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.
Why do gnats flock to my house plants?
Because of this, you might have noticed much smaller flying insects buzzing around your houseplants and mistaken them for common or garden fruit flies, but the more likely species is fungus gnats.
Soil gnats is another name for these little flying insects. In the potting soil of indoor plants, they thrive and reproduce.
Therefore, if you see little black gnats flying around or crawling through the dirt around your houseplants, they are most likely fungus gnats.
Fungus Gnats Are Part Of A Family Of Insects That Include:
- Bolitophilidae
- Ditomyiidae
- Keroplatidae
- Diptera
- Diadocidiidae
They typically eat mushrooms and dead plant detritus and are naturally found in moist forest environments.
Small Pests
Fruit flies are much larger than fungus gnats, which are considerably smaller. In actuality, they only reach a length of around a quarter inch.
Therefore, despite your incorrect belief that they are too small to do any real harm, their larvae may and will harm your indoor plants.
Fungus Gnats Like Warm Moist Soil
Fungus gnats are frequently drawn to indoor plants because they lay their eggs in damp soil.
When the eggs hatch, the young birds will eat roots, algae, fungi, and other organic matter like potting soil.
Fungus gnats are generally innocuous as adults, but the larvae can destroy your houseplants.
The larvae, as we have seen, are the ones that cause the greatest harm because they may feed on plant roots that are buried in the soil, which can cause damage to the roots and stunted growth.
A fungus gnat is most likely what you are witnessing if you notice tiny black gnats flying or crawling about in the dirt surrounding your houseplants.
How can I keep gnats and pests away from my indoor plants?
Act quickly and start treatment as soon as you discover any pests on houseplants.
To stop houseplant pests from spreading to your other plants, you should eradicate them as soon as you can.
It’s always advisable to stick with natural methods and products when it comes to pesticides.
All of the techniques I suggest for getting rid of pests on houseplants are all-natural or DIY solutions, and they are very effective.
How To Get Rid Of Bugs On Indoor Plants Leaves
The majority of domestic plant pests eat on plants and can be found on leaves, flower buds, and/or stems. Here are some recommendations for naturally getting rid of pests on indoor plants.
1. Keep the plant alone
In order to stop the infestation from spreading to your other houseplants, quarantine the plant right away. For a few weeks, make careful to keep a close eye on the nearby plants for any indications of indoor plant pests.
2. A tidy environment
Some insects have a lengthy lifetime and can leave the plant and hide. So make sure to use soapy water to properly clean the place where the plant was sitting. If you’d like, you might also use rubbing alcohol to sterilize the area.
3. Wash plant leavesEither use a light liquid soap or insecticidal detergent to wash the infected plant. On touch, soap kills houseplant bugs. However, be cautious when choosing your type. Some of them have detergents and degreasers that can hurt delicate plants. Before cleaning all of the leaves on your plants, always test any type of soap on a small area first.
4. Wipe out the pot
Wash the plant tray and pot in soapy water as well. Pests of houseplants can readily conceal themselves on the bottoms of pots and trays as well as under their rims.
5. Get rid of the bugs
To destroy and get rid of the pests off the plant, dab them with a cotton swab that has been dipped in rubbing alcohol.
6. Care for the tree
Neem oil can be applied to the plant to prevent and control indoor pests over the long term. Natural insecticide for indoor plants, neem oil kills and deters insects. Here you can find detailed instructions on using neem oil as a pesticide. As an alternative, you might try using horticultural oil or a hot pepper spray.
How To Get Rid Of Tiny Flying Bugs On Houseplants
The majority of indoor plant insects fly at some point throughout their life cycle, making control much more challenging.
However, eliminating the flying insects by themselves won’t be sufficient to get rid of a pest infestation in houseplants. To completely get rid of insects on indoor plants, you must kill the eggs and nymphs.
Therefore, in addition to these actions, make sure to follow the instructions above for getting rid of bugs on plant leaves. Here are a few more suggestions for removing flying pests from indoor plants:
Use yellow sticky traps or sticky stakes for houseplants to catch and destroy tiny flying insects in houseplants. This will aid in their control, keep them from flying to nearby plants, and is non-toxic.
Utilize the vacuum cleaner to capture the flying insects. This is a good way to swiftly control a big population of flying indoor plant pests. Just be careful not to swallow any plant leaves while doing it.
How To Get Rid Of Bugs In Houseplants Soil
In particular, fungus gnats are one of several kinds of houseplant pests that can be found in potting soil. As a result, whenever you notice bugs on your houseplants, inspect the soil as well and treat it as necessary.
Replace the top inch of soil by removing and discarding it. Then add new potting soil or a soil cover in its place. Future infestations can be avoided by using a natural top dressing or a soil cover like fine sand.
2. Use an organic insecticide for indoor plants as a soil drench. You could employ a natural insecticide soap (I make my own using 1 tsp mild liquid soap to 1 liter of water). Alternately, try a neem oil remedy (which can work for systemic houseplant insect control). However, take care not to overwater your plant while doing so.
3. Use proper water
Make sure your indoor plants are receiving the right amount of water; the soil should never be wet. In addition to being harmful for houseplants, wet soil provides a haven for pests like fungus gnats. If you have trouble watering properly, I suggest investing in a cheap soil water meter to guide you.
4. Organize unused soil.
Since houseplant pests require oxygen to survive, store any unused potting soil in a bug-proof container. I employ a 5 gallon bucket with an airtight lid (this airtight seal lid is perfect).