Fungus Gnats, Invasive Plants, Wildlife, and other January News

Posted on January 1, 2026January 5, 2026 by Zidack, Heather

Someone once said "There are two types of people in this world. People who have fungus gnats, and liars!"

It's a common issue that almost everyone has had to manage at one point or another with their houseplants. These tiny pests feed on fungus that grows on decaying root tissue in the soil, often caused by overwatering. While they may occasionally eat plant material, more often they're an indicator of a larger issue.

Scout often for an infestation, and try to let the soil dry out between waterings when possible to help keep them at bay. Chemical solutions out there are frequently short term solutions for infestations. They should be used in severe cases alongside cultural management practices for best results.

Scout for Invasives this Winter!

Dry grasses with feathery tops sway against a backdrop of leafless trees and a clear blue sky. — Photo by Lauren Kurtz, UConn Home Garden Education Office

Invasive Phragmites asutralis (Common Reed) is especially easy to spot during the winter months while most other wetland plants collapse and become nondescript brownish patches on the landscape.

Invasive phragmites remains, standing tall in dense stands with rigid stems and large, persistent seed heads. This rhizomatous grass grows 5 to 10 feet tall, which makes it easy to spot along the frozen edges of wetlands and waterbodies. The winter visibility makes this an ideal time for landowners and managers to map infestations or plan future control efforts.

A tree with a twisted trunk and bulging knot-like structure, being strangled by invasive vines, surrounded by leafless trees and sparse vegetation. — Photo by Pamm Cooper, UConn Home Garden Education Office

Another common observation at this time of the year is choking and girdling damage caused by invasive vines like Asiatic or Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). By bringing pruners with you as you scout, you can immediately respond to any damage you see from these vines on your property.

For Connecticut Bird Enthusiasts

UConn has worked in partnership with many organizations and agencies across the state to develop an online Bird Atlas. This project has been in the works since 2018 and is continuing to develop.

The atlas contains information on birds found in Connecticut and has a block map showing where they are found. They are currently working on species accounts which have specific information on individual birds such as the whistling ducks shown in the image.

CT Bird Atlas

False Turkeytail Fungus

Also called the golden curtain crust, Stereum ostrea is a plant pathogen and a wood decay fungus. Ostera means “oyster” and aptly describes its shell- like fruiting body which is made up of concentric circles of many colors.

It resembles the Trametes versicolor which is called the turkey tail fungus. Look for all turkey tail fungi on dead wood throughout the winter months on branches, logs, stumps of trees, especially of oaks, maples and elms. These are beneficial, aiding in the decomposition of dead wood and in recycling nutrients.

About False Turkey Tail

Bringing a pop of red to late fall and winter landscapes, winterberries (Ilex verticillata) bear brightly colored fruit which grows in clusters along its branches. This deciduous holly is native to eastern North America. Winterberries are often grown around ponds or swampy areas, as they are well-suited for moist, acidic soil environments.

As their common name implies, this type of holly is famed for its ability to produce vibrant red fruit which brightens otherwise dreary winter landscapes. To achieve this result, proper cross-pollination of plants must occur during blooming seasons. Winterberries are dioecious – meaning they have separate male and female plants. Female plants are capable of producing berries only after being fertilized by a nearby male plant. Generally, male plants can pollinate 20 female plants when they are within a 40-foot distance of each other.

Certain cultivars of female and male plants are paired with one another according to the compatibility of their blooming times.

Learn About Winterberry

Berry Good Pick for Winter Interest

The Connecticut Native Perennial, Tree, & Shrub Availability List

Word from the WiSE

Women in Soil Ecology, UConn Student Chapter

The Soil Life Under the Snow

As we inch towards shorter days, colder nights, and snow covered grounds, almost everyone is bundling up in heavy coats and winter boots, but what about life within the soil? You might think that soil life abruptly stops after the first snowflake, but that is often not the case.

Moles live in tunnels underground throughout the year, however, they do not hibernate and instead dig deeper to expand their tunnels in order to find food and protect themselves from the cold. Worms burrow deep into the ground, wind into a ball, cover themselves in a protective
slime coating, and enter a dormant state called (a)estivation. Microbes, a small but mighty community in soil, are still active during winter, and some bacteria even produce a chemical similar to antifreeze! Soil contains extremely diverse and essential communities, and just because the ground is freezing doesn’t mean they do!

By Zaira O’Leary, Soil Science Master’s Student, UConn PSLA

Upcoming Events and Things to Do

35 Things to do in Connecticut this January

Celebrate the New Year with a First Day Event, Hike, or Walk, January 1, Statewide

Get out of the cold and see butterflies up close! The Connecticut Science Center's Butterfly Encounter is open! Explore their all season butterfly habitat housing over 40 species of butterflies! If you're looking to take a day trip, Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatoryis in South Deerfield MA. This conservatory hatches and maintains its butterfly population year round as well.

Educational Opportunities & Workshops

2026 UConn Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Conference - January 8, Storrs CT

Basic Garden Maintenance: A Year-Long, Month by Month Plan - January 19, Vernon CT, 7-9pm
Join the Vernon Garden Club for a presentation and discussion detailing how to properly care for your perennial gardens all year long!
This free event is open to all, including non-members and non-residents of Vernon. No pre-registration required.

First Congregational Church of Vernon
695 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT 06066
Questions? VernonCTGardenClub@gmail.com

Attend a UConn Master Gardener Course! (Various dates and various locations)

Join Us at Upcoming Talks

Walk on the Wild Side with Pamm Cooper
January 7, 2026 - 6:00 PM
Hosted by the Whiton Branch Library
100 North Main Street
Manchester, CT 06042

January Gardening Tips

Check for frost heaving on perennials during thaws and press back into place. Cover the crowns with extra mulch as necessary.

Start seeds of pansies, dusty miller, browallia, begonias, snapdragons, and delphiniums indoors under lights.

Do not wait until late in the winter to order seeds as many of the seed companies most popular varieties sell out early.

To determine how many seeds to order, map out your garden on graph paper, allowing adequate space between rows and ample room for vining crops such as pumpkins and winter squash.

At month's end, start seeds of onions, leeks, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower indoors under lights.

Check all house plants closely for insect infestations. Quarantine gift plants until you determine that they are not harboring any pests. Inspect under leaves and stems for white, cottony mealybugs, and look under leaves and on stems for scale insects.

Don't walk on frozen grass, especially if there is no snow cover. Without the protection of snow, grass blades are easily broken causing die-back in your lawn.

Avoid using salt to melt ice on driveways and sidewalks which may end up on the lawn, when possible use sand or kitty litter. This will help prevent salt damage to plant roots.

Prune away storm-damaged branches promptly to prevent tearing of the bark. When pruning large limbs, always undercut first. This means to cut from the bottom up, one-third of the way through the limb, then finish by cutting from the top. The undercut keeps the limb from splitting and breaking off, which could damage the trunk and become an entryway for insects and diseases. Do not cut flush to the trunk as the collar or enlarged base of a branch produces hormones that help heal wounds.

Bring pruning tools inside and clean them for the upcoming season. Disassemble hand pruners, and loppers. Sharpen the blades, oil the levers, and remove any rust.

Whether you're shoveling snow, hauling firewood, out for a winter hike or playing in the snow make sure you're taking the proper safety precautions while out in the elements this winter!

More January Gardening Tips

What Stays the Same

We will continue to provide the professional and research-based support you’re used to, just in a convenient, central location. Our science-based testing protocols and result-driven recommendations reinforce our commitment to serving growers, landscapers, and the public with their plant and soil health issues.

What Gets Better

Combining current programs all under one roof provides an opportunity for more collaboration, outreach, and educational opportunities for our stakeholders.

One easy-to-find location for soil, plant, and turf sample submissions
Future expansion of diagnostic services available for plant and soil health analysis
Collaboration between programs and increased opportunities for public outreach events

Watch for More Information Soon
s.uconn.edu/plant-soil

Holiday Plants, Forcing Bulbs, Hawks & Other December News

Posted on December 2, 2025December 3, 2025 by Zidack, Heather

Force Bulbs Now for Late-Winter Cheer

Pink tulips in full bloom arranged in a red glass vase, placed on a wooden floor in sunlight near a wall and door. — Photo by Holly McNamara, Uconn Plant Diagnostic Lab

December is your last chance to encourage spring bulbs to bloom during the late winter gloom of February and March. Paper Whites, Daffodils, Amaryllis, Iris, Tulips, Hyacinth, and Crocus can produce enticing fragrances and colors during these otherwise bleak winter conditions.

Forcing is the process of “tricking” bulbs into sprouting and blooming under artificially imposed conditions. There are often cultivars available for purchase that are specifically bred for forcing. Bulbs can be planted in commercial potting soil. Make sure there are at least 2” of soil beneath the bulbs to allow for root growth, in a pot with adequate drainage holes. With this technique, bulbs may be planted very close together for an aesthetically pleasing product. A 6” diameter pot can hold 3 large bulbs (hyacinth), 5-6 medium bulbs (tulips or daffodils), or up to 15 small bulbs (crocus).

With the exception of paperwhites, most spring blooming bulbs must be subjected to a minimum of twelve weeks of cold temperatures, anywhere from 35-50°F, to prepare them for growth. This can be achieved by placing the pot in an unheated garage, crawl space, or refrigerator. After this cold period, the pot can be moved to a cool, sunny location, preferably between 50-60°F as the shoots and leaves begin to emerge. After one week, it can be moved to a warmer location out of direct sunlight. At this point in the process, the bulbs should bloom in three to four weeks.

Word from the WiSE

Women in Soil Ecology, UConn Student Chapter

Happy World Soil Day!

This month, UConn’s Women in Soil Ecology bring you a word on celebrating World Soil Day.
World Soil Day is December 5th, 2025 and the theme of this year’s celebration is Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities, emphasizing the need to consider the state of soil health in urban landscapes.

When we think of soil health, we often think about the soil in our home gardens or large-scale agricultural fields. Soil health practices are just as important in urban environments, but much of the soil is sealed away with cement and other impermeable surfaces. Healthy urban soil absorbs rainfall, reduces flooding, and supports effective stormwater management. It helps regulate temperature and can lessen the urban heat island effect. It also stores carbon, can help to improve air quality, and supports biodiversity by providing a habitat for urban wildlife.

Beyond the environmental benefits, it also can enhance human well-being. It can improve mental and physical health by generating more opportunities for outdoor recreation and strengthening connection with nature. By recognizing and sharing the value of healthy urban soils with others, we can help to rethink urban spaces and promote more resilient and healthier cities.

By Nora Doonan – Soil Science PhD Student, UConn PSLA

Upcoming Events and Things to Do

38 Things to do in Connecticut this December

Find holiday gifts at local craft fairs!

Take a holiday train ride at the Essex Steam Train, the CT Trolley Museum or the Railroad Museum of New England