Let’s just say I made a discovery last night. I had declared war on a colony of fungus gnats and their allies of little mites and whatever else is in this demon soil. If they think they can win… they are very wrong. This is my temporary solution but I’m gonna completely re pot and (attempt to) wash all the roots. Second half of the plant is fine nothing on the leaves. I hope to get out the other side as a victor, and not have to abandon my ally.
by ScorchingSoup
36 Comments
I would just nuke it at this point
I’m rooting for you!!!!
Toss some diatomaceous earth in there! Good luck!
letting it dry out got rid of mine. with plants that can’t be dried out nematodes also got rid of all of them
i don’t really know what you’re attempting to accomplish with the plastic? the adults will stick to the traps, but if anything, it will just hold in moisture so the soil stays wet, your roots may rot, and the fungus gnat larvae will thrive. just get some mosquito bits and make a “tea” with it whenever you water and the fungus gnats will eventually all be eliminated. this is my fool proof method for fungus gnats and it always works. also mass canes rot SUPER easily especially when they’re fresh from the greenhouse, so definitely let the soil dry out all the way before watering again.
Water in some nematodes and be done with it.
Use mosquito bits
Let me know if it works
I just recently decimated a rather incredible infestation of fungus gnats from a plant that was gifted to me by mixing cinnamon into the soil. Buggies are *gone*. I’ve seen watering with a cinnamon “tea” as an effective option, too.
I ended up repotting most of mine with cinnamon in the potting mix. Haven’t seen a gnat since, and I feel victorious af.
Best of luck to ye!
That plant gets root rot very easily. You should always let the soil dry out and stay dry a few weeks between waterings. If you do that no fungus gnats can survive AND the plant won’t rot
War on your plant’s roots?
Try mosquito dunks/bits. They killed the fungus gnats in my tortoise enclosure. Soak them in water for a while then strain them and put the liquid in a spray bottle. Spray the plant and soil really good. It will kill them and its not toxic.
An easy way to get rid of them AND do something nice for your plant is watering with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Mix it with water (1 part hydrogen peroxide 3 parts water) and then water as you normally would. The gnats should be gone after an application or two, the plants generally like the extra oxygen boost that comes from the extra ‘O’ (hydrogen peroxide= H2O*2*) (And then, just like others said, water less frequently to prevent them from coming back)
A layer of aquarium sand was a life saver for me. They suffocate without effecting the plant
I’ve had decent luck with copper fungicide spray. It doesn’t kill pests directly but it does kill their food source. In my experience it hasn’t harmed the plants at all. I spray mine down a few times a year and haven’t seen any bugs since. (Although if it really is that bad I agree that re-potting is a good first step.)
Did you declare your loyalty to the fungus gnats??
Have you tried a hydrogen peroxide mixture yet?
Beneficial nematodes. Best thing and only thing I’ve ever gotten to work. They eat the larva
It’s just going to be like this for like a day, I’m gonna put a bit of diatomaceous earth and then stop watering. Thanks guys🙏
I never had fungus gnats. I never overwatered. If anything I probably underwatered.
When I shortened my watering intervals
THEY came!! Oh brother did they invade!!
I tried everything. Every method mentioned above… Nothing worked. And yes I did it all.
My only almost immediate results came from bonide systemic insect control. I also added a small sprinkle of 2 products named Sevin and Eight which I had on hand for my outdoor garden. I never thought of them for inside. I scratched the powders and granules into the soil then did a top water to sink it in.
As I don’t have pets or children I’m confident there is no harm. Reading data suggests to treat every 3 months.
I can now honestly say I do not have any gnats!
Good luck.
I believe in you.
Idk bruh that plant has def seen better days
I tried many methods to eradicate the gnat infestation this year and I’m pretty sure some of them ended up burning leaves on 8 plants and killed 2 others. It could have also been some sort of chemical runoff front the heavy sand I eventually covered the soil with because it got so bad. I just picked up all new soil parts to make my own without organics to replant everyone. This is the second year of the gnats and it was SO BAD they got into every plant, the cat water, and were flying around my house everywhere. Finally under control after: Hydrogen peroxide mix, need oil regime, 3 rounds of diatomaceous earth, heavy sand, reduced watering schedule and 8 weeks in a closed off separated room. Lots of my non snake plants got injured and definitely took a big blow this year fighting these little terrors. Winter means I have some time to rebuild them, but I fear next season already 😔
Hi,
If you do not have pets, go get some imidacloprid granular and sprinkle it on the top of the soil. Just a tiny bit and a little water over the top, and leave. Will make the plants roots toxic to fungus gnats for around two months
If you do have pets and they like to attack your plants DO NOT do this. It’ll make the plants mildly toxic to your pets.
Water with mosquito dunks. Also remove the top layer of soil and replace it. Make sure you let your plants dry out before watering to keep them from making a comeback
Fungus Gnat Death Drops are the most effective treatment I’ve found so far.
After knocking down the infestation down eith FGDD, I’ve been able to maintain them at a very low level (because, at least in my experience, they are never 100% gone) using the sticky traps.
If you don’t like the look of the bright yellow ones (I don’t) you can also find them in black. In my opinion, they work just as well fir gnats. I only break out the yellow ones if white flies show up (sometimes they ride in on the fuscias or lantatas I bring in to overwinter) as they seem to be able to ignore the black ones but cannot resist the yellow.
I also use FGDD on any new plants coming into the house as a preventative when they begin their quarantine period.
I did this and put Ceylon cinnamon on the soil. It worked.
Nematodes my friend. Can buy their eggs as a powder you mix into your watering can then water as normal. They’re too small to see and eat the gnats when they’re babies before they get wings. It’s truly an instant solution. I buy a pack every time I notice gnats and they’re all gone a few days later. Soldier bugs perform the same duty if you notice spider mites. Best part is in both scenarios after the predators eat all the pests they die out themselves since there’s no more food. Might seem counterintuitive to put more animals into the system but works like a charm. Truly swear by it. Give it a go!
I’m on the edge
Seriously take the plastic off and let your soil dry out a bit between watering. This is just going to make your problem much, much worse. The stickies will catch the adults and you won’t have a problem in like 1-2 weeks
I have 100 house plans that I took outside, re-potted them in fresh clean soil, covered them in a quarter inch of sand, and I have not seen a fungus gnat in six months! Just a thought for the future order to try if you were still having trouble.
Pantyhose/nylons would be a better choice. The plastic may trap moisture, which gnats like
Mosquito bits
And yes repot
Let me get this straight..
You wrapped it in plastic which keeps the moisture in. Moisture that helps fungus gnats live and reproduce? And those fungus larva will be eating the roots of the plant.
Thats a Darwin award its best