Dear members: >Fungus gnats are a problem sometimes. One thing I do is to avoid using peat >moss unless the seeds really want it (e.g., azalea seeds). Peat moss and >too-damp soil can lead to amazing numbers of fungus gnats. It is generally agreed that fungus gnats only lay eggs in/on exposed organic matter. Some people feel, probably correctly, that the organic matter must be moist. Keeping the pot surface fairly dry helps. A fan to circulate the air, and disturb the adult gnats, also dries the soil surface. Surprisingly, I seldom have problems with rhododendron seed pots, even though I use half peat and half perlite. One simple solution is to cover the organic matter with something-I've used small gravel (aquarium "sand", "chicken grit" or blasting sand) on the top of the container. Blasting sand is the stuff they use at auto body shops; (80 pounds of it a few years ago cost about $4) which also helps prevent soil spatter in pots going outside to be rained on. Perlite, Vermiculite, Pumice or similiar materials can also be used. It only needs to be deep enough to cover the organic matter, about 1/4 inch/1 cm deep. Using a soap solution spray will kill the "maggots", but will not kill adults, unless you hit them, and does not kill eggs, so the treatment needs to be repeated every few days for about two weeks. A vacuum cleaner will suck up the adults if you can get the hose tip in amoung your plants--but it will suck up leaves as well. You can "herd" the flies to the hose by just slowly moving your hand over your pots toward the hose. Lysol--coat the interior of a plastic bag with 1 capful before inserting the seed-container. Diluting Lysol with water and spraying the container and seedlings. Or add a capful with water to the tray under the container and seedlings to bring the Lysol from the bottom. Yellow sticky traps will work to catch the adults, but a glass of wine or cider-vinegar placed next to the pots will get them even faster - they are immediately attracted to it and will drown themselves (happily in the wine?) The larvae are still in the soil and must be dealt with before they "hatch " and start the entire cycle over again. Bacillus thuringiensis, subspecies Israelensis as a soil drench will kill the larvae. Several applications may be needed.