Bugs in Plant - Gnats

So I bought a really pretty palm from Target last week - I was really paranoid about getting spider mites on it (since I read online that this particular palm can be prone to them) so I sprayed down the entire plant with rubbing alcohol before we potted it (since I read this will kill the mites)...

FFwd to one week later....I notice a gnat near the plant, I take a look and next thing you know I see a bunch of these little black bugs crawling in the soil I sprayed them with alcohol and appeared that they died on contact but from what I read online they can be hard to get rid off especially if they laid eggs and there are larve in the soil Originally I was worried about the plant getting mites but now I have little black gnat bugs...

This why I don't like plants

Please help....what can I do to rid the plant of these gnats without killing the plant or re-potting? I am so grossed out and sad b/c the plant is so pretty!

Message edited 3/15/2010 7:26:31 PM.

Re: Bugs in Plant - Gnats

Get some insecticidal soap - you can spray it on the plant and it kills the bugs not the plants...

Re: Bugs in Plant - Gnats

I would go and ask at your local Lowes. When my parents moved to FL they felt the people in Lowes actually knew a lot about the plants and how to take care of them.