I feel like all I think about is fungus gnats these days. We’ve had an infestation since June, due to moving house next to a pretty swampy park. I wanted to share what I’m doing that’s worked (and what didn’t) and see if anyone has any novel ideas… it’s all out war at this point. What’s worked and didn’t work, in order of how many gnats they have killed, from least to most: - Kill count: low (do not recommend): 1) Nematodes. People rave about these but mine didn’t work well. I’m not sure why tbh, tried twice and didn’t see any difference. 2) Neem oil spray. Very annoying to use, screwed up my lovely mister. Gnats didn’t care. - Kill count: nil (do not recommend): 1) Hanging Citronella pods. Found a gnat chilling out on top of one. 2) Hope and prayer. They do not go away. - Kill count: medium (meh) 1) Apple cider vinegar, sugar & dish soap mix. This killed approx 30 over the course of 24 hours. But then I dropped it on the way to the sink. Yuck. - Kill count: not measurable (but recommend): 1) Mosquito bits and mosquito dunks - can’t tell how effective they are in real numbers but I have noticed a dramatic education in how many gnats “hang out” at the soil surface. 2) Repotting everything into an airier soil mix and into terracotta pots. Yes, I am watering them far more often and it’s annoying, but I’ve gotten used to it! It has reduced the amount of moisture hanging around in the plants. - Kill count: high (strongly recommend): 1) Sticky yellow fly traps. These get about 50-70 p/day. Not all though, crucially, which leads to… 2) A fly swatter. I now have one in every room and at the hight of the infestation I killed 128 gnats in one day. Which is insane. I did patrols every hour and they just kept appearing. Now down to approx 20 p/day, which are visibly juvenile so, progress! Overall, my secret sauce seems to be mosquito bits, sticky yellow fly traps and a rigorous regime of swatting.
