Help! Bugs are eatting my hanging strawberry plant!?

Question

I recently got a hanging strawberry plant from a greenhouse that I have hanging on my front porch. I constantly see big flies (my boyfriend says theyre horseflies) and small fruit flies on it constantly. What is a good way to get rid of this problem without having to restort to a store-bought pesticide?

Answer 1

I wouldn't have thought fruit flies would be interested in fruit unless it is overripe and rotting.
Knowing we've had wet weather, perhaps there are some rotten fruits hidden in the basket that you can't see, which is attracting these flies.
Best thing to do I reckon is pick the strawberries before they are completely red and put them on an indoor window sill to complete the ripening.
They'll taste as good and hopefully the flies will go off.

Answer 2

How to Look After Houseplants

Easy steps for looking after (and not killing off!) houseplants.
Steps [edit]

1. Buy good quality plants to start with. Check for discolouration of leaves, droopiness, disease or pests
2. Read the label if there is one! Different plants require different ammounts of light, heat and water
3. As a guide, water regularly in the summer, sparingly in the winter
4. Feed in the summer with a Houseplant food such as 'BabyBio' or 'Phospherogen'
5. Remove dead leaves as these still use up energy from the plant
6. Re-pot when you begin to see or feel roots pushing against the bottom of the pot
7. Re-pot one size up only
8. Spray with a leaf shine for high gloss
9. Generally keep away from extreme heat, cold or draughts


Tips [edit]

* When re-potting, spread one hand over the base of the plant, turn the pot upsidedown and tap it gently. The plant should come out into your hand. A gentle tug may help
* When re-potting cacti, use newspaper around the plant to avoid getting pricked
* Group plants together, they grow better this way


Warnings [edit]

* Do not over-water as this is as bad as not watering enough
* Do not re-pot a plant into a much larger pot
* When you spray with leaf shine, leave the room or aeriate the room as the smell is quite pungent
* Roots need air as well as water - keeping the compost soaked at all times means certain death for most plants




How to Catch Household Bugs

1. Prepare. Since you never know when you'll see a bug crawl across the floor, you should know where your trapping materials are. All you need is two things; a cup (preferably plastic and clear.) A plastic cup won't break and if it is clear, you will be able to see the bug once you catch it. Then, you just need a thin piece of cardboard that is big enough to cover the mouth of the cup, or a piece of paper, folded once vertically and once horizontally.
2. Once you encounter a bug, you will need to grab your materials, and trap it.
1. Cover the bug. Using the cup, cover the bug so it is trapped. This works best on a flat surface, so wait for your opportunity.
2. Cut off the escape. Holding the cup in place, barely lift one side so you can slide the paper or cardboard under the cup. Try to do it when the bug is not near the opening, or it might escape. Make sure the entire mouth of the cup is covered by the paper or cardboard.
3. Banish the bug. Once you have the mouth of the cup covered, lift up the cup, holding the paper or cardboard, and turn it right-side up so you can hold it with one hand. Open your door and go outside. Walk a few meters from your house, crouch down, and release the bug. Watch it exit the cup, then return indoors.

Answer 3

The fruitflies are more likely soill gnats. They are living on the organic matter within the soil.......and eventually on the roots....maybe. They are a bother but not a big concern. The easiest way to eliminate them is to make up some dishwashing liquid....like you are going to wash the dishes....and pour it through the soil. Let it sit awhile, 15 minutes and then plain water to rinse it out.

The bigger flies may also be using the soil for an egg deposit area. Once again I'd use the soap solution. Outside chance the horsefly is something else attracted to the flowers for nectar. In that case, let them be.

Answer 4

Try about a teaspoon of Murphy's Oli Soap in a spray bottle with water. Mist the plant a couple times a day, and the bugs will get tired of it and go find someone elses strawberries to invade.

Answer 5

To my understanding, that's no longer a slater malicious program. A slater malicious program is a silver gray shade and that they only consume decaying/rotting wood.the only component i understand that eats strawberries are snails & slugs and then purely the fruit. you have got placed too plenty fertilizer on them or some thing. i've got by no ability seen something like that take place to strawberries and that i've got been becoming them for years, the two on the farm in needed NSW & here in Sydney now.

Answer 6

You probably have some fruit rotting on top of the soil that is attracting them. Get rid of that and you'll get rid of the flies.

Answer 7

Worth a try - Dryer sheet are supposed to keep mosquito's away. Perhaps it will work for other flys. try tying a couple above and below the plant. Hope it works.

Answer 8

isn't their spray you can use so it won't harm the food you eat but will kill the bugs?

I think there are some safer pesticides out there like that.

Answer 9

insecticidal soap. Mix one part dishwashing liquid with four parts water and spray. The soap coats their bodies and they can't fly.

Answer 10

get bug spray would work best...or also smoke would work...like if you lit a candle or something that produces somewhat a good amount of smoke..that will make them go away