Removing Bugs From Wheat Grass

Wheat Grass Rehashed

• Wheat grass doesn't quite look like what you see in the golden wheat fields of cereal commercials. Its crisp green blades rise in a pattern that looks like magnified turf and is often cut before it grows tall. Wheat grass grows from common wheat directly after germination. Nutritionally, it shares many characteristics with other cereal grains, particularly alfalfa and barley.

Black Grass Bug

• Especially if you're growing an outside crop, keep an eye out for black, grass bugs. Because there are no registered pesticides for getting rid of the black, grass bug from small grains, it is important to identify an invasion quickly. White or yellow leaf spots or the presence of an identified bug can indicate infestation. Black grass bugs average 1/4 inch in length. Its name designates black, but the bug can also be gray, with either red or black legs. Cutting or burning crops in the fall can destroy laid eggs and help prevent black grass bugs the next year.

Fruit Flies

• Common both indoors and out, fruit flies typically show up to lay their eggs when they are welcomed by mold or ripening fruits and vegetables. It is possible to use fly paper to catch fruit flies, but the best way to keep fruit flies out of your wheat grass is to starve them of mold and overripe fruits.

Tidy Trays

• The easiest way to keep both fruit flies and muck away is avoiding mold-friendly growing situations. Mold grows well in moist, warm environments, so allow air circulation between blades and avoid overwatering the wheatgrass. A dehumidifier or exhaust fan may help keep fruit flies away. Aim for a room humidity between 40 and 60 percent -- no higher. If you have temperature control, between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is cool enough to discourage mold growth but not cold enough to stunt wheat grass growth.