related to the mosquito, that is why the treatments work.
Professional growers often use this form of control in their greenhouses.
I use it on my fuchsia plants inside along with my other houseplants. I've had great results.
Check it out, you'll learn more at the site.

http://www.gardensalive.com/category.asp?c=13

Hope this helps, Dave

Answer 4

Are they outside, they need lots of sun? You may be over watering, the pots should have a drain hole in the bottom. A good organic bug spray will get rid of the the flies.

Answer 5

Those small black files could be spider mites. Look them up in the net and see if they look the same.