If you keep an infestation under control, fungus gnats normally won’t harm your plants, but they are very bothersome. They often fly directly into your face as they flutter around it. Additionally, they appear to follow you everywhere. It’s best to address their presence even when they don’t actually harm your plants because they are frequently indications of issues with your maintenance routine. Create a proper watering schedule.
Establish an appropriate watering routine
To eliminate any eggs or larva in the soil, establish a suitable watering schedule. Additionally, it will keep fungus gnats from settling there in the future. Before watering, always make sure the top few inches of soil are dry (for more common houseplants). A moisture meter is available, but I don’t bother with one.
You can print off my free printable plant watering trackers if you’re having trouble remembering when you last watered your plants. Every time you water your plants, update it on your fridge and laminate it!
Use sticky fly traps
In the gift guide I created the previous year for houseplant lovers, I featured my favorite yellow sticky stake fly traps. Since then, I’ve been purchasing inexpensive yellow fly paper, cutting it into strips, and affixing it to the stakes. or simply hang it up. These are quite effective at managing adult populations.
The yellow color of the fly traps attracts swarms of adult gnats. They perish after becoming entangled in the deadly yellow fly paper. Gnats, I’m sorry. And once adult numbers are under control, there is nothing on which to lay eggs.
Invest in a Katchy machine
Okay, I’ll confess it: after seeing one of my planty pals on Tiktok post about her Katchy, I went out and purchased one myself. I was struggling to handle a severe fungus gnat infestation at the time. I gave in and purchased it, and it’s actually pretty wonderful!
The advantage of the Katchy is that it actually has a very attractive appearance—much nicer than a bunch of garishly colored fly paper hanging all over your home. Additionally, you can rapidly replace the sticky fly traps to give it a fresh look.
You turn on the UV light that is mounted on top of it at night to attract flies to it. The flies are then drawn down onto the fly paper by the machine’s fan.
Get rid of gnats in houseplants with vinegar
A quick and easy method for reducing adult gnat populations is vinegar. In addition to sticky traps, this is a fantastic alternative. Simply add a few drops of dish soap to a small shallow bowl of vinegar. Refresh as it fills up with dead gnats every few days. They adore this material.
Use sand or gravel to dress the soil
Fungus gnats lay their eggs in the top few inches of soil, so covering the top with sand or gravel can assist to keep them out. I’ve done this with decorative pebbles or sand, but that’s not my preferred approach. However, I am aware that some people adore this approach. So it’s worthwhile to try.
Hydrogen peroxide mix
You most likely already have hydrogen peroxide in your home, which is another substance that can help control fungus gnats in addition to vinegar. When watering dry soil, use 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 5 parts water to help kill off any organisms. Almost all common houseplants won’t be harmed by this, just avoid using straight hydrogen peroxide!
Try a soap and water mixture
This was briefly discussed in my essay on how to debug plants before storing them for the winter. To get rid of everything in the soil, I usually put an insecticide on it and mix it with some soapy water.
I don’t give this much thought. I simply fill a watering can with warm water, a few drops of mild dish soap (one without a degreaser), and the soap. It will start to bubble. The plant is then given water. Simply sprinkle the top layer of soil if your plant is already damp to stop further overwatering.
Neem oil spray
You may also get rid of fungus gnats by using neem oil. Either get a diluted neem oil spray or a neem oil concentrate and make your own dilution. A concentration I purchase, I find, goes further. My own has been around for a while, and I simply reuse an old spray bottle.
Sprinkling cinnamon
Okay… I’ve tried it before, but I don’t think it had any effect. But a lot of folks suggest cinnamon. Cinnamon, a natural fungicide, can be sprinkled on top of the soil. This should be done while the earth is dry, worked into the top inch or two of soil, and then the plant should be watered.
Use a systemic pesticide
A systemic pesticide can also be used to eradicate everything in the soil. When you water the plant, the pesticide kills everything. You can apply insecticides to the top few inches of the soil. In all honesty, since fungus gnats are less difficult to eradicate than other pests, you probably don’t need this strength of insecticide on them.
I killed several thrips that I had in my giant monstera deliciosa and other indoor plants with insecticide granules. It succeeded! Praise be, it also wiped off all of the fungus gnats. Consequently, it was a plus!
I have potted plants, how can I get rid of the gnats?
Fortunately, there are several of organic and chemical-free ways to get rid of fungus gnats from your prized plants. You can use a traditional trap or common household goods like potatoes and dish soap!
Let the Soil Dry
It’s important to remember to let the soil dry out for a few days and refrain from watering your plant because fungus gnats and their larvae prefer to nest in moist soil. The gnats will be forced to live in an uninhabitable habitat as a result, and they will disappear in dry soil. Do not be afraid to skip your next watering in order to get rid of the gnats; your houseplant will be able to endure the dryness for a longer period of time than you might imagine.
The best advice is to take your plant out of the planter and drain any extra water from the bottom. Thus, there won’t be any dampness where gnats might deposit their eggs.
Use Traps
There are numerous traps you may employ to get rid of these bothersome bugs if you’re seeking for a speedier fix. You can choose to DIY these with a few common things or run to the store and buy specialist traps, depending on what best suits your needs.
- Pour a cup of white vinegar and a few drops of liquid dish soap onto a shallow saucer. The gnats will be drawn to the solution and fall into the trap if you place the bowl near your plant. Repeat the procedure until no more gnats are present.
- Sticky fly traps are an alternative if the smell of vinegar deters you from making your own homemade gnat trap. These little yellow paper sheets attract gnats and trap them with glue because of their brilliant hue. Although it might not be visually appealing, this procedure is simple and safe.
- Consider purchasing an indoor fly-catching gadget if you’re sick and tired of gnats in your plants and need an urgent fix. These are typically USB-powered and can be purchased locally or online. The blowers and LED lights draw the gnats, and eventually they are drawn into the trap.
- Are there any extra potatoes in the kitchen? Set a trap for them! Place the potatoes flesh-down on the ground after cutting them into little pieces. The fungus gnats will be drawn to the potatoes by their dampness. Just be careful that the parts don’t dry out otherwise it won’t operate.
Sanitize and Repot
Consider removing the plant from its planter and scraping out the soil if you want to take matters into your own hands. When doing this, take care not to disrupt the roots and take only what you can get rid of. Put the contaminated soil in a plastic bag and wash the planter with soap and warm water to sterilize it. Repot your plant into new soil after this is finished, then put it back into its planter.
Use a Spray Bottle
Take a spray bottle and combine water and dish soap in it. Repeat the technique until all of the gnats are gone by spraying the solution on the top layer of soil. If you’re seeking for a quick and natural solution to get rid of fungus gnats, try this.
What natural cure gets rid of gnats in houseplants?
You can sprinkle some cinnamon on top of the soil while you’re waiting for diatomaceous earth to arrive or as soon as you realize you have fungus gnats. The cinnamon stops them from laying eggs and acts as a natural fungicide and irritant.
Ceylon cinnamon is what you want to use, not the common variety that most people already have at home.
Water with Mosquito Dunks/Bits
The wonder solution known as mosquito dunks will stop fungus gnats in their tracks and is also quite simple to use.
You simply need to place a small piece in your watering can and use it to water your plants. Additionally, each component will withstand numerous waterings.
These include the naturally occurring bacteria BTI as the active ingredient, which is poisonous to insect larvae like gnats and mosquitoes.
Toxins produced by the active substances only affect gnats, their larvae, blackflies, and mosquitoes. The gnat larvae are enticed to consume this rather than the fungus or roots because of this.
Hydrogen Peroxide Drench
Pour 4 parts water and 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent, over the soil of your plant.
The only effective method for eradicating the gnat population is to use hydrogen peroxide, which kills all fungus gnat larvae.
This dilute concoction has the ideal strength to kill insect eggs without harming your plant (it actually aerates the soil and cleans the roots).
Do not water your plant when it is already moist. Only do this when your plant genuinely needs water.
Use an Apple Cider Vinegar Mix
Killing out all of the eggs and larvae in the soil is crucial for getting rid of gnats in your houseplants.
After using the aforementioned techniques to accomplish that, you should catch every adult gnat that is still flying around to prevent them from laying more eggs.
Placing an apple cider concoction next to your problematic plant is one natural method for catching gnat insects. One teaspoon of sugar, two parts water, one part apple cider vinegar, and a few trace amounts of liquid dish soap should all be combined in a shallow dish (Blue Dawn is best).
Because apple cider vinegar is slightly sweeter than white vinegar and has an orange tint that also attracts pests, you must use it.
Use Yellow Sticky Traps
These sticky traps also work great if you don’t have apple cider vinegar or don’t want to deal with the vinegar scent. The gnats are drawn to them because they are yellow.
However, whether you employ the sticky traps or the apple cider vinegar approach, they only offer you a general idea of how terrible your gnat problem is. You must employ these techniques in addition to addressing the larvae issue.
Why do my house plants have gnats in them?
Houseplants with gnats are a pain. They are tiny flies, or “fungus gnats,” approximately 1/8 of an inch long, that are lured to the moist potting soil and decomposing plant matter at the bases of indoor plants. They don’t bite, despite having a mosquito-like appearance.
The simplest strategy to stop gnats from taking over your home is to avoid over-watering in the first place, as gnats in houseplants often come from the potting mix containing too much moisture. But what if the harm has already been done and your plants are being surrounded by a swarm of bothersome flies? Here, we’ll go over the most effective methods for getting rid of gnats in indoor plants.
How to identify gnats in indoor plants
You can check for gnat eggs to see whether you’re about to encounter an issue. In the soil, fungus gnats lay their eggs, which develop into larvae that eat fungi in plant soil. The larvae of the fungus gnat are about 1/4 inch long, with a shiny black head and an elongated, translucent to whitish body.
They enjoy organic stuff in addition to fungi and may occasionally consume plant roots or seedlings, which will make the plant appear wilted. Inspect the area for a slime trail similar to the ones that slugs and snails leave. Your indoor plants most certainly have gnats if you can see a trail.
Gnats also enjoy light, so you might see them on your windows, especially if there are any indoor plants close by.
Even though the ordinary fruit fly and gnats are completely distinct insects, they are frequently confused. Fruit flies, unlike fungus gnats, are tan in color and resemble oval, baby house flies. They tend to hang around near fruit.
Can vinegar be sprayed on plants?
The most popular application for household vinegar is as an organic weed killer. When used on those annoying, difficult-to-kill weeds, they will vanish in two to three days, but you must be cautious when spraying it around specific plants because it may be damaging to them. To complete the task, combine one gallon of white vinegar with a cup of salt and a few tablespoons of dish soap.
Gnats can be eliminated by cinnamon?
By sprinkling diluted chamomile tea on the plants, adult fungus gnats can also be killed effectively.
Spread it over the soil’s top to kill the larvae and break the life cycle.
Control Fungus Gnats, Cinnamon A Natural Option
- Cinnamon powder is a popular and widely accessible natural fungicide that is highly effective in reducing fungus gnats.
- Cinnamon powder eliminates the fungus that the damping off larvae feed on.
- Simply sprinkle enough cinnamon powder across the top layer of soil is the only step required to use the cinnamon powder.
- This antifungal substance is a powerful technique to destroy the fungi that you often find in potting soil and decomposing plant materials.
Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis
Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, sometimes known as Bti, is a naturally occurring bacteria that kills a variety of worms, insects, and larvae. See our post on using Mosquito Dunks for fungus gnats for more information on Bti.
The particular strains of Bt, H-14, or israelensis kill fungus gnat larvae successfully.