--- title: "I cannot, for the life of me, get the nats out of this monstera! Can…" description: "I cannot, for the life of me, get the nats out of this monstera! Can someone offer any suggestions? So far, I’ve used plant spray for insects that is made with…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/WWjIqbh-RASn2XQz0Dm5SQ?language=it" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "Brandi" published: "2024-10-22T17:11:22.692095Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wQSA1lQoVkZUvsyuHS-fBHyjUNjmJ9b5bVeSFwrobNw/F-DAK-nqQ1CLJ7K5fAN8-w.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=it) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=it) # I cannot, for the life of me, get the nats out of this monstera! Can… _Pubblicato da Brandi il 2024-10-22_ I cannot, for the life of me, get the nats out of this monstera! Can someone offer any suggestions? So far, I’ve used plant spray for insects that is made with natural ingredients so they are safe for plants. But still bugs. I got knat traps. And those work a little but they still keep coming. ![Allegato 1 di 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wQSA1lQoVkZUvsyuHS-fBHyjUNjmJ9b5bVeSFwrobNw/F-DAK-nqQ1CLJ7K5fAN8-w.webp?size=large) ## 15 commenti ### Marshmellow ha commentato il 2024-10-22 I use neem also make sure there are fruits,veggie, food left out also keep your sinks and drains clean #### Brandi ha risposto il 2024-10-22 I have it in a center full of children so there is no food or drains located anywhere #### Marshmellow ha risposto il 2024-10-22 Then i definitely suggest neem oil ### Angel ha commentato il 2024-10-22 If you have other plants make sure you separate it because they’ll transfer back and forth. Keep up the sticky traps since they’ll stop some of them. In warmer months I used to put any plant I had infested with gnats outside on the balcony/garden/window ledge just to get them out of the house and let the soil dry up completely. And that usually did enough but some of my plants are just very susceptible for some reason so letting them dry out is usually my best bet as the gnats just loose interest/can’t sustain themselves. My mum had a worse case than me at hers that got kinda out of control and got gravel to put on top of the soil in addition to the sticky traps that you have and it’s improved drastically - it’s like a white gravel I think she got on Amazon I assume it suffocates them/stops them being able to get in/out of the plant to reproduce. Hope that helps! #### Angel ha risposto il 2024-10-23 ![Allegato 1 di 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/QkDgoKPF4U5Hw3L6_DOgwFliK3XjRslh2D52eYvS680/qVrypU8jRNaXTuiXCvoyBg.webp?size=large) ### Brandi ha commentato il 2024-10-22 What about changing the soil and repotting? ### Plant Father ha commentato il 2024-10-22 fungus gnats are indicator of soil that holds onto too much moisture. most commercial potting mixes contain a lot of peat moss which tends to grow fungi, and the gnats feed on the fungi. i would suggest repotting in a coarse mix so that the soil dries out faster to eliminate eggs and larvae. sticky traps or a plug in trap will help eliminate the adults but it isn’t necessary if you change the soil as they won’t be able to breed if it isn’t consistently moist. search for fungus gnats or just “gnats” on planta and there will be many potential solutions. pesticides aren’t necessary for fungus gnats so i would recommend staying away from systemic granules, they are unfortunately commonly recommend to treat gnats but they only mask the problem (soggy soil) by making your plants and their soil toxic. so, definitely not a good choice if little ones are near the plant. neem oil is another thing i’d suggest avoiding. it has been touted as a cure-all for years but is largely ineffective nowadays due to overuse— many pests are resistant or even immune to the active ingredient. #### Plant Father ha risposto il 2024-10-24 i forgot to mention BTI as others have. i’d like to add that this is a beneficial bacteria you can safely dose your plants with that’s intended to keep standing water mosquito-free, hence the brand names mosquito bits/dunks. the bacteria live in the soil and eat gnat eggs and larvae. definitely one of the safest options besides simply changing the soil, and both methods in combination can be very helpful if you have a large collection that is infested. ### Alyssa ha commentato il 2024-10-22 Highlighting what Plant Father said, since it is in a center for children, do not at all use systemic granules on it. Especially with it being on the floor and near small hands. I’d recommend changing the soil to a better brand and then adding perlite and orchid bark. And watering in beneficial nematodes ### Wolfen 🐺 ha commentato il 2024-10-22 Sprays and neem did zero for me. Either Bonide systemic granules or natural science 209 are the only things I got to kill larva consistently and well. And then sticky traps to finish off the existing adults. The 209 is rosemary extract based and is safe around kids and pets ### eatyacarbs ha commentato il 2024-10-22 the cooler weather should help. well drying soil too. i would not use systemic granule if you’re in a place with children — they’re extremely toxic. watering with mosquito bits/dunks work well with consistent use. as an aside i would remove that zip tie you’re going to stunt your plant. only the main stem should be affixed to your stake, and even then i would use something more gentle like twine, ribbon, or special plant velcro ### exitJiraffe ha commentato il 2024-10-22 Mosquito dunks ### Sunny ha commentato il 2024-10-22 Mosquito Bits/Dunk made into a tea and use it in the water every single time. ### Planty28 ha commentato il 2024-10-23 I use mosquito dunks in my watering can… one lasts about a month when I keep refilling. Let it soak at least 24 hours with fresh water. It’ll help kill the eggs they lay and the sticky traps kill the adults. Takes a few weeks to completely get rid of them. It’s a maintenance thing, you’ll need to continually use them in your watering can. They use BTI completely safe for pets/people! [Altri commenti](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/WWjIqbh-RASn2XQz0Dm5SQ.md?cursor=GDncW4PzABhQb3N0cy5HZXRBbGwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABy3sMHFZrdGA&language=it) --- _Fonte: la community di Planta (https://getplanta.com). La lettura è aperta a tutti. Per pubblicare, commentare e mettere 'Mi piace', scarica l'app Planta: https://getplanta.com/download_