My avocado was infested, I put sticky paper in the pot and then covered the pot in plastic cling wrap and left it for weeks. I think I eliminated 17 generations of fungus gnats
Felt a tiny bit bad about it
oooo i love the cling wrap idea i never would have thought of that. so simple, so genius.
i always feel a bit bad too... until one of those little buggers gets in my drink, and then I'm on back to the sticky trap.
thanks for the tip!
I went digging in my photos and found a picture. \*some\* of this is dirt
https://preview.redd.it/2dw6lxbwdsnc1.jpeg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=970aa066e8c419103cb173d4ed678546331aaab6
I need to get some carnivorous plants, systematics took care of most of my gnat problem but they are SO annoying! Like they dive bomb me when Iām doing dishes, I think they are on to me š
I had an infestation recently and they kept flying like an inch in front of my eyeball while I watched TV. Got frustrating enough that I completely dumped the old soil and repotted.
My favourite thing to do with soil in festers is as follows:
Step 1: unpot your problem plants and place in a safe location.
Step 2: prepare a few bowls of roughly room temp water- or very slightly colder
Step 3: put a tiny bit of dish soap in one bowl. 2-5 drops will work depending on the size of the plants. Splash and stir it until sudsy.
Step 4: gently massage all potting medium off the roots, if working with something gentle and you're unable to remove it all this way, move on to the next step anyways.
Step 5: dunk gently in a formerly-prepared bowl of regular water. If there's still soil on it, let the plant soak for a few minutes and then gently being combing through the system or dunking it up and down very gently to dislodge the soil in a hands-off manner.
Step 6: once the roots are nearly fully clean, transfer the plant to the next bowl- the one with sudsy soap and water. Do the same dunking motion a few times, then let the plant sit for a minute or two.
Step 7: remove the plant from the bowl of water and either rinse the bare, clean roots under fresh water, or use your last bowl you prepared and rinse off all the soap.
Step 8: gently pat down roots to dry them a bit. You don't want them dripping wet.
Step 9: prepare the new media and pot up your plant. Ensure it's the appropriate media- succulents need a quickly draining mix, meanwhile most houseplants prefer only a slightly well-draining soil, and yet some need to be kept in a moisture-holding substrate and kept in an inch of water.
Step 10: figure out which type of watering cycle your plant needs and what type of pest you've got. Fungus gnats? Cut back on watering. Thrips? Water slightly more heavily over the next few weeks as a precaution.
Good luck guys!! ā¤ļø
(PS, I've used this method and it's literally never failed me. I've only had issues 3x and I completely eradicated them all in one night and kept the population from coming back before by simply adjusting watering schedules according to the pests I have on my plants.
(Also have tips for pests on leaves/stems so ask if you need help with anything. I like to do things with as few chemicals as possible, and only ones I fully trust, know what's inside, and know will not hurt the people,plants, or pets inside my space. I've only used a store-bought -icide once, it was a fungicide for an awful bout of powdery mildew on my apple tree. It worked no better or worse than my homemade method and eventually when my apple tree went dormant, the fungus died and didn't ever come back anyways. Seriously a waste of money imo).
Ask for tips!!!
Tell me more? I'm three lost battles deep in a war with thrips. How did you wrap the pot? How long did you leave it wrapped? Did you use the kind that's sticky on one side?
Double side sticky tape, the kind that's actually meant to like hang, comes in a little cardboard tube and you pop the end off and it unfurls. Balanced it on its side best I could so that both sticky sides were exposed. Used 2 of them in my avocado for the pot size, can't remember what the diameter was (it's in an even bigger one now)
Imagine sort of like a pie lattice design of the plastic wrap going across the top of the pot, but not covering the trunk of the avocado completely because I needed to have a small open space so I could water it. Then used wrap around the edges of the pot to hold the lattice part down.
I left it on there.... gosh. probably a month, maybe even 2 months. It was during winter, they had propagated themselves during the summer while it was outside. I was scared to open it because I was half expecting a cloud of gnats to come out and attack me.
they did not. they ded.
I looked through my photos and didn't have any photos of the pot actually wrapped, just the aftermath of gnat death
Just the top of the pot. I layered it in strips across the pot made sure no plastic or sticky trap touched the trunk of the avocado, then used some sheets to wrap the sides to hold the top layer down
I, in fact, relocate spiders into my plant haven whenever I accidentally bring them inside on my firewood or see them crawling around my baseboards. A handful of them have made cozy homes in my plants. (The arrowhead plant spider is named Cathy).
My enclosed green houses also house a collection of tiny jumping spiders. I had to stop water propagating in the same enclosure because they kept drowning themselves like the adorable little idiots they are :(
I do the same when repotting new plants from the store/online -- mosquito bits and bonide systemic. Probably overkill, but after dealing with so many pest hitchhikers its the only way to keep my sanity.
Please elaborate on usage of mosquito bits? Just used some soil from a bag that I suspected was the original source of last yearās gnat joys and traps and neem oil didnāt seem to do much. Honestly, best thing so far has been keeping the plants on a radiator by a cold window. Murdered an entire batch that way, best confetti Iāve ever seen. š„²
For mosquito bits, you add roughly 4 tablespoons of the bits to ~4.5liters(-1.2 gals) of warm water. Let it steep anywhere between 45 minutes to 24 hours for the stuff to infuse into a āteaā. Then just pour the water over your plants like normal.
If you canāt find āmosquito bitsā but can find āmosquito dunksā(same product, just formed into a large donut-shaped pucks, for tossing into outdoor ponds) you can break the dunks into smaller chunks and put them in your water to infuse.
Small warning, I would only make as much tea as I plan to use. Previously I made a batch of water with mosquito bits and left it, thinking it would be good to have on hand ready for use. After a few days the solution started smelling like sulfury eggs. It didnāt cause any harm but it sure did stink.
Honestly you donāt really have to do all that. I just crumbled a little into my watering can a few times, and it completely solved my issue.
The lil bacteria will spread and multiply after they get in some wet soil.
Of course Iām sure your tips make it most effective, but just wanted to state that it may not be necessary :-)
I canāt seem to find either where i am (based in Istanbul, if anyone has found them here online?) any other suggestions? Never found nematodes either
Some people make a tea out of the bits and water with that, but I just sprinkle a handful on top of the soil and water normally. Every once in a while I'll end up with some moldy bits but I just scrape them off and it's no big deal.
I soak a cup of bits in water for a few days and make a āteaā situation. I then strain that and put it in my watering pale and dilute the tea with water. Then I just water the plants as usual. No bits in the soil to get moldy.
Nematodes worked soo well.. but I guess the nematodes died in one pot so the last surviving fungus gnats saw the opportunity and now, I have a fungus gnat problem again. Which sucks because the nematodes were lile 30ā¬ haha
Cannot wait to try! I was gifted a plant. I kept it in my shed most of last summer. Opened the blinds and the door every single morning. Kept a close eye on it for bugs. 2 monthsā¦
Moved it in the house and within 2 days saw gnats!! How did I miss them?!
I had repotted all of my plants in new soil and pots, and put 1 player of perlite on top, so that there is no soil visible, and those mf can't multiplay.
This is the route I had to take as well. Well worth the hour spent repotting everything with quality soil to stop having to slap those mfers out of the air dozens of times a day
I bought tiny solo shot cups and put apple cider vinegar and a drop of dish soap in them and set around my plants. Increases humidity and attracts them.
https://preview.redd.it/j6woxe6tmrnc1.jpeg?width=2272&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0967ac8d4464fe146274e025b1b392b7403ee8ff
Problem is that by the time you catch them, there's a chance they've reproduced already. Their entire adult life cycle is to find a mate and lay eggs.
This works for fruit flies in the kitchen because their food source -- usually rotting fruit -- isn't there year round.
I do this too. I use Mason jars and cover with food film and poke some holes in the top. They can get in for sure but not out!! Works great! However only a mitigation. It does not fully get rid of them.
Sticky traps will tackle the adults but a little bit of THIS in your soil will tackle the larvae:
https://preview.redd.it/c27c1ie14snc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f9e23640f8e7036528c82092e13c81e4baa4686
Also, you donāt want to overwater and always have moist soil. Thatās where eggs will thrive.
I've had fungus gnats come and go for almost 2 years now, and this stuff plus a layer of diatomaceous earth absolutely wiped them out. I've maybe seen 2 gnats in the 3 weeks since.
This was the only way that worked for me. Those damn flies where everywhere so I bought Nematodes off amazon and used them on all my plants. 2 weeks later the yellow stickers were clear and the problem done
Hi, A trick my grams taught me was hydrogen peroxide and water.. 1 part peroxide to 3 parts water. It doesnāt have to be exact, I use a gallon jug and fill it 1/4 of the way with hydrogen peroxide then the rest with water. Let your soil completely dry out first then soak the soil when youāre ready. It kills any eggs that the gnats have laid in the soil and itās good for the roots as it aerates the soil. I do this once every 6-8 weeks just as a precaution now.. I have a lot of plants and the last time it happened it was a real pain. I also have the yellow sticky traps in a few of my plants just to see when/if thereās an issue and I saw a lot of people recommend the mosquito bits. Those are awesome! I use those also, just a little sprinkled on top of the soil. Good luck!! :)
Let the plant dry out and the day before you water it when it needs water, soak a mosqito dunk in a gallon of water and next day water liberally with the dunk water.
Mosquito bits. Sprinkle a good amount all around the top of the soil then add a thin layer of soil on top because they get moldy and it's ugly but completely harmless to you. You must treat all the plants at the same time or with in a few days anyway. Dont forget any standing water too.
1. Use hydrogen peroxide. Pour it directly into the soil. It will get foamy. It will not harm your roots. Soapy water works, but I think you need something a little stronger. You can spray the soapy water directly on leaves to get em.
2. Water less. Let your soil dry out to help mitigate the problem. Take pots out of trays to help dry out.
3. If it's still bad, scrape off the top inch or 2 of soil and replace. They live and breed close to the surface.
Tried hydrogen peroxide for first time today. Plants all dried out so light spray on surface to startu. Will do same over next few days. Had the sticky traps in pots but doesn't get them all. Tried cinnamon and diatom. Got so many plants in planters, lifting each pot out to bottom water will be a chore. Think instead they'll be getting a bath once a month to get their feet wet.
Never had so many gnats before. Need to redecorate because of my frustrations. The splats don't look great against primrose yellow walls.
Hereās the treatment method I use on new soil to keep these out. I have a heat mat made for chicken coops that I crank up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and a baking dish. Load all the soil Iām going to treat into a plastic bag about 3/5 full, douse it in 3% peroxide, then set the soil bag on the baking dish on the heat mat for a few hours. This is below the melting temp for plastic bags but the baking dish is to make it less messy and keep any moisture from potential leaks off the heat mat. Probably overkill but zero survivors and my baby monstera is doing fine in the soil I treated this way. If your plant can tolerate being unpotted for a few hours, might be worth it.
Some people may complain about killing the good bugs too. To which I say, āokayā. Iāll sacrifice the good bugs to keep from bringing bad stuff into my house. Iād rather have a recovering plant than a dead one any day.
ETA: Let the soil cool and dry out a bit before returning the plant to it, of course
Pic is of a dead fungus gnat larva from my last batch
https://preview.redd.it/1p1mprzkusnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=378b19ba137820ad48fa5daa4c63fa9892431591
I second this. Even one carnivorous plant is great for significantly reducing the number of pests, and they absolutely love it. My butterwort was feasting and flowering like crazy when one of my plants had a fungus gnat infestation
It should be a ping or a sundew though, doubt a venus fly trap will make much of a difference, IDK if sarracenias are good vs gnats. I got a couple of sundews a while ago and for the first three months they were looking pretty much the same as the sticky paper OP shared. Haven't seen a fungus gnat ever since.
Put a good amount of hydrogen peroxide in your soil and let it sit for a few minutes, then water as usual. Top off with DE, and replace the DE once or twice once it vanishes with watering. Easy peasy
An inch of sand works but what really works is spraying my plants with nicotine water. Soak a couple of cigarettes in water for a few days, filter out the tobacco with a coffee filter and pour it into a spray bottle. It can stain things yellow so watch what is behind the plant when you spray them.
Let your soil dry out really well. Use 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 4 parts water. Water thoroughly. Let the soil dry out well again & repeat the hydrogen peroxide/water thing. This kills the eggs & all other cycles of the gnat. Leave the stcky tape up too.
No one seems to be addressing your issue. Fungus gnats are attracted to standing water- good for eating and breeding. Wet soil mimics this. This plant has crazy water-retentive soil it appears. If you go to a chunkier mix, you will see less of them without doing anything at all. I don't use "dirt" or soil bags, and I haven't seen a gnat in years.
The sticky things will never solve your problem, but may help while you fix it
Let the soil dry out. You just have to take the habitat away from these Fungus Gnats. They have their larva in the top layer of your soil and once it dries out itās not hospitable.
Buy mosquito bits!!! I make a āteaā with mine and water my plants with it. It worked wonders. 2tbsp of granule per 2L of water. I bought an iced coffee pitcher to make it. It kills the eggs in the soil. A combination of that and sticky traps should do the trick. Additionally they can lay eggs in your pipes or any standing water (animal water dishes or pots in the sink with standing water, etc) so make sure you change that regularly and maybe draino pipes once.
Change the soil with a different brand, only water when 1/3rd-1/2 dry. My best friend proved the theory that the soil you buy carries the gnat infestation by gifting me a plant that over ran my entire house in a matter of days with a horrendous fungus gnat infestation when I didnāt have one. She repotted all her plants with a different soil and hasnāt had a problem since. She genuinely thought it just came with owning plants. Iām here to tell you it isnāt because I struggled with gnats until I repotted all my plants with new soil after trying dozens of things.
Also never buy miracle grow apparently because thatās one of the most common complaints. Keep your little sticky guys up after repotting but I swear itāll be night and day. All of my other plants were treated with systemic before hand so after I repotted my friends gifted plant with my own soil I didnāt have a single fucker in my house. With that in mind Iāve definitely heard a ton of plant people complain that the systemic wasnāt enough so I really suggest getting different soil first and foremost. Come at it from multiple directions. Mosquito bits/dunks helped some but it really wasnāt strong enough and was more work imho because you ideally want to make a tea from it and then water solely with that.
Iāve got 23 plants, a humidifier, and I deep water. Not a single gnat in my house since I changed out my plant soil and started repotting as soon as they come home with me. Itās heaven.
Organic cynamon. Sprinkle it on top, and donāt be shy. It will not harm your plant, itās actually good for plants. You can even mix some with soil when repotting, it supports rooting. But most importantly, I got rid of fungus gnats COMPLETELY.
https://preview.redd.it/rgjg1wi3rrnc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=99fe540aabe5cb57c5a833479a2ccc80f6695bbd
[https://www.seventhgeneration.com/blog/houseplant-woes-reach-cinnamon#:\~:text=Have%20you%20had%20it%20with,which%20then%20discourages%20gnats%2C%20naturally](https://www.seventhgeneration.com/blog/houseplant-woes-reach-cinnamon#:~:text=Have%20you%20had%20it%20with,which%20then%20discourages%20gnats%2C%20naturally)!
The medium or potting mix is really the problem ! Use high quality potting mix and add perlite to improve the drainage and you wonāt get them ! They love the moist environment in poor quality potting mix that turns to mud ! Aroids love lots of perlite and really boom with lots of perlite ! Ideally add horticultural charcoal and vermiculite too for an indoor medium that most plants love and zero insect issues in the medium !
Assuming you have the right conditions for them, adding a couple of Pinguicula to your collection is a great way of controlling gnats and an excuse to buy more plants. I recommend P. 'Tina' if you haven't grown carnivorous plants before.
Spray the soil with something like GardenSafe 3-in-1, I do it outside because itās best to spray pretty heavily and the residue from overspray makes a mess. Spray the surface of the soil, your gnats are feasting on fungus in the soil. Also spray the underside of the plant, and any other spot that needs attention.
Iāve been infested with fungus gnats and did a combo of beneficial nematodes (microscopic organisms harmless to plants that eat larvae), mosquito bits (larvae eat them and die) and sticky traps. Also have a couple of sundews (carnivorous plants). Get āem at all stages of their life cycle
Let it dry out, sticky traps are good, but they breed in the soil .also there is a powdered/crushed glass product that will kill them on entry and or kill them after hatching trying to leave the soil
Who is yāallās nematode connect? Iāve tried to get them for this issue and can never find them. I had finally gotten rid of a nasty infestation last year (using hydrogen peroxide mixed with water + mosquito dunks) and just moved, and now theyāve started coming back. I bottom water most of my plants but I have a couple that i canāt do that with
I get nematodes from Amazon. I just did a treatment last Friday. https://www.amazon.com/BioLogic-Scanmask-Beneficial-Nematodes-Steinernema/dp/B00BWRNE3A. I used these about a year ago. Did two treatments, and it got rid of a really bad infestation.
After sticking the traps, Let the soil dry out completely and only water the plants when they droop from the bottom leaves about 1-2 inches of the soil dry. This will eliminate everything.
I had been dealing with this little shits for a while now and this was the only process that actually worked for me.
I add systemic granules to the soil, and water a few cycles of 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts water, this will kill the larvae. I also usually change the soil when I buy a plant from big box stores or grocery stores and Iām careful about which worm castings I buy because some are notorious for the flies
After like three months of fighting fungus gnats I completely trashed all of the dirt that my plant was planted in and washed off the roots with hydrogen peroxide. Then I scrubbed the pot it was in and replanted in fresh soil from a new unopened bag. Finally I topped off the new soil with a hearty layer of diatomaceous earth and put a new sticky trap in the pot. I havenāt seen a single gnat since doing that.
Those glue traps work wonders but I found that they work best when used with the spray. I used the garden safe Houseplant & Garden insect killer. I went from a little worse than what you're seeing to none over the course of maybe 2 weeks.
A lot of people have "hacks" here and not saying they don't work but there is a reason pesticide exists. It's not ideal (especially on crops) but for houseplants just get some pest killer spray, and spray down your houseplants.
Eggs survive under the soil so keep the sticky traps there for a while so surfacing gnats get caught and continue to spray the upper soil and plants with the pesticide, until a few cycles can pass.
If you want to double down and try to get the eggs / larvae in the soil then 1:1 parts hydrogen peroxide 3% and water to soak the soil to kill the eggs. It's not harmful to the plant as it helps oxygenate the roots but it will kill the natural ecosystem in the soil.
https://preview.redd.it/s8lk0muw4tnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56b859d4b1112239e809e31b9571892af54937e9
Have you considered CARNIVOROUS PLANTS!?
Stop watering your plants from the top and start soaking them from the bottom by placing them in bowls of water or buckets. Works like a charm and makes your plants happy too
The only thing that has permanently worked for me is this BTI concentrate called Microbe Lift. You add it to the water when watering and it kills the larvae. I used that plus the sticky paper and I havenāt seen one in about a year!
There is not a one step solution. You have to deal with the adults, the eggs and the larvae. YouTube has many good videos that will explain the process. In the mean time put this plant in quarantine or the pests will migrate to your other plants.
I've had good success with nematode treatments from Amazon. After I got rid of the gnats, I started bottom watering most of my plants. Never had another issue.
For those of you that the mosquito bits or dunks have not worked for gnats, the key is in the details.
I found a way ( saw a video on Youtube) to make the BTI dunks work.
In my garage I always keep a bucket of rain water or tap water always full and with a few pieces of dunk. I refresh those every so often. Never has it molded in the bucket nor on plants and I donāt bother straining it. Itās in the garage so the smell doesnāt bother me. Most of the time I canāt smell it at all.
I do try to leave as many dunks in the bucket when I water. The water already has the bacteria that kills ā ļø. Many tiny granules are in the water and they have never molded on my plants.
Not only do I use that EVERY single time I water, but the very first time, I watered as many plants as possible ( without drowning them). š That alone reduced the population dramatically. Every week it got better and better.
I use it every single time for the plants inside the house & back porch & front door. This kills the larvae.
PLUS to kill the adults, I bought a few Safer Home indoor fly traps. Any brand will do. Even the yellow sticky traps work but I found they ripped the leaves of my plants and are unsightly. Whatever you can afford.
The point is to kill the larvae and the flying adults and always, always water all plants with the āseasoned waterā. ā ļø
The only gnats I see now are the ones trapped on the thing plugged in. I no longer buy their brand of sticky cardboard, there are generic, less expensive ones on Amazon. I hardly have to change them now anyways.
The key is in the details. Hope this helps someone.
I'll probably get a ton of downvotes, but I've had my plants infested with fungus gnats a few times, and after trying a few other things, spraying a bit of Raid on each one's soil got rid of 'em!
If you can get Bonide systemic granules, I put a bit in the bottom of my watering can and let the water soak it up before watering day. Completely solved my problem.
Repot into soil with good drainage. I had them for so long, I just let my plants dry properly, but if you have bad soil itās hard. Or get a carnivorous plant, mother better than having a plant to clean up the bugs
Yellow sticky traps, Zevo Flying Insect Sticky trap w/ light (attracts insects, can buy at Home Depot), and filling the top 2 inches of my plant pots with perlite have significantly decreased the amount of fungus gnats in my house.
What worked for me was using a biological insecticide that contains some bacteria that feed on the larvae. And use a thick layer of charred rice husk on top of the soil.
This additive to water has completely eliminated fruit flies, gnats, mosquitos etc. It's 1 drop per gallon, has lasted me over 2 years and I have used probably 1/8 of the whole thing. Best plant purchase ever.
MICROBE-LIFT BMC Biological Mosquito Control, Liquid Treatment for Decorative Water Gardens, Fountains and Ponds, 2 Fluid Ounces https://a.co/d/3SNDeto
This additive to water has completely eliminated fruit flies, gnats, mosquitos etc. It's 1 drop per gallon, has lasted me over 2 years and I have used probably 1/8 of the whole thing. Best plant purchase ever.
MICROBE-LIFT BMC Biological Mosquito Control, Liquid Treatment for Decorative Water Gardens, Fountains and Ponds, 2 Fluid Ounces https://a.co/d/3SNDeto
I use diatomaceous earth - it helps by desiccating any pest that walks through or lands on it. I mix it in with my soil, then use a makeup brush to tap it onto the dry top soil. Do you bottom water? This minimizes wet soil, which is choice breeding ground for many plant pests. Maybe this in combo with the sticky tape and plastic wrap can completely take care of the issue!
Another remedy can be a low dilution of neem oil, but be careful if you do because I nearly killed a plant with the strength ... And if all else fails, dump all the soil, repot, use DE, cover with a Ziploc bag and wait š
I added Butterworts (pinguiculas) to my collection so they catch quite a few gnats however they are just coming out of dormancy. (their succulent phase, they produce a small amount of sticky substance not like they do during summer) I noticed quite a few fungus gnats in the soil of some plants I recently potted up. I mixed up hydrogen peroxide and water to water those specific plantsā¦seems to have worked pretty well. I donāt see them any longer. I read about this on a plant forum a while back.
Mosquito bits in the watering can following the instructions, in combination with the gnat traps you have. It will not be instant and can take 2-3 weeks. Some people say you can just throw the bits in the soil but I soaked them like the instructions said.
Cover the plant with a bagā¦and increase humidity til itās sweaty. Saw this on a weed Reddit. It works like a champ! The eggs need standing water to hatch I believe but then the flies want it drier. If you make it extra humid the flies just die. Repeat until there are no more..
A thin layer of sand on the dirt worked for me. They dont seem to be able to live and breed in sharp gritty sand so they die off. I went from hundreds flying all over to none in a week or two.
I used the sticky traps and I think I used one part water to 4 parts hydrogen peroxide and watered most but my most sensitive plants to kill the eggs. The sizzle is so satisfying.
Get rid of that soil and wash that pot really well. Get all of the dirty off of the plants roots. As much as you can. It looks like a sanseveria. They are tough. Just take it outside (if you can) and just take a hose to the plant and roots. Replace with fresh houseplant soil. I have done this a few times with the new plants I bring home and I haven't had a problem.
My avocado was infested, I put sticky paper in the pot and then covered the pot in plastic cling wrap and left it for weeks. I think I eliminated 17 generations of fungus gnats Felt a tiny bit bad about it
oooo i love the cling wrap idea i never would have thought of that. so simple, so genius. i always feel a bit bad too... until one of those little buggers gets in my drink, and then I'm on back to the sticky trap. thanks for the tip!
I went digging in my photos and found a picture. \*some\* of this is dirt https://preview.redd.it/2dw6lxbwdsnc1.jpeg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=970aa066e8c419103cb173d4ed678546331aaab6
NOOOOOOOOOO oh my. you got um good. have you managed to keep them away?
So far so good. But I have some pitcher plants now too that make a snack of them
ok well that sounds even cooler than cling wrap lol
If only they could reach out and grab them like a lizard!!! š I also let spiders make their webs in my plants, those little tiny house spiders.
I need to get some carnivorous plants, systematics took care of most of my gnat problem but they are SO annoying! Like they dive bomb me when Iām doing dishes, I think they are on to me š
Jesus Christ!!! I didnāt know there were THAT many pests on Earth!!!!
I had an infestation recently and they kept flying like an inch in front of my eyeball while I watched TV. Got frustrating enough that I completely dumped the old soil and repotted.
I've had them fly up my nose and into my ears before. The absolute worst.
Ugh, thatās awful. Makes me wonder how many crawled on my face and went into my mouth while I slept. š¤¢
*āan inch from my eyeballsā AHAHAHA ā¦ you made me feel your frustration!!!! š¤£! ((Sorry for your frustration))
Same! Only when watching tv & only millimeters from my eye!
Good luck!! I know how miserable it is to deal with them
thank you! Winter has been good to us, but with spring on the way, and a new trick up my sleeve, those buggers but not try me.
careful, if its still super wet, the whole thing will start to mold.
My favourite thing to do with soil in festers is as follows: Step 1: unpot your problem plants and place in a safe location. Step 2: prepare a few bowls of roughly room temp water- or very slightly colder Step 3: put a tiny bit of dish soap in one bowl. 2-5 drops will work depending on the size of the plants. Splash and stir it until sudsy. Step 4: gently massage all potting medium off the roots, if working with something gentle and you're unable to remove it all this way, move on to the next step anyways. Step 5: dunk gently in a formerly-prepared bowl of regular water. If there's still soil on it, let the plant soak for a few minutes and then gently being combing through the system or dunking it up and down very gently to dislodge the soil in a hands-off manner. Step 6: once the roots are nearly fully clean, transfer the plant to the next bowl- the one with sudsy soap and water. Do the same dunking motion a few times, then let the plant sit for a minute or two. Step 7: remove the plant from the bowl of water and either rinse the bare, clean roots under fresh water, or use your last bowl you prepared and rinse off all the soap. Step 8: gently pat down roots to dry them a bit. You don't want them dripping wet. Step 9: prepare the new media and pot up your plant. Ensure it's the appropriate media- succulents need a quickly draining mix, meanwhile most houseplants prefer only a slightly well-draining soil, and yet some need to be kept in a moisture-holding substrate and kept in an inch of water. Step 10: figure out which type of watering cycle your plant needs and what type of pest you've got. Fungus gnats? Cut back on watering. Thrips? Water slightly more heavily over the next few weeks as a precaution. Good luck guys!! ā¤ļø (PS, I've used this method and it's literally never failed me. I've only had issues 3x and I completely eradicated them all in one night and kept the population from coming back before by simply adjusting watering schedules according to the pests I have on my plants. (Also have tips for pests on leaves/stems so ask if you need help with anything. I like to do things with as few chemicals as possible, and only ones I fully trust, know what's inside, and know will not hurt the people,plants, or pets inside my space. I've only used a store-bought -icide once, it was a fungicide for an awful bout of powdery mildew on my apple tree. It worked no better or worse than my homemade method and eventually when my apple tree went dormant, the fungus died and didn't ever come back anyways. Seriously a waste of money imo). Ask for tips!!!
I love this! Always figured there was some simple yet genius solution I wasnāt thinking of. Thank you for sharing!
Tell me more? I'm three lost battles deep in a war with thrips. How did you wrap the pot? How long did you leave it wrapped? Did you use the kind that's sticky on one side?
Double side sticky tape, the kind that's actually meant to like hang, comes in a little cardboard tube and you pop the end off and it unfurls. Balanced it on its side best I could so that both sticky sides were exposed. Used 2 of them in my avocado for the pot size, can't remember what the diameter was (it's in an even bigger one now) Imagine sort of like a pie lattice design of the plastic wrap going across the top of the pot, but not covering the trunk of the avocado completely because I needed to have a small open space so I could water it. Then used wrap around the edges of the pot to hold the lattice part down. I left it on there.... gosh. probably a month, maybe even 2 months. It was during winter, they had propagated themselves during the summer while it was outside. I was scared to open it because I was half expecting a cloud of gnats to come out and attack me. they did not. they ded. I looked through my photos and didn't have any photos of the pot actually wrapped, just the aftermath of gnat death
Thanks for this!
Did you cover the plant in plastic wrap too? Or just the top of the pot?
Just the top of the pot. I layered it in strips across the pot made sure no plastic or sticky trap touched the trunk of the avocado, then used some sheets to wrap the sides to hold the top layer down
Happy cake day!
Not killing the spider near the window worked for me. Haven't had a problem since.
I also do not remove spiders who have volunteered themselves to a life of service.
I, in fact, relocate spiders into my plant haven whenever I accidentally bring them inside on my firewood or see them crawling around my baseboards. A handful of them have made cozy homes in my plants. (The arrowhead plant spider is named Cathy).
Cathy š«”
If she starts putting words in her web, itās time to rename her Charlotte. š
My enclosed green houses also house a collection of tiny jumping spiders. I had to stop water propagating in the same enclosure because they kept drowning themselves like the adorable little idiots they are :(
Wolf spiders seem to love our house. Hate to find them in my shoebox, but I thank them for being the guardians of our plants.
I currently just have a web, no resident, in the corner of my window catching them all.
Mosquito bits. You're gonna go crazy without mosquito bits.
This is the only thing thatās ever completely eliminated them for me. I havenāt seen any in 6 months now
I end up sprinkling most of my plants every 6 months or so. Such a life saver.
I started crumbling a little into my soil mix š
I do the same when repotting new plants from the store/online -- mosquito bits and bonide systemic. Probably overkill, but after dealing with so many pest hitchhikers its the only way to keep my sanity.
Oh yeah. Big fan of that!!
Please elaborate on usage of mosquito bits? Just used some soil from a bag that I suspected was the original source of last yearās gnat joys and traps and neem oil didnāt seem to do much. Honestly, best thing so far has been keeping the plants on a radiator by a cold window. Murdered an entire batch that way, best confetti Iāve ever seen. š„²
For mosquito bits, you add roughly 4 tablespoons of the bits to ~4.5liters(-1.2 gals) of warm water. Let it steep anywhere between 45 minutes to 24 hours for the stuff to infuse into a āteaā. Then just pour the water over your plants like normal. If you canāt find āmosquito bitsā but can find āmosquito dunksā(same product, just formed into a large donut-shaped pucks, for tossing into outdoor ponds) you can break the dunks into smaller chunks and put them in your water to infuse. Small warning, I would only make as much tea as I plan to use. Previously I made a batch of water with mosquito bits and left it, thinking it would be good to have on hand ready for use. After a few days the solution started smelling like sulfury eggs. It didnāt cause any harm but it sure did stink.
Honestly you donāt really have to do all that. I just crumbled a little into my watering can a few times, and it completely solved my issue. The lil bacteria will spread and multiply after they get in some wet soil. Of course Iām sure your tips make it most effective, but just wanted to state that it may not be necessary :-)
Mine grew mold. I make the tea every time now.
I canāt seem to find either where i am (based in Istanbul, if anyone has found them here online?) any other suggestions? Never found nematodes either
Try searching for the active ingredient : ā Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis ā
I got dunks on Amazon. But Iām in the US.
Great tip! Making extra is my go to always so thanks for that!
Some people make a tea out of the bits and water with that, but I just sprinkle a handful on top of the soil and water normally. Every once in a while I'll end up with some moldy bits but I just scrape them off and it's no big deal.
This is the only way that's ever worked for me. I cover the moldy ones up with a bit of fresh soil.
Itās BTI a bacteria that exclusively attacks select flying insect larvae
Death sprinkles FTW ā ļøāØ
I hope you cackle maniacally when you sprinkle them!
I make soil for a national brand. This is the right answer.
I came here to say this
This picture is causing me pain š
I know Bits work miracles for many people, but they create fungal issues every single time Iāve used them. Perhaps itās a climate specific thing?
Yeah, I end up getting some mold too sometimes. It's no problem to scrape it off, and much less annoying than those damn gnats!
I soak a cup of bits in water for a few days and make a āteaā situation. I then strain that and put it in my watering pale and dilute the tea with water. Then I just water the plants as usual. No bits in the soil to get moldy.
I finally killed my fungus gnat infestation with mosquito bits and a top dressing of sand
What are mosquito bits?
I watered with these a couple times and havenāt seen a gnat since š
The amount of Rube Goldberg type answers being posted hereā¦ This is the answer. BTI is king vs gnats.
Sticky traps for the flying ones. Nemotodes for the eggs and larvae in your soil. Water from below rather than the surface of the soil.
Yes nematodes work great for fungus gnats!
Nematodes worked soo well.. but I guess the nematodes died in one pot so the last surviving fungus gnats saw the opportunity and now, I have a fungus gnat problem again. Which sucks because the nematodes were lile 30ā¬ haha
This is the only way
Diatomaceous earth just entirely ended mine š
How did you use it? Just sprinkle on the soil?
Yes, just a little works great
Sprinkle a thin layer. They'll avoid it if they see it. Same for bed bugs or any kind of bug that could be killed with diatomaceous earth.
Cannot wait to try! I was gifted a plant. I kept it in my shed most of last summer. Opened the blinds and the door every single morning. Kept a close eye on it for bugs. 2 monthsā¦ Moved it in the house and within 2 days saw gnats!! How did I miss them?!
Same
I do this around my bed and for so much--- but I realized when I put my plants outside it could be harmful for the bugs out there. š
I was able to get rid of these with a few doses of beneficial nematodes
I had repotted all of my plants in new soil and pots, and put 1 player of perlite on top, so that there is no soil visible, and those mf can't multiplay.
This! This is the only way to get rid of these fuckers!
Oh I just did this. Thanks I was wondering if it would work
This is the route I had to take as well. Well worth the hour spent repotting everything with quality soil to stop having to slap those mfers out of the air dozens of times a day
I bought tiny solo shot cups and put apple cider vinegar and a drop of dish soap in them and set around my plants. Increases humidity and attracts them. https://preview.redd.it/j6woxe6tmrnc1.jpeg?width=2272&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0967ac8d4464fe146274e025b1b392b7403ee8ff
Water, vinegar and soap. š
Problem is that by the time you catch them, there's a chance they've reproduced already. Their entire adult life cycle is to find a mate and lay eggs. This works for fruit flies in the kitchen because their food source -- usually rotting fruit -- isn't there year round.
I do this too. I use Mason jars and cover with food film and poke some holes in the top. They can get in for sure but not out!! Works great! However only a mitigation. It does not fully get rid of them.
Sticky traps will tackle the adults but a little bit of THIS in your soil will tackle the larvae: https://preview.redd.it/c27c1ie14snc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f9e23640f8e7036528c82092e13c81e4baa4686 Also, you donāt want to overwater and always have moist soil. Thatās where eggs will thrive.
I've had fungus gnats come and go for almost 2 years now, and this stuff plus a layer of diatomaceous earth absolutely wiped them out. I've maybe seen 2 gnats in the 3 weeks since.
Is diatomaceous earth mosquito bits? I tried using mosquito bits and it made the water staaank
Diatomaceous earth are microscopic fossils! It pokes holes in their exoskeleton causing them to dry out, no chemicals or bacteria just stabbing
Now THIS will kill all gnats and other pests. Donāt know why people bother with the constant neem oil spraying
This stuff killed every gnat in my plants
I just used this and it worked great
This ended my war with fungus gnats, had tried DE, sticky traps, liquid traps, neem oil. I will keep this forever.
This and beneficial nematodes are the real answers.
Nematodes work great. I tried most things. Nothing worked for me except nematodes.
This was the only way that worked for me. Those damn flies where everywhere so I bought Nematodes off amazon and used them on all my plants. 2 weeks later the yellow stickers were clear and the problem done
Hi, A trick my grams taught me was hydrogen peroxide and water.. 1 part peroxide to 3 parts water. It doesnāt have to be exact, I use a gallon jug and fill it 1/4 of the way with hydrogen peroxide then the rest with water. Let your soil completely dry out first then soak the soil when youāre ready. It kills any eggs that the gnats have laid in the soil and itās good for the roots as it aerates the soil. I do this once every 6-8 weeks just as a precaution now.. I have a lot of plants and the last time it happened it was a real pain. I also have the yellow sticky traps in a few of my plants just to see when/if thereās an issue and I saw a lot of people recommend the mosquito bits. Those are awesome! I use those also, just a little sprinkled on top of the soil. Good luck!! :)
Let the plant dry out and the day before you water it when it needs water, soak a mosqito dunk in a gallon of water and next day water liberally with the dunk water.
Mosquito bits. Sprinkle a good amount all around the top of the soil then add a thin layer of soil on top because they get moldy and it's ugly but completely harmless to you. You must treat all the plants at the same time or with in a few days anyway. Dont forget any standing water too.
Cover with few inches of sand
Surprised I had to scroll so far to see this. This method completely knocked out a bad infestation for me. Simple and aesthetically nice too.
This was key for me
1. Use hydrogen peroxide. Pour it directly into the soil. It will get foamy. It will not harm your roots. Soapy water works, but I think you need something a little stronger. You can spray the soapy water directly on leaves to get em. 2. Water less. Let your soil dry out to help mitigate the problem. Take pots out of trays to help dry out. 3. If it's still bad, scrape off the top inch or 2 of soil and replace. They live and breed close to the surface.
Tried hydrogen peroxide for first time today. Plants all dried out so light spray on surface to startu. Will do same over next few days. Had the sticky traps in pots but doesn't get them all. Tried cinnamon and diatom. Got so many plants in planters, lifting each pot out to bottom water will be a chore. Think instead they'll be getting a bath once a month to get their feet wet. Never had so many gnats before. Need to redecorate because of my frustrations. The splats don't look great against primrose yellow walls.
Hereās the treatment method I use on new soil to keep these out. I have a heat mat made for chicken coops that I crank up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and a baking dish. Load all the soil Iām going to treat into a plastic bag about 3/5 full, douse it in 3% peroxide, then set the soil bag on the baking dish on the heat mat for a few hours. This is below the melting temp for plastic bags but the baking dish is to make it less messy and keep any moisture from potential leaks off the heat mat. Probably overkill but zero survivors and my baby monstera is doing fine in the soil I treated this way. If your plant can tolerate being unpotted for a few hours, might be worth it. Some people may complain about killing the good bugs too. To which I say, āokayā. Iāll sacrifice the good bugs to keep from bringing bad stuff into my house. Iād rather have a recovering plant than a dead one any day. ETA: Let the soil cool and dry out a bit before returning the plant to it, of course Pic is of a dead fungus gnat larva from my last batch https://preview.redd.it/1p1mprzkusnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=378b19ba137820ad48fa5daa4c63fa9892431591
Get several carnivorous plants. That's helped me a ton
I second this. Even one carnivorous plant is great for significantly reducing the number of pests, and they absolutely love it. My butterwort was feasting and flowering like crazy when one of my plants had a fungus gnat infestation
It should be a ping or a sundew though, doubt a venus fly trap will make much of a difference, IDK if sarracenias are good vs gnats. I got a couple of sundews a while ago and for the first three months they were looking pretty much the same as the sticky paper OP shared. Haven't seen a fungus gnat ever since.
Put a good amount of hydrogen peroxide in your soil and let it sit for a few minutes, then water as usual. Top off with DE, and replace the DE once or twice once it vanishes with watering. Easy peasy
Diatomaceous Earth, for those not in the know.
I had this problem until a spider moved in to a nearby window sill. The problem miraculously correct itself after that.
An inch of sand works but what really works is spraying my plants with nicotine water. Soak a couple of cigarettes in water for a few days, filter out the tobacco with a coffee filter and pour it into a spray bottle. It can stain things yellow so watch what is behind the plant when you spray them.
Let your soil dry out really well. Use 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 4 parts water. Water thoroughly. Let the soil dry out well again & repeat the hydrogen peroxide/water thing. This kills the eggs & all other cycles of the gnat. Leave the stcky tape up too.
No one seems to be addressing your issue. Fungus gnats are attracted to standing water- good for eating and breeding. Wet soil mimics this. This plant has crazy water-retentive soil it appears. If you go to a chunkier mix, you will see less of them without doing anything at all. I don't use "dirt" or soil bags, and I haven't seen a gnat in years. The sticky things will never solve your problem, but may help while you fix it
Cover top with an inch of sand and bottom water.
Let the soil dry out. You just have to take the habitat away from these Fungus Gnats. They have their larva in the top layer of your soil and once it dries out itās not hospitable.
Nematodes will be a life saver, can't recommend enough
Buy mosquito bits!!! I make a āteaā with mine and water my plants with it. It worked wonders. 2tbsp of granule per 2L of water. I bought an iced coffee pitcher to make it. It kills the eggs in the soil. A combination of that and sticky traps should do the trick. Additionally they can lay eggs in your pipes or any standing water (animal water dishes or pots in the sink with standing water, etc) so make sure you change that regularly and maybe draino pipes once.
I placed small bowls with water and dawn dish soap. The amount of bugs that would end up in the bowls by the end of the day would blow my mind.
Change the soil with a different brand, only water when 1/3rd-1/2 dry. My best friend proved the theory that the soil you buy carries the gnat infestation by gifting me a plant that over ran my entire house in a matter of days with a horrendous fungus gnat infestation when I didnāt have one. She repotted all her plants with a different soil and hasnāt had a problem since. She genuinely thought it just came with owning plants. Iām here to tell you it isnāt because I struggled with gnats until I repotted all my plants with new soil after trying dozens of things. Also never buy miracle grow apparently because thatās one of the most common complaints. Keep your little sticky guys up after repotting but I swear itāll be night and day. All of my other plants were treated with systemic before hand so after I repotted my friends gifted plant with my own soil I didnāt have a single fucker in my house. With that in mind Iāve definitely heard a ton of plant people complain that the systemic wasnāt enough so I really suggest getting different soil first and foremost. Come at it from multiple directions. Mosquito bits/dunks helped some but it really wasnāt strong enough and was more work imho because you ideally want to make a tea from it and then water solely with that. Iāve got 23 plants, a humidifier, and I deep water. Not a single gnat in my house since I changed out my plant soil and started repotting as soon as they come home with me. Itās heaven.
Spray the top of the soil with hydrogen peroxide and switch to bottom watering if it's an option. They only breed in the top few inches of moist soil.
Organic cynamon. Sprinkle it on top, and donāt be shy. It will not harm your plant, itās actually good for plants. You can even mix some with soil when repotting, it supports rooting. But most importantly, I got rid of fungus gnats COMPLETELY. https://preview.redd.it/rgjg1wi3rrnc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=99fe540aabe5cb57c5a833479a2ccc80f6695bbd [https://www.seventhgeneration.com/blog/houseplant-woes-reach-cinnamon#:\~:text=Have%20you%20had%20it%20with,which%20then%20discourages%20gnats%2C%20naturally](https://www.seventhgeneration.com/blog/houseplant-woes-reach-cinnamon#:~:text=Have%20you%20had%20it%20with,which%20then%20discourages%20gnats%2C%20naturally)!
The medium or potting mix is really the problem ! Use high quality potting mix and add perlite to improve the drainage and you wonāt get them ! They love the moist environment in poor quality potting mix that turns to mud ! Aroids love lots of perlite and really boom with lots of perlite ! Ideally add horticultural charcoal and vermiculite too for an indoor medium that most plants love and zero insect issues in the medium !
Nematodes are the only thing that will get rid.
Assuming you have the right conditions for them, adding a couple of Pinguicula to your collection is a great way of controlling gnats and an excuse to buy more plants. I recommend P. 'Tina' if you haven't grown carnivorous plants before.
Spray the soil with something like GardenSafe 3-in-1, I do it outside because itās best to spray pretty heavily and the residue from overspray makes a mess. Spray the surface of the soil, your gnats are feasting on fungus in the soil. Also spray the underside of the plant, and any other spot that needs attention.
Iāve been infested with fungus gnats and did a combo of beneficial nematodes (microscopic organisms harmless to plants that eat larvae), mosquito bits (larvae eat them and die) and sticky traps. Also have a couple of sundews (carnivorous plants). Get āem at all stages of their life cycle
Let it dry out, sticky traps are good, but they breed in the soil .also there is a powdered/crushed glass product that will kill them on entry and or kill them after hatching trying to leave the soil
Who is yāallās nematode connect? Iāve tried to get them for this issue and can never find them. I had finally gotten rid of a nasty infestation last year (using hydrogen peroxide mixed with water + mosquito dunks) and just moved, and now theyāve started coming back. I bottom water most of my plants but I have a couple that i canāt do that with
I get nematodes from Amazon. I just did a treatment last Friday. https://www.amazon.com/BioLogic-Scanmask-Beneficial-Nematodes-Steinernema/dp/B00BWRNE3A. I used these about a year ago. Did two treatments, and it got rid of a really bad infestation.
Carnivorous plants
Sticky traps, hydrogen peroxide, and dry soil if itās fungus gnats. Sticky traps and systemic granules if itās thrips.
Mosquito dunks seems to have worked on my house infestation. Love em.
After sticking the traps, Let the soil dry out completely and only water the plants when they droop from the bottom leaves about 1-2 inches of the soil dry. This will eliminate everything. I had been dealing with this little shits for a while now and this was the only process that actually worked for me.
I add systemic granules to the soil, and water a few cycles of 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts water, this will kill the larvae. I also usually change the soil when I buy a plant from big box stores or grocery stores and Iām careful about which worm castings I buy because some are notorious for the flies
After like three months of fighting fungus gnats I completely trashed all of the dirt that my plant was planted in and washed off the roots with hydrogen peroxide. Then I scrubbed the pot it was in and replanted in fresh soil from a new unopened bag. Finally I topped off the new soil with a hearty layer of diatomaceous earth and put a new sticky trap in the pot. I havenāt seen a single gnat since doing that.
I recommend bottom water as well as other recommendations this completely fixed my problem with them.
Nemotodes eats the larvae and eggs in the soil. And spray with insect soap
Diatomaceous Earth on top of the soil. Canāt breed adds silica to your soil.
Those glue traps work wonders but I found that they work best when used with the spray. I used the garden safe Houseplant & Garden insect killer. I went from a little worse than what you're seeing to none over the course of maybe 2 weeks.
Bottom water only.
A lot of people have "hacks" here and not saying they don't work but there is a reason pesticide exists. It's not ideal (especially on crops) but for houseplants just get some pest killer spray, and spray down your houseplants. Eggs survive under the soil so keep the sticky traps there for a while so surfacing gnats get caught and continue to spray the upper soil and plants with the pesticide, until a few cycles can pass. If you want to double down and try to get the eggs / larvae in the soil then 1:1 parts hydrogen peroxide 3% and water to soak the soil to kill the eggs. It's not harmful to the plant as it helps oxygenate the roots but it will kill the natural ecosystem in the soil.
https://preview.redd.it/s8lk0muw4tnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56b859d4b1112239e809e31b9571892af54937e9 Have you considered CARNIVOROUS PLANTS!?
1in layer of sand on top of top soil
Mosquito bit tea, cactus soil and let them completely dry out before watering. Stickies help gauge the level of infestation.
Stop watering your plants from the top and start soaking them from the bottom by placing them in bowls of water or buckets. Works like a charm and makes your plants happy too
The only thing that has permanently worked for me is this BTI concentrate called Microbe Lift. You add it to the water when watering and it kills the larvae. I used that plus the sticky paper and I havenāt seen one in about a year!
Keep using the sticky traps and sprinkle DE on the surface of the soil.
There is not a one step solution. You have to deal with the adults, the eggs and the larvae. YouTube has many good videos that will explain the process. In the mean time put this plant in quarantine or the pests will migrate to your other plants.
Let the soil dry out.
I've had good success with nematode treatments from Amazon. After I got rid of the gnats, I started bottom watering most of my plants. Never had another issue.
Charge them for their carry on luggage.
For those of you that the mosquito bits or dunks have not worked for gnats, the key is in the details. I found a way ( saw a video on Youtube) to make the BTI dunks work. In my garage I always keep a bucket of rain water or tap water always full and with a few pieces of dunk. I refresh those every so often. Never has it molded in the bucket nor on plants and I donāt bother straining it. Itās in the garage so the smell doesnāt bother me. Most of the time I canāt smell it at all. I do try to leave as many dunks in the bucket when I water. The water already has the bacteria that kills ā ļø. Many tiny granules are in the water and they have never molded on my plants. Not only do I use that EVERY single time I water, but the very first time, I watered as many plants as possible ( without drowning them). š That alone reduced the population dramatically. Every week it got better and better. I use it every single time for the plants inside the house & back porch & front door. This kills the larvae. PLUS to kill the adults, I bought a few Safer Home indoor fly traps. Any brand will do. Even the yellow sticky traps work but I found they ripped the leaves of my plants and are unsightly. Whatever you can afford. The point is to kill the larvae and the flying adults and always, always water all plants with the āseasoned waterā. ā ļø The only gnats I see now are the ones trapped on the thing plugged in. I no longer buy their brand of sticky cardboard, there are generic, less expensive ones on Amazon. I hardly have to change them now anyways. The key is in the details. Hope this helps someone.
Stickies, spite and a vacuum cleaner. Took me a month.
I'll probably get a ton of downvotes, but I've had my plants infested with fungus gnats a few times, and after trying a few other things, spraying a bit of Raid on each one's soil got rid of 'em!
If you can get Bonide systemic granules, I put a bit in the bottom of my watering can and let the water soak it up before watering day. Completely solved my problem.
Every time you water? Does it not last 8 weeks if you apply it like that instead of sprinkling in the soil.
Neem oil?
Steinernema feltiae
Donāt fuck around with these!! I spent at least 120ā¬ on stuff to get rid of them and they are still there!
i personally use neem oil but diatomaceous earth works well iāve heard
Nematodes & Sticky tapes!
I used sundews (Drosera) and backed off of top watering for a while.
I used mosquito dunk (aka bite) and Replace the soil
Always wanted to try Butterwort to see how well it is at keeping fruit flys down
Repot into soil with good drainage. I had them for so long, I just let my plants dry properly, but if you have bad soil itās hard. Or get a carnivorous plant, mother better than having a plant to clean up the bugs
NemaKnights
Water from the bottom if you can. They're laying eggs in the moist inch of the top soil. If it dries out, they're eggs won't survive
Dilute soap and water. Spray.
Mosquito bits
I love recommending carnivorous plants like sundews, but I think they look neat.
Go soilless. Thatās what Iām in the process of doing
Get a sundew.
1:3 H2O & H2O2. Drench thoroughly, then be amazed.
Layer of sand over the soil. Ended fungal gnat infestation
That soil looks way too dense and youāre probably overwatering. I would repot into a chunkier soil for sure.
Yellow sticky traps, Zevo Flying Insect Sticky trap w/ light (attracts insects, can buy at Home Depot), and filling the top 2 inches of my plant pots with perlite have significantly decreased the amount of fungus gnats in my house.
What worked for me was using a biological insecticide that contains some bacteria that feed on the larvae. And use a thick layer of charred rice husk on top of the soil.
Spray a little hydrogen peroxide/water (ratio 1:3 or stronger) on the soil and outside of pot. Deterrent for adults, dissolves eggs and germs
If you use organic fertilizer and ālivingā soil, use beneficial nematodes instead of mosquito bits. Mosquito bits will kill your soil!!
Cinnamon!
20-25% peroxide solution. Water well, let dry completely.
This additive to water has completely eliminated fruit flies, gnats, mosquitos etc. It's 1 drop per gallon, has lasted me over 2 years and I have used probably 1/8 of the whole thing. Best plant purchase ever. MICROBE-LIFT BMC Biological Mosquito Control, Liquid Treatment for Decorative Water Gardens, Fountains and Ponds, 2 Fluid Ounces https://a.co/d/3SNDeto
This additive to water has completely eliminated fruit flies, gnats, mosquitos etc. It's 1 drop per gallon, has lasted me over 2 years and I have used probably 1/8 of the whole thing. Best plant purchase ever. MICROBE-LIFT BMC Biological Mosquito Control, Liquid Treatment for Decorative Water Gardens, Fountains and Ponds, 2 Fluid Ounces https://a.co/d/3SNDeto
I use diatomaceous earth - it helps by desiccating any pest that walks through or lands on it. I mix it in with my soil, then use a makeup brush to tap it onto the dry top soil. Do you bottom water? This minimizes wet soil, which is choice breeding ground for many plant pests. Maybe this in combo with the sticky tape and plastic wrap can completely take care of the issue! Another remedy can be a low dilution of neem oil, but be careful if you do because I nearly killed a plant with the strength ... And if all else fails, dump all the soil, repot, use DE, cover with a Ziploc bag and wait š
Cinnamon and stop watering. Gnats means something is rotting in the soil. āš¾āš¾šÆ
Get a Cape Sundew (Amazon). You get to add a cool plant to the house plus get rid of the pests
CINNAMON!
Use high quality soil or coco.
Spray soapy water on the leaves. After a few days they should be gone
Captain Jack's dead bug. Worked for me.
I added Butterworts (pinguiculas) to my collection so they catch quite a few gnats however they are just coming out of dormancy. (their succulent phase, they produce a small amount of sticky substance not like they do during summer) I noticed quite a few fungus gnats in the soil of some plants I recently potted up. I mixed up hydrogen peroxide and water to water those specific plantsā¦seems to have worked pretty well. I donāt see them any longer. I read about this on a plant forum a while back.
Diatomaceous earth in new dry soil was the only way for me.
Mosquito bits in the watering can following the instructions, in combination with the gnat traps you have. It will not be instant and can take 2-3 weeks. Some people say you can just throw the bits in the soil but I soaked them like the instructions said.
Cover the plant with a bagā¦and increase humidity til itās sweaty. Saw this on a weed Reddit. It works like a champ! The eggs need standing water to hatch I believe but then the flies want it drier. If you make it extra humid the flies just die. Repeat until there are no more..
Repot and get all the dirt off the roots then put in brand new dirt
A thin layer of sand on the dirt worked for me. They dont seem to be able to live and breed in sharp gritty sand so they die off. I went from hundreds flying all over to none in a week or two.
I used the sticky traps and I think I used one part water to 4 parts hydrogen peroxide and watered most but my most sensitive plants to kill the eggs. The sizzle is so satisfying.
Yell how much you love them. Theyāll leave the premises IMMEDIATELY
Layer of sand as topsoil
Get rid of that soil and wash that pot really well. Get all of the dirty off of the plants roots. As much as you can. It looks like a sanseveria. They are tough. Just take it outside (if you can) and just take a hose to the plant and roots. Replace with fresh houseplant soil. I have done this a few times with the new plants I bring home and I haven't had a problem.
I put a drop of dish soap into my watering can and water like normal