You can top dress your houseplants with Steinernema feltiae, or beneficial nematodes to destroy the fungus gnats during their larvae stage. The microscopic roundworms penetrate the fungus gnat larvae, then release a bacterium that works to consume the insect from the inside out. They are safe to use around plants, pets, and your family. Serious fungus gnat damage is more common in greenhouses, nurseries, and sod farms. Although larvae also feed on plant roots outdoors, they don’t usually cause serious damage. LIFE CYCLE

How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats: 4 Remedies That Work

The clear bags will provide a barrier, preventing any new flying gnats from from spreading out to other plants while allowing you to visually monitor the plants for any signs of infestation. Place the hydrogen peroxide and water into the spray bottle. Replace the lid and gently shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. Allow the top of the potting soil to dry before you begin the treatment. Spray the solution under your plants, over the top of the soil.

Sources

Diatomaceous Earth is made up of very tiny crystals of silica. To humans, it looks and feels like a fine, white powder. To small crawling insects, it feels and acts like giant shards of glass. As insects crawl over the dry Diatomaceous Earth dust, the sharp silica causes rips and tears to their body, which leads to dehydration and eventual death. Fungus gnats are attracted to composts that are high in organic matter, such as peat-based composts, decaying plant tissue and compost that is kept constantly damp, such as pots containing insectivorous plants. They feed mainly on plants, but are also partial to any form of decaying organic matter. How can I deter fungus gnats? Greenhouses cut the sheets up into strips and add them to the soil. But you can also lay the sheet on the surface of the soil to create a barrier. Keep in mind that this will only repel roughly two thirds of the adult gnats, so you would still need to combine other methods to completely eradicate the fungus gnats. Cinnamon Traps designed with UV lights are more effective because gnats can see the light from a distance. But they need electricity to run. Electric gnat traps work fast and efficiently, which is the best thing about them. The smell and light attracts gnats Different strains of the microbial insecticide kill different insect species. To kill fungus gnats, you need to use bacillus variance israelensis (Bti), also called H-14 strain.

Fungus gnats (sciarid flies) / RHS Gardening

All manner of insects play an incredibly vital role in our ecosystem; however, their place is outdoors. Fungus gnats, also known as mold gnats, are those annoying little pests flying around your houseplants, while not harmful to people or pets, can be incredibly frustrating have in your home. When you find them swarming around your indoor plants, it’s time to find out how to get rid of fungus gnats for good.

RELATED: Houseplant Problems—11 Signs of an Unhappy Indoor Plant STEP 1: Soak and apply mosquito dunk to the soil. Pesticide control The RHS believes that avoiding pests, diseases and weeds by good practice in cultivation methods, cultivar selection, garden hygiene and encouraging or introducing natural enemies, should be the first line of control. If chemical controls are used, they should be used only in a minimal and highly targeted manner. Repot houseplants with new potting soil frequently. Although fungus gnats live outdoors, too, they generally don’t cause problems in open spaces. Repotting indoor plants gives fungus gnats fewer opportunities to overtake containers. Most of the fungus gnat’s life is spent as a larva and pupa in organic matter or soil, so the most effective control methods target these immature stages rather than attempting to directly control the mobile, short-lived adults. Physical and cultural management tactics—primarily the reductions of excess moisture and organic debris—are key to reducing fungus gnat problems. Commercially-available and naturally-occurring biological control agents can also control this pest. Insecticides are considered an important control option in some commercial plant production but generally aren’t recommended for fungus gnat management in and around the home. Monitoring

Sticky Traps Plant Trap for Fungus Gnat, Fruit Fly 36 Pack Sticky Traps Plant Trap for Fungus Gnat, Fruit Fly

Once the larvae hatch from their eggs, they will feed on the plant roots, damaging them and making them more susceptible to disease. In less than two weeks, they emerge from the soil as adults and start the cycle over again. Pretreat all your potted plants with either a Mosquito Bits or Mosquito Dunks solution one week before you bring your plants indoors. For treating an existing fungus gnat infestation problem:Because the BTI is activated by alkaline environments, it breaks down faster when used in acidic soils. But typically, you should expect it to remain effective for several days to two weeks. One study reported that it remained effective underneath the soil’s surface for four to twelve months. If fungus gnats emerge 2 weeks after treatment, you’ll need to reapply the solution. PUPA: Finally the Larvae pupate for 3-7 days and the adult fungus gnats emerge and starts the cycle all over again. Double-sided traps catch more gnats and other flies from both sides. They save your plants from being destroyed. Waterproof Fungus gnat larvae live in the soil and eat the root material. They look like thin white maggots. Fungus gnat flies lay eggs which hatch into larvae, see images below.

Fungus Gnats in Houseplants Naturally How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats in Houseplants Naturally

Mosquito Donuts are similar to Mosquito Bits with the exception that they are made to be slow release so that the BTI is effective up to 30 days. The donuts are much more concentrated than the bits, so if you only need one gallon, you would use (approximately) 1/16th of the donut. And because the donut is slow release, you should let it soak in water for at least 24 hours before applying the solution drench to your plants. Permethrin However, accidents happen and once you have gnats, it’s hard to be rid of them. What is the fastest way to get rid of gnats?

Hydrogen Peroxide

Fungus gnats ( Orfelia and Bradysia species), also called darkwinged fungus gnats (Sciaridae), are dark, delicate-looking flies similar in appearance to mosquitoes. Adult fungus gnats have slender legs with segmented antennae that are longer than their head. Their long antennae distinguish them from the more robust shore flies, which are also found in greenhouses, associated with algae and decomposing organic matter, but have short bristle-like antennae. Although a few species are up to 1⁄2 inch long, fungus gnat adults commonly are about 1⁄16 to 1⁄8 inch long. Wings are light gray to clear, and the common Bradysia species have a Y-shaped wing vein.