Houseplants can bring life and joy into our homes, but one very common problem is the arrival of small black flies. The flies, which are known as fungus gnats, are attracted to the damp, rich soil our houseplants sit in.
Whilst they are only small creatures, they can become a big nuisance for anyone wanting plants in their homes. They can be seen flying around our precious plants and their larve feed on organic matter and roots. While you may fear the flies will never leave your plant alone, a gardening expert has shared their tips to banish them.
Ish, who is known for sharing his tips and advice on social media account Gardening With Ish, has revealed his very own top tips. He explained the first place to start is to try to dry out your plant.
“First things first is to ease up on your watering,” he urged. “Over watering or creating quite a moist soil, first of all isn’t ideal for your plants anyway.
“They can take a little bit of drought and by adding moisture into the soil mixed with the warmth of your home is an ideal growing and nesting environment for fungus gnats. They are incredibly common in this kind of scenario.”
Ish then recommended to add horticultural grit to your plant pot. It is used in gardening to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging.
But, it can also have a very good benefit in stamping out these flies. Ish said: “Fugus gnats and little flies can burrow in the soil and they can breed then emerge out.
“However, give it something that it can’t dig through or it can’t emerge through and it’ll stay in there and won’t cause you any bother.”
Ish’s final tip is to use a natural pest control called neem oil. He added: “If you haven’t tried it, it is absolutely fantastic. Not only is it a natural insecticide but it also helps your plants too.
“It slows down the growth and development of any kind of pests and prevents them all in one. A generous spray, just in the soil area, will take care of them in no time.”
Ish warned that these tips will remove and prevent fungus gnats, but said that some will still appear as you take care of your plants. He recommended also placing a small piece of fly paper by the side of the plants to “get any stragglers.”
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