These tiny, wingless insects, which when gathered together seem white, are typically found on plant stems, leaves, and nodes (the area where leaves meet the stem). According to Scott, “Mealybugs are drawn to excessive succulent growth, which can be brought on by overwatering and overfertilizing, particularly with fertilizers heavy in nitrogen.” Plant development slows down and leaves often curl and turn a faint shade of yellow as a result of their feeding on plant sap.
By delicately wiping them with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol (avoiding touching delicate leaves), or by misting them with a solution of dish detergent and water, you can get rid of the bothersome insects (one teaspoon of soap to one gallon of water). Mealybugs can also be controlled with insecticidal soap, neem oil, and horticultural oil. Follow a planned fertilizer schedule rather than indiscriminate feeding to stop breakouts, advises Scott. Mealybugs can easily be removed with your own hands if discovered in time.
How are indoor plant bugs eliminated?
When Acree returns home with a fresh plant, she immediately disposes of any pests by placing it in the bathtub. She tops the soil with pet- and kid-safe food-grade diatomaceous earth powder, which dries out the insects and their larvae, after lightly misting them with a natural DIY bug repellent that you can prepare with 1 tablespoon of tea tree oil and 1 cup of water.
Spray your plants
Making an insecticidal soap to spray on your plants is your best option if you’re dealing with soft-bodied pests like mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. While you may purchase one at the shop, it’s simple to make a DIY version with organic ingredients. Simply combine 1 Tbsp liquid dish soap (free of bleach, degreaser, synthetic colours, and scents), 1/4 cup vegetable oil, and 1 Tbsp liquid dish soap in a spray bottle, then top it off with warm water and shake. Once a week, you can spray your plants with the combination to get rid of pest problems.
Dry out your plants
By simply eliminating the moisture, pests like fungus gnats that prefer moist soil in houseplants can be controlled. (Excuse me, gnats.) The best course of action in these types of circumstances, according to Susan Spanger, a professional gardener and floral designer at Bloomful Floral Design, is to water your plants less frequently than usual in order to let the top few inches of soil totally dry up.
You eliminate the source of food for fungus gnats—fungi in the soil—by not maintaining moist soil. The Sill claims that by letting it dry up, that important food source will be eliminated, which will also eliminate the fungus gnats. According to Spanger, you can also cover the top of your soil with a half-inch of sand. She claims that mature fungus gnats find the rough surface unpleasant and that it dries off soon. Those pests on the houseplants will never return.
Why are there bugs on my houseplant?
Numerous little flying insects that resemble gnats have been seen all over a few of my houseplants. How can I get rid of them and what are they?
Most likely, they are fungus gnats. These naughty little creatures are a very frequent pest throughout the winter, and they are more drawn to the damp soil in houseplant containers than to the actual plants.
Most of the time, fungus gnats are an annoyance. The adults can occasionally hover around your face or at the very least give the impression that you live in a greenhouse overrun with insects.
Although the adults resemble little mosquitoes, they don’t bite, sting, or harm plants despite their appearance.
Actually, the larval stage of this bug—the two to three weeks of its life that you cannot see—poses a greater risk to plants.
Is vinegar safe to spray on houseplants?
According to the Alley Cat Allies website, white vinegar has a potent, repulsive smell and taste that can effectively keep cats away from sections of your home that you don’t want them to enter. Despite being harmless to humans and cats, vinegar is deadly to plants due to its 5% acetic acid content. According to the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, spraying vinegar on houseplant leaves will damage their cell membranes. As a result, the leaves are destroyed, and if the vinegar seeps into the plant’s soil, it will kill it by drying up the roots.
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.
What are the small insects in my indoor plants?
Many individuals have mistaken a fungus gnat infestation for a fruit fly infestation since fungus gnats and fruit flies have similar appearances.
They are not, however, the same kind of issue. In damp soil, fungus gnats deposit their eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on fungus, tiny roots, and other organic matter in the soil. Fruit holds little appeal to them.
- Fungus gnats are the tiny, black insects you may notice hovering around your plants and in the soil.
- Fruit flies are the gnats that are buzzing about the fruit or the garbage disposal in your kitchen.
If you’re still unclear, read this article to learn how to distinguish between the two so you can always make a correct identification.
Gnats in potted soil: how can I get rid of them?
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.
Why are gnats buzzing over my houseplants?
You’re probably dealing with gnats, more specifically, fungus gnats, if you’re bothered by tiny flying insects that seem to appear every time you water your houseplants. The moist soil of houseplants in pots attracts these bugs. Their eggs must be laid in damp soil, and the earth’s organic content provides food for the larvae. This feeding activity not only irritates you but also harms your plants.
The Orfelia and Bradysia species of microscopic flies are what are known as fungus gnats, despite the fact that they resemble little mosquitoes. Their light gray or translucent wings, segmented antennae that are larger than their heads, and small legs help to identify them. These insects are quite little. The length of adults varies between 1/16 and 1/8 inch.
The good news is that neither humans nor animals are bitten by fungus gnats. The larvae will eat your plant’s tiny feeder roots, restricting the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients and inhibiting its growth. Adult gnats don’t cause much damage to plants either. This is more of an issue at nurseries because young, vulnerable seedlings are nurtured in moist environments. Even while you might not be cultivating your plants in a nursery or greenhouse, they can be a threat to popular houseplants if there is a large enough population. If you see these gnats flying around and your plants suddenly seem to wilt, the larvae that are feeding on the roots may be causing root damage.
How can you get rid of mites in the soil of indoor plants?
Small animals called soil mites reside in the soil. They are tiny, invisible bugs that the majority of gardeners never see.
They are hardly noticeable in the garden unless you approach closely. But if you keep pots indoors, their presence might stand out more.
Use Pesticides
Using pesticides is the obvious solution. Numerous chemical components can be found in commercial pesticide formulations. Usually, the chemicals kill the bugs by causing nerve damage.
Organic insecticides are another option. Organic is the way to go if you have a fruit or vegetable plant in your planter.
Apply everything you use cautiously. Soil mites are easily eradicated. Apply a light mist with a soil-specific focus.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
A great substitute for chemical pesticides is hydrogen peroxide. Most insects can be killed by it, including their eggs.
It’s easy to use hydrogen peroxide solution. Apply a fine mist of a 3-percent solution to the soil. Limit your solution to 3%. Without the right dilution, anything greater will only burn your plants.
Don’t worry if you’re concerned about how hydrogen peroxide can affect your plants. Your plant can use the oxygen and water that are produced when the chemical compound disintegrates.
Are plants harmed if vinegar is sprayed on them?
Because vinegar is non-selective, it will harm all plants and grass, not just the weeds you’re attempting to get rid of. Make sure no other plants are hit when you spray the vinegar on the weeds. If it’s not practicable, use a brush to apply vinegar onto the weeds. Make certain all of the foliage comes into touch with the vinegar. The leaves will be burned and dried up by the vinegar’s acetic acid.
You should anticipate the region to smell like a salad dressing explosion in your yard for a few days after using the vinegar for weeds. On the bright side, that potent aroma may temporarily discourage deer, rabbits, and other troublesome animals from visiting your garden. Don’t spray for at least two weeks before doing so again.