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Do tiny insects fly up into your fount every time you water your houseplant ? Then you ’ll want to know how to get rid of fungus gnats of course . This type of gnat does n’t sting , but they do lay egg in damp potting ground .
fortuitously , there are multiple lifelike method for how to get free of fungus gnats in houseplants . The below procedure can be used in the home as well as for outdoor container plants , but they ’re primarily targeted at indoor fungus gnat treatment .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
What are fungus gnats?
Fungus gnats are tiny flying germ belonging to a few insect families ( namely Sciaridae , aka dark - winged fungus gnats ) . They eat flora subject , mulch , compost , and — honest to their name — fungus . All of these textile can be found alfresco , but these dietary needs can be found even more reliably in pot soil for houseplant . Their attractive feature to pot mix ’s warmth and moisture makes fungus gnat particularly problematic indoor pests .
grownup distaff fungusgnatslay their nut in organic , wet - rich environments like pot admixture , which incubate into larvae in a subject of days at room temperature . In addition to course on fungi and constituent subject in potting ground , these larvae might also chow down on houseplants ’ roots . Within two weeks , they arise into pupae and finally adult fungus gnats , at which stage they egress from the filth to start the cycle of nut - lay afresh .
What do fungus gnats look like?
At 1/16 to 1/8 inch in distance , fungus gnat are puny and easy to miss in modest numbers . Adults look like miniature mosquitos and are dark in gloss , while 1/4 - inch - long larvae resemble lilliputian worms with white or semitransparent bodies and black head . Even smaller , hibernating eggs are icteric to white in color , potentially make fungus gnat eggs in territory visible when taking a close look at the contrasting surface of affected potting mix .
To determine what type of gnat you have , keep in nous that fungus gnat swarm around houseplants . yield fly sheet , drain flies , and fungus gnats are often mistaken for one another . However , it ’s easy to figure out which character of louse you have by turn over the locations in which you line up them : Flea - sized fruit fly target fruits and veggie , miniscule moth - same drainpipe flies gather near sinks , and fungus gnat are more often than not find on and around houseplants .
How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats
When bringing any new houseplant menage , keep it in a different room from your other flora for at least a few weeks while find out if it conceals unwelcome visitors . Once you ’ve tell apart insects on a plant , remove that container a dependable space away from your other plant .
How do you bonk whether those insects are fungus gnat , or some other type of bug ? Here ’s an comfortable trial : Placing a 1/4 - inch slice of naked as a jaybird potato on the soil control surface . After a few days , check the underside of that potato for tiny ignominious - capped fungus gnat “ dirt ball ” ( larvae ) . If you find any , essay any or all of the take after solutions to get rid of fungus gnats in plant life . The stave at Bob Vila always recommend trying eco - friendly , nontoxic method acting before applying any pesticides , which can have harmful side effects .
Sticky Traps
Yellow sticky traps that look something like sticky Post - it notes are among the prosperous - to - usegnat traps , and they ’re an good fungus gnat Orcinus orca . Their gum coating capture grownup and pupae alike , and the traps come in a smorgasbord of shapes and sizes . Gardeners can also buy fungus gnat traps in stake form , which look like miniature trees with sticky folio .
Sticky trapsorstakesPotting mix(optional)Sandordiatomaceous earth(optional )
If you are using double - sided sticky traps , there are a couple of ways you could situate them : you could peel the protective covering fire off just one side of the trap and put the lying in wait horizontally on the Earth’s surface of your plant life ’ grease , with the muggy side up . or else , expose both of the face of the sticky traps , bind one side of the sand trap to a chopstick , popsicle stick , or another such post , and “ works ” the stick vertically in the touched potentiometer . For enthusiastic gardeners with row upon course of plants on shelving , we ’ve set up that exposing both sides of the gluey traps and “ taping ” the edge of a trap to each shelf will catch gnats — and lots of them — on both surface
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
If you ’re using sticky stakes , stick the pointy goal into the potting mix until the nethermost sticky loop allude the aerofoil , and repeat until a worthy number of stake are in place . Lightly didder your plant ’s prow or leaves to encourage any fungus gnat to flee into the traps .
Check on affected houseplant(s ) on a regular basis , as the sticky traps should be a visual indicant of your fungus gnat infestation ’s current severity . Dispose of used sticky snare in a plastered food waste bin , and place out fresh traps as needed until no more gnats adhere to them .
If you require to be extra conservative , it would n’t suffer to dispose of and replace the top 2 inches of affected industrial plant ’ soil with uninventive potting mixing . To dissuade fungus gnats from seeking refuge ( and solid food ) in the grease again , you may also add a 1/2 - inch layer of diatomaceous earth or Baroness Dudevant on top of the new filth .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
If you opt to avoid use insecticides of any kind to your plants , luring gnat away from them with a mixture of apple cyder vinegar and dish goop is likely the best agency to kill them .
Shallow containerApple cyder vinegarDish soapPotting mix(optional)Sandordiatomaceous earth(optional )
In a shallow container at least 1/4 in deep , such as a shock lid , bowl , or smasher , pour out a admixture of one part pee to one part acetum to which you ’ve supply a few drops of saturated dish soap . The acetum will draw in adult fungus gnats , while the dish detergent will eliminate any that enter the smasher .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
invest your DIY gnat trap near an affected industrial plant , or even atop its dirt . Once gnats are lured into the mix by the acetum , the soap should houseclean their clock , and you ’ll get an mind of the plague ’s full extent as the lying in wait gather gnat . Dump , clean , and put back the apple cider vinegar , water , and easy lay mixture every mean solar day or two , or as require .
The shortcoming of this orchard apple tree - cyder snare method is that it does n’t attack fungus gnat larvae or eggs in a houseplant ’s soil . For that grounds , it ’s commend to the right way chuck out and put back the top 2 inch of potting mix after you notice a significant decrease in the number of gnats caught in the cakehole . This will get rid of any unobserved fungus gnat egg before they can hatch . Then , you’re able to append a 1/2 - inch layer of sand or diatomaceous earth on top of the land surface for add protection .
Mosquito Dunk
Mosquito dunkAzadirachtin insecticide(optional)Potting mixSandordiatomaceous land
dowse a mosquito stuff shot hold in Bti in a gallon of water overnight . The next day , use that water as a continuing drench into the potting soil .
With the azadirachtin mixed according to the manufacturer ’s instructions , pullulate an even amount of the resolution across the dirt surface to kill any present fungus gnat larvae .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Properly discard the top 2 inches of soil and supersede it with fresh , sterile potting mixing to get disembarrass of any remaining fungus gnat eggs and larva . If desired , add a 1/2 - inch layer of sand or diatomaceous earth to keep fresh infestations from fall out .
Insecticide
If you do n’t have pets and are calculate for how to kill fungus gnat safely , consider spraying your plant and the surface of their soil with a pyrethrin solution . Pyrethrins are natural insecticide that do n’t harm humans , but reportedly can be harmful to darling — qat and Pisces in particular .
Note that fungus gnat larvae wo n’t be affect by this treatment method , so the insecticide will need to be reapplied frequently to be effective . These direction more often than not practice to using pyrethrin to get free of fungus gnats , but set back to the manufacturer ’s teaching in all cases .
Pyrethrin insecticidePotting mixSandordiatomaceous world
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
If you ’re using a pyrethrin concentrate rather than apre - mixed insecticide spray , combine it with water according to the production label directions . If you have the Bonide concentrate , combine 1 tablespoon of pyrethrin insecticide into a suitable sprayer bottle that contains a trivial over 3 cups of body of water . When handle any insecticide or pesticides , it ’s always advocate to wear appropriate safety equipment like gloves , optic protection , and a face mask .
Holding the spray bottle between 1 and 2 animal foot away , apply the pyrethrin mixture to the leaves and topsoil stratum of fungus gnat - infested plant . Take tending to spray both the tiptop and undersides of leaves , but do n’t too drench the plant or the soil control surface .
Repeat this pyrethrin fungus gnat treatment until all signs of plague , including flying adult and larvae and eggs in the soil , disappear . This may take some clip , especially if several houseplant are in quarantine for these pests . To get rid of fungus gnats quicker , moot using this method acting in increase to the above option .
Remove the top 2 column inch of land and cast away it outdoors , and supervene upon it with fresh , sterile potting mix beseem to your houseplant . You might want to also spit about 1/2 inch of moxie over the ground surface . Fungus gnats are n’t fond of sand , since it dries out quickly and contains none of the constitutional debris they crave . For an even dry option , try a layer of diatomaceous ground , which is a raw desiccant and insecticide .
How to Prevent Fungus Gnats
Once a gnat plague is controlled , there ’s still a good chance they ’ll return if you do n’t take proper fungus gnat bar measure . cautiously discarding the topmost layer of potting soil outdoors and replacing it with aseptic mix is only part of how to foreclose fungus gnats in houseplants . The above gnat discourse methods will be most effective if you also take the following steps :
FAQs
There are several things to account for when it come in to drink down fungus gnats , so you ’re not alone if you are still uncertain about how to go about it . contain out these answers to common questions about fungus gnat treatment .
Q. What natural or organic methods can I use to get rid of fungus gnats?
There are rude insecticide , include pyrethrin and azadirachtin , that effectively treat fungus gnats at various lifespan degree . Other natural ways to get rid of fungus gnats imply lay out sticky bunker or a homemade gnat trap using one part apple cyder acetum , one part piss , and a few drop of dish Georgia home boy .
Q. What causes fungus gnat infestations?
Fungus gnat are attract to moist soil and planting media , which is why overwatering houseplant is perhaps the most common cause of fungus gnat infestations .
Q. Should I dispose of infested soil in my potted plants to get rid of fungus gnats?
Yes , disposing of the top 2 - inch bed of pot dirt is an crucial aspect of getting free of fungus gnats . Replace that soil with raw , sterile potting mix suited to the special works , and weigh topping it with a half - inch of sand or diatomaceous earthly concern to make the plant life less hospitable to the bugs ..
Final Thoughts
Although gnat and their slimy issue look less than snappy , they generally are n’t as harmful as other “ bad bug . ” Gnats are a natural part of our ecosystem , but it ’s also natural to not desire them flitting around your home and snacking on your plants . Although you might never completely get rid of fungus gnats outside or eliminate them from your houseplant collection , follow some ( or all ) of the above suggestions to keep their numbers low enough that they are less bothersome .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
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