Can i rescue a seedling with a fungus gnat larvae bite taken out of the stem?

[chazz michaels]

Hello all,

I had 6 Vanilluna seeds and planted 4 of them, but only 2 sprouted.

I thought that they were bad seeds but then one of the seedlings that popped up wilted...

I pulled it up and found fungus gnat larvae eating the stem.

So, I dug out the last seedling to see if it was ok and found a fungus gnat larvae near it and it looks like a bite has been taken out of the stem aswell.

It is a sad story for me that I lost 3 of my 6 Vanillunas, so I am trying to save the one that has a bite taken out of it.

Does anyone have a method of how they would nurse it back to health?

It is still firm, hasn't wilted yet.

Would putting it in a glass of water help it heal? Or is it a lost cause?

Thanks for any help.

 

[BOMBAYCAT]

Don't know much about the rescue, but a weak kelp solution is helpful for plants with damage from other causes. Good luck.

 

[chazz michaels]

I'm wondering if keeping it in water until it heals is better than putting it in potting mix?

 

[BOMBAYCAT]

I'm kind of guessing here, but I am thinking potting mix that is not very hot (fertilizer) because of the nutes there. I have heard of people swearing by pure water to clone, but I always clone in a not too hot organic soiless mix and I am thinking it should be the same as your little seedling as you want to grow some roots and heal the stem. I suggested weak kelp because of the hormones in it which really help all plants heal and I think it should help with the stem damage. If you have fungus gnats flying around I will suggest crumbling up about 1/4 teaspoon of mosquito dunks (buy at Lowes, Home Depot etc) Sprinkle some on top of the soiless and some on the water drain holes at the bottom of the plant. In a couple weeks no more gnats. For more instant control get some yellow (bugs love yellow) paper or cardboard and smear some vaseline on it to catch the flyers.

 

[RonSmooth]

I cant imagine that one would be able to see a "bite" from a gnat larva.

How established was the plant? Did it only have a tap root? How long were they sprouted?

I would replant it as soon as possible in fresh soil. Then leave it alone. Only give it plain water when it needs it and dont touch it anymore. If you dont see any improvement in a week, I would try again.

 

[chazz michaels]

Hi Ron, thanks for the interest.

Here is a picture of the seedling after it had recovered a bit and started growing some more roots.

It's not very clear but there was a big hole along the bottom of the stem (where the arrow is pointing) where a fungus gnat had chewed it's way into the stem.

I know this is what happened because I have pulled up some other seedlings in the past with fungus gnats inside the stem.

Anyway, the seedling did recover after sitting in the container of water for a week.

I dipped it in some Clonex before replanting it in soil, to try to protect the wound a bit.

It is growing ok.

 

[RonSmooth]

Glad to hear.

Never knew fungus gnats could inflict damage like that.

 

[vostok]

Thanks for the pic, you have to ask how the fungus gnats got to your plant, in many cases it is contaminated potting mix, in which replacement is compulsory,

Neem Oil is your friend .. apply it 1 time per month, as a chore, by 1 teaspoon to a pint hand sprayer, tho not so close to harvest as Neem is an acquired taste

 

[chazz michaels]

Yeah, who knows where they come from, I grow vegetables aswell....

It is the larvae that eat the roots, they look like little maggots and chew their way into them sometimes.

Take care.