---
title: "Tips & advice welcome I’m battling some fungus gnats… I’m trying…"
description: "Tips & advice welcome I’m battling some fungus gnats… I’m trying mosquitoe bits today in my water. I’m letting them soak for 30 min before watering. I bought a…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/BAlhcvNhQzatWyxRCJGLLA/64a7135a307678382af53a24"
community: "Foliage Plant Haven"
author: "Grace"
published: "2023-07-06T19:17:46.311Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/foliagePlantHaven.jpg"
---

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# Tips \& advice welcome I’m battling some fungus gnats… I’m trying…

_Posted by Grace on 2023-07-06_

Tips \& advice welcome

I’m battling some fungus gnats…

I’m trying mosquitoe bits today in my water. I’m letting them soak for 30 min before watering.

I bought a carnivorous plant, but I killed it…. I tried a butterwort. Open to other suggestions

I’ve also heard neem oil works??

I have pets and small children.

Xoxo thanks in advance

## 10 comments

### Melissa commented on 2023-07-06

I have had great success with putting pebble as a top layer on the soil. The pebbles make it so the gnats cannot get into the soil and if already there they cannot get out. I haven’t had fungus gnats since doing this.

### JustJess commented on 2023-07-06

Bottom watering is amazing! Also look on YouTube (liquid dirt I think is the user) has a video about how to get rid of almost all pests. It’s tea tree castor soap also peppermint castor soap, alcohol and peroxide. It works GREAT!!! I have so many diff plants and none had any side effects, except looking shiny 🤣 U make this bottle of amazing smelling spray, they give u exact measurements, then spray every inch of ur plants, leaves, under leaves, soil and everything. Make sure to get the whole plant. I did it once a week for 2 weeks and will continue to do it once a month because it also gets rid of fungus and other stuff that harms plants. U don’t have to wash it off. I wish I could find who told me cause I owe them sooo much! Saved me huge headaches. Check it out and shout it from the roof tops because it was a tip I was so grateful for ❤️ BTW I have a dog and 2 kids completely safe!

#### Danika replied on 2023-07-07

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/z8NlNnzN2bCQiikKWmC4jfK47VZM9QjYJXPHMlEmazc/7c9f8199a8d3450b9627ed0785ce1967.webp?size=large)

#### JustJess replied on 2023-07-07

I’m not sure about that one but this is what I used

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/2wAgO9zSQIUxvlkrNs4MuEZ_wseKZviHRvFagFC5jPo/a47b486bed3148a08a78605a21612c35.webp?size=large)

#### Rhonda replied on 2023-07-07

I like the idea of it smelling good!

### Anya commented on 2023-07-06

The ingredient in mosquito bits is bti. There’s a version of it that already comes in liquid form so you don’t have to wait for the mosquito bits to soak every time. It’s called ecological labs AEL20036 microbe lift mosquito control (on Amazon) in the picture, it’s a tub but there’s a dropper bottle that comes inside. You add one drop per 1-5 gallons most times you water :)

#### Danika replied on 2023-07-07

Thank you! I’m going to try that! Was always such a pain having to make the tea last summer.

### GreenLeaf commented on 2023-07-06

I have sticky traps to catch any flyers, and then watered with a 4:1 water to hydrogen peroxide mixture. Kills all the larva/bugs still in the soil without harming the plant. My plants have only ever needed 1 treatment with that when I find the gnats.  
Also bottom watering (as others have said) so the top of the soil doesn’t get too wet.

### #plantlove🌿 commented on 2023-07-07

I took a yellow Post-it note and put petroleum jelly on it. Good luck!

#### Rhonda replied on 2023-07-07

Interesting. Might try this if I run out of traps. Could insert those where tapes are supposed to be.

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