Nuisance flies on indoor plants.

[Tweed]

Hello. I'm having to put all my indoor plants outside because we get pestered with tiny flies, and the plants seem to be the number 1 suspect. Are these flies attracted to the plants or is it the case that eggs have been layed in the soil? Or is it something else? All sugestions welcome.

[terambulan]

The eggs were laid in the summer and since indoor temperatures are warm they are hatching. Look on the underside of the leaves and stems, you should see the eggs. Use insect spray to kill them.

[Tweed]

Many thanks for your answer terambulan.

[Hawkwalk]

the flies you are seeing are probably sciarid flies which lay their eggs in the damp soil. They are often found on house plants due to over-watering or not allowing the compost to dry out between waterings. You can get a compost treatment for them but the best control is just to make sure the compost does not remain too wet. They wont harm established plants so not a problem to them.

[Tweed]

Ta Hawkwalk. They sound like the guilty party.