How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats in House Plants
Fungus gnats are annoying but mostly harmless insects. They tend to swarm around house plants, especially when the plant is disturbed. The gnats, themselves, do not harm the plant, but their larvae-- which thrive in moist soil--can damage the roots of some less-hardy house plants. Orchids and other moisture-loving flowers, or very young plants, are particularly vulnerable. Get rid of both the adult insects and their larvae as soon as your spot them, or they may spread to other nearby plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Isolate your plant from nearby plants so the fungus gnats do not escape to a new home while you are trying to get rid of them.
-
2
Trap the adult gnats by using an insect trap called a yellow sticky card. Lay it right on the edge of the plant's container, mount it on a wooden stick and insert it into the soil, or hang it with string near the plant's leaves. Note that the gnats will be more likely to land on a horizontal surface. You can purchase yellow sticky cards at any home and garden center.
-
-
3
Check the soil. Make sure there is no rotting foliage or other plant debris in the soil. Let the top layer of the soil dry out between waterings, if your house plant can tolerate it. This will kill the larvae.
-
4
Use an insecticide formulated for killing fungus gnats. The insecticide should be applied directly to the soil and not the rest of the plant. Insecticidal soaps are a good choice because they will not harm your house plant, but will suffocate the larvae.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Adult fungus gnats live only about a week, so even if you can't trap many of them, killing the larvae will effectively get rid of them.
Monitor the plant for standing water and other conditions, such as dropped leaves, that can lead to the development of fungus gnats. Never let water stand in the drainage tray of your house plant, and remove any dead debris promptly from the soil.
