Whenever I buy potted plants I get little flying bugs around the room the plants are in, what are they and how do I get rid of them, is there something I can spray the plants with before I bring them into the house?
I can almost guarantee that they are fungus gnats. The primarily feed on decomposing organic material in the soil and may nibble on plant roots IF populations are high. The best defense is to ensure that the soil is not staying too moist. They have a short life cycle and will peter out in a few weeks. Empty any water out of saucers and water thoroughly but infrequently. Let soil dry out quite a bit and then then water completely.
I had those on my plants once. i was told to spray them with soapy water. Just a little dish soap and water and it did the trick. Make sure you spray the soil too.
More than likely it's fungus gnats. They live in the soil/mulch your plant is planted in. They don't harm the plant, but they are annoying little buggers. They have some yellow sticky sided plastic tabs you can use to catch them.
You are probbaly seeing either fruit flies, some sort of mite, or aphids...depending on the plant and where it came from.
I would shop around at a nursery or greenhouse once you figure out which one it is. If you buy your plants from a nursery or greenhouse...bring one of the bugs in...They should be able to tell you what it is and how to treat it safely.
Sometimes just misting and wiping down the leaves before you bring it into the house will help. Additionally, there are tons of natural things you can safely mist or wipe the plant with that will get rid of them.
Good luck!
