These tiny , mosquito - like bug can be a major nuisance . Use these crown to banish fungus gnat from works for near .
Nearly everyone withindoor greeneryhas encountered fungus gnats in industrial plant at one time or another . These tiny rainfly , about 1/8 - inch long , are drawn tomoist potting soiland decaying leaves on the soil ’s surface around houseplants . If you spot one up close , you ’ll find that they look a trivial like tiny mosquito ( but they do n’t bite ) . Even though they do n’t do much harm to plants , you ’ll require to know how to get rid of fungus gnats because , well — who wants tiny bug fly around the house ?
fortunately , there are ways you could make houseplants less welcoming for fungus gnat so they do n’t show up in the first place . And if they ’ve already proceed in , here ’s how to get rid of them .
Credit:Phoebe Cheong / BHG
Phoebe Cheong / BHG
How to Spot Fungus Gnats in Plants
Fungus gnats love to lay their eggs in dampish potting dirt . The eggs become larvae , which feed on fungi in the stain ( hence their name ) . The larva are around 1/4 - inch long with a glazed black head and an elongated , whiteish transparent body . In addition to fungi , they also care constitutional thing and sometimes eat plant roots or seedlings .
A slime trail resemblingtraces of slugs or snailsacross the top of the dirt is another telling sign of fungus gnats in plants . These insects also like Light Within , so you may notice them on your window , especially if houseplants are nearby .
How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats
Take action as soon as you spot gnats in plants around your place . While it may be tempting to spray the adult fungus gnats , that ’s usually just a short - condition fix because more adults will appear from the larva in the soil . A expert approach is to place the larval stage of their life cycle .
Dry Out the Soil
Because gnat lay their eggs in the moistsoil around houseplant , reducing supernumerary wet is decisive to egest them . Avoid overwatering your houseplant , and check that they have skilful drain . Allow the soil to dry between even watering , not to the power point that yourplant begins wilting , but enough that the soil is n’t always moist . The eggs and larvae usually die in dry soil . Remember to debilitate any surplus weewee that hoard in saucer , too .
To make your ground even less hospitable to fungus gnats , try bottom watering potted plants ( a method acting that leaves the top of the soil drier ) and adding a top medical dressing of sand .
Use Apple Cider Vinegar
A non - toxic trick for how to get free of fungus gnat is to tempt them with Malus pumila cider vinegar . Fill a small-scale bowlful or container with a few tablespoons of Malus pumila cider acetum and a few drop ofmild dish soap , and cover with fictile wrapper with a few trap in the top . The fungus gnats will crawl through the charge plate to get to the apple cider acetum and drown .
Set Sticky Traps
If drying out the soil does n’t help and they ignore the apple cider acetum , it might be time to try out a product such as BioCare Gnat Stix Traps . plaza one sticky paper near your flora totrap the adult fungus gnatsand reduce the number of orchis they lay . Be careful not to advert the plant leaves with the trap . Check them every few days andreplace them with new trapswhen they become covered with gnat . finally , you’lleliminate all the gnats .
Check Plants You Bring Home
Fungus gnats are ordinarily more noticeable in the dusk . Some might hitchhike on houseplants when you bring them inside for the winter . Beforetaking works in spite of appearance , check them to see to it they ’re louse - free . When you ’re looking to buy new plants , try out them to ensure there are no insect infestation . And always use the refreshful potting mix when implant or repotting .
Frequently Asked Questions
Fungus gnats are more of a nuisance than a serious menace to plants . However , a large number of larvae can significantly damage plants ' rootage , particularly if the plant life is young or already not at its healthiest .
Some gardeners swear that sprinkle Ceylon cinnamon tree over the land — sometimes in connective with a cooled brewage of chamomile afternoon tea — can ward off fungus gnats . While these two ingredient are natural fungicides , they are seldom enough on their own to get free of an infestation .
While you may occasionally spy fungus gnat around out-of-door plants , they ’re not typically a major problem in the garden . rude predators and weather variety make the out-of-doors less hospitable to these pests than indoors .
Credit:Phoebe Cheong / BHG
