Or am I just overreacting which is very likely.

John

It looks like you have them inside. If so, you are going to have some insects try to take over. If you have a place to set them out for a little while at a time and let nature take care of them, they might thin out a bit. Also if you're using a spray meant to kill things, it's probably not the best for you plants either.

There may be some disbelievers, but fungus gnats are incredibly easy to get rid of. The problem is that your soil is not drying out enough between waterings. Regardless of the frequency you are watering, the soil is staying too moist.

I've had my share of problems with fungus gnats over the years, and nothing gets rid of them except carefully controlled watering (in my experience).

I'm new to peppers, but I think they should be some of the easiest plants to handle this way because they can tolerate drought conditions better than most. Also, if the soil is staying so moist that fungus gnats abound, this could be the reason your peppers aren't doing well. They absolutely don't like soggy roots. Spraying loads of poison on them can't be good for them either, and it's kind of scary considering you're going to be eating the produce from those plants.

My recommendation is to switch to a potting mix that doesn't hold water so well. I've been using a mix of 1/3 sand, 1/3 vermiculite (perlite may be better), and 1/3 organic compost mix obtained locally.

Next, be sure not to water your peppers until you're certain they need it. You can stick your finger into the soil an inch or so, and if you can feel any moisture at all, don't water. Some people wait until their peppers look a little wilty before they water.

Another thing you can do is use some hydrogen peroxide when you water. Mix 1/2 cup (or even 1 cup) of 3% peroxide solution to 1 gallon of water, and use this to water your peppers when it's watering time. This will help control fungus, which will take away some of the gnats' food and help your peppers too. Be sure to use 3% peroxide in your mix. Stronger concentrations will do harm.

These steps worked wonders for me. I think you can solve both your gnat and unhealthy plant problems at the same time by doing this.

Best of luck!

John

I second John. 3% peroxide solution to 1 gallon of water works wonders. I suffered green and white mold. After ONE application the problem was solved. The peppers are growing fast and there is no sign of gnats. I also water once per week or when the top of the soil starts to dry out. I tend to stay away from "wilting before watering".

/Fred