Fungus Gnats
I’m struggling with flies in my home and on my plants. I think they’re fungus gnats, they’re black and have longer legs. I’ve already used an insecticide on all my plants and I guess it didn’t work and now I’m stressed and grossed out. My mixture was:
- warm water
- 1.5 tsp neem oil
- 1 tsp mild dish soap
- peppermint drops
#PestControl #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #help #fungusgnats #PlantTherapy
- warm water
- 1.5 tsp neem oil
- 1 tsp mild dish soap
- peppermint drops
#PestControl #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #help #fungusgnats #PlantTherapy
15
Best Answer
@robbi_rose
Treatment
You'll probably notice them immediately when you add water to your soil. They don't want to drown, so they all buzz to the surface and fly around your plants and/or face. It's incredibly annoying. They must be stopped!! Here's how:
Use sticky traps. These nifty Super Sticky Gnat Traps will attract and capture gnats for you. If the infestation is minor, this can be enough to take care of the issue within a week or so.
Let your soil dry. Fungus grow in moist conditions and, once they do, they'll find a way into your plant's home. So, if you notice your soil staying wet for over a week, move it to brighter, dryer conditions for a bit.
Drown them out. In our experience, the easiest way to do this is to use equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and water. This will kill larvae and eggs in the soil, as well as adults that get trapped in the wet soil. This solution is gentle on the roots, so it won't harm your plants. Only do this when the plant is ready for a watering—otherwise you're putting it at risk for root rot.
Add diatomaceous earth. This stuff is the definition of "death by a thousand cuts." When a layer of this is applied to the top of your soil, it will literally cut up the bodies of the gnats trying to surface, killing them on impact!! Pretty nuts. Grab some here. *This is a food grade product and is totally harmless to pets and humans of all ages.*
Grab some sticky traps. Adding sticky fly traps in and around your pot will do the trick to catch any stragglers.
Monitor daily. Inspect your plant frequently for any sign of survivors. It may take a couple of treatments before they're gone for good, but with vigilance, they will be defeated. 💪
Prevention
Now that you've experienced a feud with fungus gnats, you're likely wondering how to stop it from ever happening again. Here's what you can do:
Inspect your plants. Anytime you get a new plant, it's wise to give it (and the soil) a thorough inspection and a quick wash in the sink. Most shops and nurseries are vigilant about pest control, but it's nature and it happens.
Add a preventative. Natural fungicides are easily accessible, and you probably already have them in your kitchen cabinet. Add a thin layer of ground cinnamon or water occasionally with cooled chamomile tea. These are simple and great ways to keep fungus (and gnats) at bay.
Use sticky traps. If you don't have a current gnat infestation, Super Sticky Gnat Traps can help you keep it that way. Placing them in your pots will prevent gnats from ever making it into the soil.
Use pesticides. Neem oil is a naturally-occurring pesticide that you can safely spray on your plants to prevent pest outbreaks. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and, if diluted properly, you can water with it, too!
Treatment
You'll probably notice them immediately when you add water to your soil. They don't want to drown, so they all buzz to the surface and fly around your plants and/or face. It's incredibly annoying. They must be stopped!! Here's how:
Use sticky traps. These nifty Super Sticky Gnat Traps will attract and capture gnats for you. If the infestation is minor, this can be enough to take care of the issue within a week or so.
Let your soil dry. Fungus grow in moist conditions and, once they do, they'll find a way into your plant's home. So, if you notice your soil staying wet for over a week, move it to brighter, dryer conditions for a bit.
Drown them out. In our experience, the easiest way to do this is to use equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and water. This will kill larvae and eggs in the soil, as well as adults that get trapped in the wet soil. This solution is gentle on the roots, so it won't harm your plants. Only do this when the plant is ready for a watering—otherwise you're putting it at risk for root rot.
Add diatomaceous earth. This stuff is the definition of "death by a thousand cuts." When a layer of this is applied to the top of your soil, it will literally cut up the bodies of the gnats trying to surface, killing them on impact!! Pretty nuts. Grab some here. *This is a food grade product and is totally harmless to pets and humans of all ages.*
Grab some sticky traps. Adding sticky fly traps in and around your pot will do the trick to catch any stragglers.
Monitor daily. Inspect your plant frequently for any sign of survivors. It may take a couple of treatments before they're gone for good, but with vigilance, they will be defeated. 💪
Prevention
Now that you've experienced a feud with fungus gnats, you're likely wondering how to stop it from ever happening again. Here's what you can do:
Inspect your plants. Anytime you get a new plant, it's wise to give it (and the soil) a thorough inspection and a quick wash in the sink. Most shops and nurseries are vigilant about pest control, but it's nature and it happens.
Add a preventative. Natural fungicides are easily accessible, and you probably already have them in your kitchen cabinet. Add a thin layer of ground cinnamon or water occasionally with cooled chamomile tea. These are simple and great ways to keep fungus (and gnats) at bay.
Use sticky traps. If you don't have a current gnat infestation, Super Sticky Gnat Traps can help you keep it that way. Placing them in your pots will prevent gnats from ever making it into the soil.
Use pesticides. Neem oil is a naturally-occurring pesticide that you can safely spray on your plants to prevent pest outbreaks. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and, if diluted properly, you can water with it, too!
@robbi_rose I’m struggling with the same issue. I purchased the sticky traps & have one in almost every plant. They do work but not enough. I also have cinnamon mixed into the soil surface. The neem has helped a lot. I also wipe the planter pot with the neem. I’m going to try the mosquito bites tea soak added to watering regime. It doesn’t immediately kill the gnats but will destroy the larvae 🐛 without harming the plants #PestControl #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #PlantTherapy
@robbi_rose @Rockrlee You have to disrupt the life cycle at the larval stage: I don’t use the ready to use neem oil. I use the concentrate so I have to mix it myself. I usually pour some in a deep bowl with water and give my plants a good bottom watering so the larvae are immersed. The oil weighs them down and kills the larvae faster this way. You can use a spray bottle with neem and water to spritz on any flying adults so you can weigh them down as well. This slows their reproduction and stops them from feeding on your plants. You also spray the plant in its entirety then let it dry. You’ll have to retreat this way up to 4 weeks after you’ve seen the last adult gnat. It’s hard but it’s necessary. Just don’t water until the soil is dry enough to handle a watering. If it’s a really bad infestation, the best thing to do is repot. Bag up that infested soil and seal it off so the gnats don’t migrate into the new soil. You may see one or two but you’ll significantly cut down the process and feel some relief. Mosquito bits work for soaks and top watering. Don’t use neem on any succulents or cacti. They don’t do well with the oil in their system due to the fact that they store the water in their foliage and it could cause burn under bright light. Best of luck to you both! Happy Growing! 🌿
@AnthuriumQueen 🙏 thank you for all the good advice. As always it is very helpful. I have just tried the neem watering. I am expecting the mosquito bites delivery tomorrow. If it persists, I will definitely be doing the tea bag soak next watering. Thanks again.
@TwistedThreads thank you so much!!!! I have a few questions :) so I don’t notice them when I water, I am just seeing them fly around my apartment. And when I tap the plant pot, they will fly away, ugh so gross!! I’m wondering if it’s okay to do the hydrogen peroxide mixed with the water, to every plant because I’m not sure which ones they’re coming from. I will follow all of your suggestions! Thank you so much again
@Rockrlee ugh they’re so annoying!! I wish you good luck! Check out these comments for other advice also!
@robbi_rose yes it most definitely is on the hydrogen peroxide. I’ve had to do that myself. Hydrogen peroxide has lots of benefits for soil.
Here is a link:
https://www.lovethatleaf.co.nz/blogs/product-guides/how-to-use-hydrogen-peroxide-h2o2-for-plants
Here is a link:
https://www.lovethatleaf.co.nz/blogs/product-guides/how-to-use-hydrogen-peroxide-h2o2-for-plants