Questions and Answers: Premature Sprouting and Annoying Flies

Shoots Sprouting Too Early

While working in my flower beds recently, I noticed that the spring shoots of several daffodils, peonies, hyacinths, and even a few lilies had already emerged from the ground. I attribute this phenomenon to the very mild and humid weather we experienced several times this fall. However, I wonder what will happen next spring: will the plants produce new shoots, or will we have lost all these flowers? Is there anything we can do to “help” the plants? Currently, they are covered with a thick layer of shredded leaves.

Answer

In climates that are milder than ours, winter often does not bring deep frost. In these climates, many bulbs sprout early and bloom as early as January or February. The shoots you saw would therefore simply be reacting to an exceptionally mild fall, as if winter were already underway.

Fortunately, growth resumes its natural halt as soon as the cold returns. Damage is usually limited to the tips of the leaves, with no impact on flowering, as the flower buds remain well protected below the soil surface at this time of year.

Daffodils, hyacinths, and peonies are very resistant to this phenomenon. Lilies may be a little more sensitive, but the leaf cover you have already installed will help protect them.

No further action is necessary. Your plants should bloom next spring and summer as if nothing had happened.

Unpleasant Flies

I’ve had a problem since last winter. My houseplants have been invaded by a type of mini fly that walks, jumps, and seems to fly. I washed all my plants in the fall, changed the soil, and disinfected the pots. But I still have them. How can I get rid of them?

Answer

Your question is tricky in the sense that some insects jump and others fly, but few do both. And you don’t say where these insects are found: in the soil, on leaves, etc. So it’s impossible to pinpoint the culprit. And you’ll understand that the treatment will vary depending on what’s causing the problem.

Voici cependant les 3 parasites potentiels auxquels je pense, ainsi que leur traitement:

1. Fungus gnats. Small black flies that flit around and resemble fruit flies. Adults are merely a nuisance, but larvae can damage fine roots when present in large numbers. Treatment consists of allowing the soil to dry out a little more between waterings, as the larvae live in the top few centimeters of soil and cannot tolerate dry conditions. You can also use yellow sticky traps to catch the adults.

2. Springtails. Small insects that jump when the soil is watered. Again, they are not harmful to plants; they are even beneficial. The treatment is the same as for fungus gnats.

2. Thrips. Unlike the two previous insects, which live in soil and do not harm plants, thrips attack foliage and flowers, scraping the tissue and leaving marks that are often gray. You will also see small black clusters, which are their droppings. Isolate the plant, rinse the foliage regularly, and treat it by spraying it weekly with insecticidal soap until the problem is resolved.

Larry Hodgson has published thousands of articles and 65 books during his career, in both French and English. His son, Mathieu, has made it his mission to make his father’s writings accessible to the public. This text was originally published in Le Soleil on December 6, 2006.