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!
How can houseplant gnats be eliminated?
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.
Where can I find gnat-free potting soil?
If you have a lot of indoor plants, it might be challenging to get rid of fungus gnats. The adults can effortlessly fly or leap from one plant to another, depositing their eggs in any location with moist soil.
The adult fungus gnats have a short lifespan, similar to fruit flies. Therefore, your fungus gnat problem will be solved once all the larvae have died.
Fungus gnats can be readily controlled without the use of dangerous synthetic pesticides by adopting natural pest control solutions and techniques. The greatest ways to get rid of those pesky flying gnats from your indoor plants are listed below.
Control soil moisture
Therefore, avoiding overwatering your plants is the simplest and most efficient way to control plant gnats and ultimately get rid of fungus gnats.
On most indoor plants, though, you don’t want to let the soil entirely dry up. To keep the ideal moisture level for your houseplants and get rid of gnats in plant soil, use a soil moisture sensor.
Indoor plant watering tools also make it simpler to water houseplants and aid in preventing overwatering, which will help you get rid of plant gnats.
Water plants from the bottom
When you water plants from the top, the top inch of the soil, where fungus gnat larvae typically dwell, tends to stay rather damp.
Without endangering the plant’s general health, bottom watering plants will make it simpler to maintain drier top soil.
Simply pour water into the plant’s drip tray or storage pot to water it from the bottom, and the plant will absorb the liquid through the drainage holes.
Never let your plant sit in water for an extended period of time. After soaking for around 30 minutes, drain out any extra water.
Use yellow houseplant sticky stakes
A very safe technique of pest control is to place a yellow sticky trap next to the plant. This will draw and catch the adult fungus gnats.
This will only work to control the adult population; it won’t address the root cause of the issue (the larvae).
However, yellow sticky traps unquestionably assist in preventing adult fungus gnats from flying to other plants.
Apply organic pest control products
To get rid of gnats in potted plants, pour or spritz an organic insecticidal soap or a neem oil mixture into the top of the soil.
I mix 1 tsp of mild liquid soap with 1 liter of water to produce my own insecticidal soap.
Neem oil has a lasting effect that aids in prevention and is excellent at killing pests that attack indoor plants. Neem oil can be purchased here.
After a few applications, these organic gnat pesticides ought to work; just be careful not to overwater your plants.
Why do my house plants have tiny gnats in them?
1. Modify your drinking habits
Pests like fruit flies and gnats thrive in moist soil; their eggs and larvae cannot survive without a steady supply of moisture. Your plant probably needs less water than you are giving it, so try checking the soil with your finger and only watering when the top 2 inches of soil are completely dry. If you struggle to accurately measure moisture on your own, you can get a moisture sensor gauge that you can simply insert inside your planter. Keep in mind that the main reason why houseplants die is overwatering!
2. TAKE YOUR DRAINAGE & HUMIDITY INTO ACCOUNT
If your planter has a tray underneath, make sure to drain it right away after watering to prevent moisture buildup. The perforated holes at the front of the Wally Eco Wall Planter’s basket allow the soil breathe and remove extra moisture, but be careful not to overwater. If the air in the bathroom is excessively humid, move your plant outside or turn the humidifier down a notch.
How can I quickly eradicate gnats from my plants?
The good news is that you don’t need to bug bomb your house to get rid of soil gnats (yay). Disrupting their life cycle and making your home uninhabitable for these pests are the two main goals. Here are some tips for treating indoor plants naturally and getting rid of gnats in the soil.
Make the Natural Habitat Inhospitable
To survive, fungus gnat larvae require wet soil. It will eliminate the gnats in the soil and deter new adults from laying fungus gnat eggs, ultimately eliminating the larval stage, if you allow it to completely dry up before your subsequent watering.
Use a Soap-and-Water Mixture
Add a few drops of liquid Castille soap or liquid dish soap to a cup of water. To kill the larvae, sprinkle this on the soil’s surface using a spray bottle. To be sure that all of the larvae have been killed, repeat this procedure again in a couple of days.
Although some folks advise using vinegar traps, I’ve discovered that soap and water work better. Making a fruit fly trap is best accomplished using vinegar, and in particular, a bowl of apple cider vinegar.
Use Sand or Gravel
Only the top inch of soil is where fungus gnats lay their eggs. Sand or gravel replacement of the top inch results in a dry environment and deprives them of nutrient-rich fungus to feed. They won’t desire to lay eggs if their necessary food source isn’t accessible.
You can also use lovely decorative aquamarine rocks to give some of your favorite plantlings a pop of color.
Dispose of the Top Layer of Soil Outdoors
Still, the eggs might hatch. Instead of inside your home, let them hatch outside. Pests shouldn’t just be moved from one area of the house to another.
All of these actions can help you manage and stop fungus gnat infestations naturally.
Why do my potting soil have tiny insects in it?
In comparison to a fungus gnat, the shore fly (right) has a more substantial body and shorter antennae (left).
Small flies called fungus gnats are pests that attack soil, potting soil, other container materials, and other sources of organic decay. Their larvae devour roots and can be a concern in greenhouses, nurseries, potted plants, and interior plantscapes. Their larvae mostly consume fungi and organic debris in soil. Indoor houseplants may produce adult fungus gnats, which can be a nuisance.
IDENTIFICATION
The Orfelia and Bradysia species of fungus gnats, often known as darkwinged fungus gnats (Sciaridae), are small, delicate-looking insects that resemble mosquitoes in appearance. Fungus gnats have segmented antennae that are longer than their heads and thin legs. They can be distinguished by their lengthy antennae from shore flies with shorter, bristle-like antennae that are more hardy, also seen in greenhouses, and linked with algae and decaying organic debris. Fungus gnat adults typically measure between 116 to 18 inches in length, while some species can grow up to 12 inches in length. The common Bradysia species have Y-shaped wing veins and light gray to transparent wings.
Adult fungus gnats are drawn to light, so you may initially see them flying close to windows indoors. However, fungus gnats are rather poor flyers and typically don’t move around much indoors in contrast to more active species like the common housefly (Musca domestica). Fungus gnats frequently hang around potted plants and fly across growing medium, foliage, compost, and wet mulch piles (or rest there).
In potting soil or damp organic waste, females lay their small eggs. Larvae have an elongated, whitish-to-clear body and a shiny, black head. They consume compost, root hairs, fungi, leaf mold, grass clippings, and organic mulch. If the environment is particularly damp and there are lots of fungus gnats, larvae may produce slime trails on the surface of the medium that resemble those of little snails or slugs.
DAMAGE
Adult fungus gnats don’t bite people or harm plants; instead, their presence is primarily seen as an annoyance. However, a huge population of larvae can harm the roots of a plant and impede its growth, especially in seedlings and young plants. In interior plantscapes and with houseplants, significant root damage and even plant mortality have been noted when high populations were linked to damp, organically rich soil. Therefore, a wilting houseplant may not be a sign of a water shortage but rather root damage from fungus gnat larvae or (more frequently) from other causes of unhealthy roots. The more typical causes of wilting plants, however, include excessive or insufficient water, root decay fungus, and unfavorable soil conditions (such as inadequate drainage or waterlogging).
Greenhouses, nurseries, and sod farms are more frequently affected by severe fungus gnat damage. Although larvae also consume plant roots outside, they typically don’t cause much harm.
LIFE CYCLE
Egg, larva (with four larval stages or instars), pupa, and adult are the four phases through which fungus gnats develop. In moist organic medium, where females lay eggs and larvae feed, the small eggs and oblong pupae are found. Eggs hatch around 75oF in about 3 days, larvae take about 10 days to transform into pupae, and adults appear in about 4 days. Depending on the temperature, a generation of fungus gnats (from female to female) can be produced in around 17 days. They will grow more quickly and produce more generations per year as the temperature rises.
Each year, there are numerous overlapping generations of fungus gnats. In California’s interior, they are most prevalent outside in the winter and spring months when water is more readily available and the weather is colder. In damp coastal areas and indoors, they can occur at any time of the year.