How To Get Rid Of Gnats In Plants

The number one reason for gnats on plants is wet, soggy soil, and one of the causes is overwatering. Most of us only focus on “water is important for plants” but forget how much water is equally influential. Plants need water to survive, but they cannot handle too much. 

When plants receive too much water, they lack ample to dry out before the next watering. This phenomenon makes the plant susceptible to diseases and pests like fungus gnats. Once these bugs find moist soil, they will reproduce, which we want to avoid at all costs.

We mentioned that one of the causes of soggy soil is overwatering. The second cause is poor drainage. You could be watering the right amount, but if it is not draining, there will be problems like the one you are facing now.

When you water your plants, the water should flow deep within the soil and out from the drainage holes. It should not puddle on the soil surface. 

If you notice puddling, invest in a pot with drainage holes. But if your pot has drainage holes, maybe something is blocking the holes, or the soil is too compact. 

The next time you move your outdoor plants inside, check your plants thoroughly to prevent gnats instead of spending time trying to get rid of indoor plant gnats.

Those beautiful new plants you just brought inside could be hiding more than vibrant foliage. Fungus gnats, unfortunately, can be unwelcome hitchhikers on new plants, introducing their gnatty problems into your established indoor jungle.

When you check your plants, you are not checking for adult gnats flying around. You should be checking the soil for eggs and larvae that are hiding. Most of the time, they go unnoticed and have a ball taking over your plant. 

Although it is always better to get rid of gnats naturally, there are times when gnats control requires a more powerful solution. In such cases, use a chemical spray. Chemical sprays primarily target adult gnats and might kill some on contact.

Unfortunately, they will not eliminate eggs or larvae in the soil, which is the core of the gnat problem. Therefore, chemical sprays are best used with other methods, like letting the soil dry out and using traps for a holistic approach.

Every time, you search for how to get rid of gnats naturally on the internet, you will almost always find the apple cider vinegar trap as one of the recommendations. That is because it works and is not limited to just gnats. You can get rid of any pests with it. 

To make an apple cider vinegar trap, take any cup or bowl and pour an equal ratio of water and apple cider vinegar with one teaspoon of dish soap. Stir everything and cover tightly with a plastic wrap. Poke small holes on top of the wrap to prevent the gnats from escaping once they get inside.

Most parents feed their young, even animals, but not insects like pests. Therefore, they are always looking for a place to lay their eggs where their young are surrounded with food once they hatch.

As a result, they lay their eggs in dark, dirty, damp places like drains with organic debris that the larvae and pupa can feed on. Therefore, you should clean your drain every once in a while.

And the drains we are talking about include ones in the bathroom, kitchen, and garden. You can clean your drain in 10 minutes.

Do not flush your leftover wine down the drain. You can make a trap with it, as it can get rid of gnats in the house. Pests like gnats are attracted to the smell of fermentation, so if you leave a splash of red wine in a bowl mixed with some dish soap, you have a DIY trap. 

You can use any red wine, but the best would be sugary red wines. They are better than white wines because of their potent smell, essential in luring them to the trap. 

The majority of gnats damage is caused not by the adults but by their young: larvae and pupa. They exist because of adults, so getting rid of these adults is essentially tackling the root of the problem. This is an important step in your gnat battle, and one way to do so is to use sticky traps. 

These bright yellow cards coated with a sticky substance are available at most garden centers or online. Place them near your plants according to package instructions, and the gnats will get stuck as they fly by. Replace the traps as they fill up with gnats. 

Getting rid of adult gnats and their young requires a different solution because one hovers in the air, and the others hide in the soil. So, how do you get rid of the young? The solution is hydrogen peroxide. It is also the answer to how to kill gnats in plants.

Hydrogen peroxide helps reduce the gnats' population by damaging the eggs. When you damage the eggs, you are getting rid of 100-500 eggs since a few females can lay that many eggs in a few days. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide is effective against plant diseases such as powdery mildew, and if it is a recurring problem, you are killing two birds with one stone.

Another way to get rid of fungus gnats in plants is using beneficial nematodes. It is like using hydrogen peroxide since this solution also targets the egg, larvae, and pupa of the adult gnats. You have to know how to apply beneficial nematodes to learn how to get rid of gnats in soil.

Nematodes are worm-like organisms that seek out the fungus gnats by their heat and carbon dioxide emission and destroy them. They are available in granules, gel, or clay form. It is best to use them as soon as you get them because they have a short shelf life.

The advantages of mulch are many, and one of them is getting rid of gnats. They are great for controlling these pesky bugs in your outdoor garden and landscapes.

If you are interested, you can use cedar and cypress mulch.  Cedar mulch does not stink up your outdoor space as it is pleasant and repelts the gnats. Cypress mulch also has a pleasant smell and is rot-resistant. 

And the best part? It improves soil drainage and aeration, making them ideal for getting rid of the gnats and preventing them by controlling water in plant soil.

There are more uses for cinnamon than making mulled wine or cookies during Christmas. It can also be used to repel gnats on plants.

So, if you have cinnamon powder in the pantry, sprinkle it around your plants and garden bed to deter the gnats. It will prevent the eggs from hatching and reduce the gnat population. They can also remove ants from plants, another common pest that can destroy your plants if you neglect them.

Although the previous three methods might effectively eradicate all life cycles of gnats in the soil, there is a slight disadvantage. These methods also get rid of other beneficial insects like lacewings and ladybugs that pollinate plants and feed on destructive pests like pests. 

You should avoid harming these insects by using naturally occurring soil bacteria known as BTI or Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. It targets pests like gnats, mosquitoes, and black flies. They are available in powder and liquid forms.

Neem oil might work wonders for your health and skin, but it does the opposite for pests like fungus gnats. Neem oil, extracted from the neem tree, destroys all life cycles of the gnats once sprayed on plants’ stems, leaves, and soil.

To use neem oil, dilute two tablespoons with a gallon of water and one tablespoon of dish soap. Mix everything and spray the solution on all plant surfaces till they are soaking wet. Apply the mixture once a week until you are confident that all the gnats are gone.

You could successfully get rid of a few gnats with all the methods on this list, but if you are trying to get rid of an infestation, your efforts would be in vain. Gnats swarming in different areas of your home is a sign you leave it to the professionals.

Professionals can see things you cannot and use inaccessible methods to get rid of the root of the problem.  All in all, they can get rid of your headache much more quickly than you can.

You probably thought gnats were harmless and ignored their presence in your home. Well, you thought wrong. There are actually signs of trouble, especially for your plants. Here is how to tell if they are damaging your plants.

Leaf Discoloration and Dropping

If you notice the stunted growth,  you have likely already seen the discolored leaves. Stunted growth occurs in tandem with leaf discoloration and dropping.

When the fungus gnat larvae and pupa feed on the roots, it does not get nutrients, turning the leaves yellow or brown. They will not take on their usual vibrant green color. 

If you do not get rid of the pesky culprits, they will continue to eat every plant part and cause the leaves to drop prematurely. Your plant then ends up looking sparse and unhealthy and eventually dies. 

Stunted Growth

Your plant absorbs water, oxygen, and food from the root, but if the egg, larvae, and pupa hiding in the soil are feeding on this plant part, how will your plant grow and stay healthy?

It will not. When the root is damaged, the plant cannot carry out vital processes, which might lead to stunted growth. It might be the first clue that your plant is unwell.

A Gnatty Swarm

A major red flag you will notice first is a gnatty swarm. These tiny flies hovering around the soil line of your plant are signs they have made themselves at home.

But that is not the worrying part because the flies rarely harm the plant. The flies' presence likely indicates they have reproduced in the soil, and battling with organisms in the soil is not a challenging feat. 

Root Rot

If the gnats damage your plant severely, it will lead to root rot. Root rot is a death warrant for plants.

You cannot reverse this damage as it indicates you are too late unless it is a mild case. If the rot is caught early and treated early on, you might be able to save your plant by repotting them. If not, it is better to put your efforts into healthier plants.

Fungus gnats are so tiny that they seem like they appeared out of thin air, but their presence is actually spurred by a few key factors, which are as follows-

Wet Soil

Fungus gnats are all about comfort and convenience. Their favorite breeding ground? Damp, constantly moist soil caused by poor watering practices.

Moist soil contains decaying organic matter, which the larvae and pupa feed on. So avoid wetting the soil often and focus on drying it as well. 

Light Source

While moisture is their breeding haven, gnats are also drawn to light sources. Have you ever noticed them buzzing around windows or lamps?

That is because they can detect lights, which indicate that there are no predators around. With no predators, they fly around searching for food and breeding ground. 

Organic Debris

Fungus gnats are named as such for a good reason - their love for fungus.

If you do not clean up your plants of dead fallen leaves, stems, or other organic debris from the soil surface, they attract fungus and, in turn, gnats. So keep your plants clean.