--- title: "Please help!! I have a shelf of plants that enjoy high humidity, and…" description: "Please help!! I have a shelf of plants that enjoy high humidity, and a couple months ago they have been overtaken by fungus gnats. I've tried neem oil (which…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/mwemSr67WLk9X9RwOPdTPN" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "Kris" published: "2026-01-04T01:59:43.137919Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/pH4kXVqP1TsOsxo3DJ56l-XHdsP2M5a7Grh41bAokfY/6VmzYFdBRpuMRZYduW_hbA.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md) # Please help!! I have a shelf of plants that enjoy high humidity, and… _Posted by Kris on 2026-01-04_ Please help!! I have a shelf of plants that enjoy high humidity, and a couple months ago they have been overtaken by fungus gnats. I've tried neem oil (which did more harm than good - used too much), letting the soil dry completely, repotting twice, cinnamon, and diluted hydrogen peroxide. I have yellow sticky traps for the adults, but I can't seem to kill off the eggs. Systemic house plant granules are illegal in California so I can't use those, and my local hardware store didn't have mosquito bits. Is there anything else I can try? I'm sick of them flying around my room, and have noticed how they're detrimental to my plants. Plus, I don't want to buy any new plants now and expose them to the gnats 😓 Any help is greatly appreciated! ![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/pH4kXVqP1TsOsxo3DJ56l-XHdsP2M5a7Grh41bAokfY/6VmzYFdBRpuMRZYduW_hbA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/pH4kXVqP1TsOsxo3DJ56l-XHdsP2M5a7Grh41bAokfY/MUAU_djnSUiwZVADl65Q6g.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/pH4kXVqP1TsOsxo3DJ56l-XHdsP2M5a7Grh41bAokfY/soEs9jiMToGvTErE21PIGg.webp?size=large) ## 13 comments ### PlantMama commented on 2026-01-04 Zevo flying insect trap will help:) #### Kris replied on 2026-01-04 I have one of those plugged in as well, it helps with stopping them from flying further into my room but they still hang around the plants ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/pH4kXVqP1TsOsxo3DJ56l-XHdsP2M5a7Grh41bAokfY/nWG39WdQRme3CrZQgGU_FQ.webp?size=large) ### jlsKenzy commented on 2026-01-04 What helped me this summer was food grade diatomaceous earth a little of it sprinkled on top of dry soil, it was my last resort. It kills the adults when trying to lay their eggs and also any larvae. I got it off of Amazon, didn't take much and didn't take too long to notice a difference. Five months later I rarely see any. #### Kris replied on 2026-01-04 Sounds good, I'll give it a try! Is there a specific brand you'd recommend? #### MummaDeb replied on 2026-01-04 I as going to say the same thing. Also, just a layer of sand will keep them from getting back into the soil to lay eggs. I would suggest removing the sand once the gnats are under control. It keeps the soil moist. Might be OK for some plants but I lost a couple of cactus. ### jlsKenzy commented on 2026-01-04 Makers Supply - the amount was about a cup. I have 1/3 left over and used it on 30+ plants, it doesn't take that much. I took a spoon, sprinkled some then gently mixed in the very top layer of soil. I saw a brand that used a "squeeze" top application, but I thought that would get in the air and all over. Keep the powder dry, otherwise it stops being effective and you'll need to keep reapplying. So, continue bottom watering your plants. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/HwjMrPOHmLTkQ5A0solZePTdaHKQmkzzBieVnrs36j4/UAqk877_R6OZ0G5smDYKYw.webp?size=large) ### Sunny commented on 2026-01-04 Order the Bti beneficial bacteria online. Use it every time you water per the label instructions. The granular form, Mosquito Bits, and liquid form, Microbe-Lift, both contain Bti as the active ingredient. 🪴🍀 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wefqOljjhEOiS9LRzOB1-QhxkVJiB4A5DGumXhnNrhs/pbS59-5vTo-PyuSDcEthnQ.webp?size=large) ### Leafy commented on 2026-01-04 I struggle with this too, I’m always too intimidated to try neem oil so I also use sticky traps in combination with uv traps, particularly in warmer weather (I don’t have any heat lamps to raise the temperature so my gnats slow down in cooler seasons). It can be a long game but every adult you get is less eggs so it’s a war of attrition but can be won, best of luck. ### Snail Diva commented on 2026-01-04 I know you don’t have the bits currently but do they have the dunks? You just leave it in you water until ready to water. I’m in Canada so we do not have systemic either so that’s what worked for me. #### Kris replied on 2026-01-04 I was able to order the bits online thankfully, I hadn't checked if it was available before - hoping that a mix of diatomaceous earth sprinkled on top and bottom-watered mosquito bit tea will kill them off fully #### Snail Diva replied on 2026-01-04 Just make sure you sift them as they can mold if some of them end up in the soil. That’s what made me choose the dunks instead. Hopefully that works well! #### Kris replied on 2026-01-04 Okay sounds great, thank you! ### Amy commented on 2026-01-04 I’ve used beneficial nematodes that I ordered online and they killed all sorts of bad soil pests and do not harm your plants. They are beneficial bugs. It comes as a powder that you mix with water and it worked really well and fast. The nematodes are super tiny and you really can’t see them. --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_