Bugs are probably fungus gnats. They came with the soil. Nuisance.

Some damage on the leaves is kind of expected - probably from the condensation. It is a cosmetic damage, th plant will eventually frow out of it, do not do anything.

Okay, do I need to get rid of the gnats? If so, how?

Wow, I always wondered what to do about the gnats! Thanks, Irina. Joanne

Joanne - I add a small amount of Imidacloprid to the soil - it takes care of mealies, gnats and to some extent thrips.

Good tip, I will go back to doing that. I recall when first reading about that from you, I used to do that. But I got away from it. Time to resume that practice. oanne

In winter we can coast without pesticides. But very soon the Powdery Mildew is going to show its ugly head. Spring is coming - and we love it!

Irina, question please. Is the imidacloprid added to the soil only when repotting or can it be added after?

I think this is a valuable tip that could save growers a lot of frustration. VELLETA

I think you can stir it into the top of the potting medium about an inch down then top water. Joanne

Thanks fortyseven. Since I am preparing to get more plant I think I will try and get some. I am planning to repot as soon as I get them. VELLETA

Velleta -

if you do not have bugs to bother your plants - do not add it. If you add it on the top - you can do some damage. Some plants are sensitive to it. We are using imidacloprid because of the widely spread infestation of root and foliar mealy bugs in US.

OK Irina, got it. But we do have a problem with mealy bugs here. Even the last show I went to in April of last year, I saw a few Avs but they were covered with mealy bug so I stayed far away.

And I myself got a few stragglers the year before but I used alcohol on a daily basis an took care of them.

So I suppose we don't have a break out but I don't want one either. VELLETA

Then - use it in a soil, sparingly while repotting. It works for 3 months.

You can spray your plants with an alcohol solution - 1:3 with water. The only plant as I know that is totally intolerant of alcohol is Streptocarpus - but it is heat intolerant, so you probably won't grow it anyway.

OK I will mix it in the soil for the new ones and as for the present one I will work with the alcohol until I repot in June.

Oh and I did try to grow Streps. THEY HATE JAMAICA. Velleta

Yup - if you are above 70F... they suffer. If you above 80F - they die.

Whereas, AVs suffer below 70F or so:) Well maybe 65.

I do not think AVs are that happy after 85F...and a lot of nasties happen after 90F.