If you ’ ve noticed bantam flying bugs perched on your houseplant recently, you may have a fungus gnat infestation. Though easy to treat, these little pests can still be a annoyance to deal with and a hindrance to proper plant worry, particularly if they ’ ve already laid eggs .
Fungus gnats are normally mistaken for fruit flies, but the two pests have several distinguishing characteristics that will help you tell them apart. Fungus gnats are lissome and have long legs — they normally have a black head and clean wings that are used for minimal flying. Fruit flies, on the other hand, are slightly more orange and have stubbier legs .
not certain where to begin with gnat removal ? We ’ ve put together this helpful guide on how to get rid of gnats in plants — it covers respective symptoms, treatments and prevention tips so you can ensure your plants are pest-free.
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Does My Plant Have a Gnat Problem?
Before you diagnose your plant with a gnat problem, there are a few signs to keep your eye out for. Knowing if your plant has gnats can sometimes be difficult to tell since the bugs are so bantam. Though these little guys don ’ t inevitably harm the plant itself ( unless it ’ s a hard case ), they placid can be a hassle to deal with .
Below we ’ ve compiled a list of indisputable symptoms so you can be prepared to treat your plant when the time comes .
- The plant stops growing. It may not be the pornographic gnats you need to look out for ! The larva actually like to eat your plant ’ mho bird feeder roots, which ultimately affects the plant ’ s ability to absorb nutrients .
- Leaves begin to yellow and drop. If the damage is specially bad, the plant may begin to wilt and the leaves will yellow. If the roots are extremely damaged, the plant may not be able to survive .
- You begin to see tiny flies surrounding your plant. If you ’ ra near your plant and see small flies circling around, that ’ s about always a sign that you have fungus gnats .
- Root rot. In many cases of overwatering a plant, the roots will begin to rot and spread through the territory. Gnats come into play here because they love damp environments, so if you notice your plant has symptoms of solution putrefaction there is a good luck you may have fungus gnats .
What Causes Gnats in Houseplants?
There could be a wide roll of causes to your gnat infestation, but the most common ones are organic debris, besotted land and light sources. Keep reading below to find out what may have caused your plant to attract gnats .
Organic Debris
Fungus gnat larva love nothing more than feeding on organic debris in potting dirt. These bugs reproduce by laying eggs on the first base couple inches of land, and when they hatch they feed on the organic count around them. After about two weeks, they begin to pupate .
Wet Soil
If you find yourself watering your potted plant frequently and the dirty is constantly wet, that might be the reason you now have fungus gnats flying around. Keeping the dirt damp at all times creates the perfect environment for these bugs to survive and reproduce — something we decidedly don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate want to happen !
Light Source
not only do fungus gnats get drawn toward organic debris and moisture, they besides like to swarm around clean fixtures. This makes your home the perfect home for them to gather ! If you do notice fungus gnats flying around your lamp or window, you can use one of the adopt ways below to get rid of them .
How To Get Rid Of Gnats in Plants Naturally: 4 Ways
thankfully, there are many natural and chemical-free solutions to eliminate fungus gnats from your beloved plants. You can opt for a classic trap, or turn to household items like dish soap and potatoes !
Let the Soil Dry
Since fungus gnats and their larva like to nest in damp soil, be sure to let the dirty dry out for a pair of days and debar watering your plant. This will create an habitable environment for the gnats and they will die off in dry soil. Your houseplant will be able to handle the dispassion longer than you might think, so preceptor ’ thymine be afraid to skip out on your next watering to remove the gnats .
Pro tip : Take your plant out of its planter and remove any overindulgence water at the bottom. This will ensure that there international relations and security network ’ triiodothyronine any moisture for gnats to lay their eggs.
Use Traps
If you ’ ra looking for a quicker solution, there are several traps you can use to eliminate these annoying bugs. Depending on what best suits your needs, you can opt to DIY these with a few family items or run to the memory and buy specialize traps .
- Vinegar mixture: Fill a shoal saucer with 2-3 drops of melted dish soap and a cup of white vinegar. Place the bowl near your implant — the gnats will be attracted to the solution and decrease into the ambush. Keep repeating the process until all the gnats are gone .
- Sticky fly traps: If the smell of vinegar puts you off creating your own DIY gnat trap, another option is to buy muggy gnat traps. These small sheets of paper are a undimmed yellow color, attracting the gnats and catching them with adhesive material. This method acting is easy and nonpoisonous, though it may not be a pretty batch .
- Flycatcher: If you ’ ra ghastly and tired of gnats in your plants and need an immediate solution, consider investing in an indoor fly-catching device. These can be found online or in your local anesthetic storehouse and are normally USB-powered. The gnats become attracted to the LED lights and fans, which will ultimately suck them into the trap .
- Potatoes : Have some bare potatoes in the kitchen ? Use them as a trap ! Cut the potatoes up into little pieces and place them flesh down on the dirty. The moisture from the potatoes will attract the fungus gnats — good make certain the pieces don ’ thymine dry out, otherwise it won ’ thyroxine work .
Sanitize and Repot
If you ’ re looking to take matters into your own hands, consider removing the plant from its planter and scooping out the soil. When you do this, be careful not to disturb the roots and lone remove what you can. Seal up the septic dirt in a plastic bag and sanitize the planter with warm water and soap. once this is done, repot your plant into fresh territory and place it back into its planter .
Use a Spray Bottle
Grab a spray bottle and fill it with water and dish soap. Spray the solution on the top layer of land and keep repeating the procedure until the gnats are gone. This is a simple and natural way to remove fungus gnats if you ’ re looking for something effective .
How To Prevent Gnats in Houseplants
indeed, how do you prevent fungus gnats from infesting your houseplants ? You can take several precautions to ensure your plants don ’ t experience overrun by these little bugs. With a few elementary steps, your aggressive plant will be healthy and thriving without any unwanted visitors !
Avoid Overwatering
The most common causal agent of fungus gnats in plants is overwatering, so be sure to let your soil dry out in between waterings equally much as possible. Check the soil with your finger every few days, and once you feel it starting to get dry, leave it like that for about a week to keep gnats away. . These guys thrive in damp conditions, so be aware of how often you ’ ra watering your plants !
Use a Pot with Good Drainage
Make sure the pot your plant is in has effective drain, differently the gnats will lay eggs and begin to spread. Having good drain will besides prevent root waste, a nasty disease that develops in plants that are overwatered .
Check Plants Before Bringing Inside
many people assume that plants are bug-free when beginning bringing them into their family. Though that ’ s not constantly the case, it ’ randomness distillery crucial to check your plants before bringing them inside to ensure that they are free of gnats or any other annoying little bugs .
Frequently Asked Questions
still have some linger questions about removing fungus gnats ? We ’ ve compiled some FAQs below to help you become the best garden and houseplant adept you can be !
Will fungus gnats go away on their own?
Fungus gnats will not go away on their own. In order to ensure these bugs don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate hang around for a hanker period of clock, you ’ ll necessitate to take matters into your own hands and try respective unlike methods to remove them. Something a simple as draining the overindulgence urine may solve the trouble, or if there are besides many, you might have to resort to traps.
Can I spray fungus gnats?
Yes, if you want to ensure the gnats are removed from the plant, spraying them is a viable choice. You can go the natural path and plainly function water system and soap, or you can opt for a harsh solution with boughten insecticide sprays. Keep in mind that these sprays can harm beneficial insects, so use them cautiously !
Do gnats fly around the house?
Fungus gnats do have wings, however, they alone fly around the land or nearby the plant. They are besides attracted to carbon dioxide, so you may notice some hover near your nose or mouth .
Though fungus gnats are quite annoying to deal with, they are harmless to both your potted plant and yourself. however, it is even authoritative to catch them early on so you can avoid a potential infestation. With our advice, you ’ ll be ready to handle anything that comes your way !
