Newbie to Planta 👋🏼 - gnats are bugging me off right now... I have likely a silly question: does it get worse before it gets better? I feel I've seen an increase over the past 24 hrs but is that because the barrier now in place / what I've done is working? Telling myself the flies are in search of somewhere else to go and to hang tight. Thoughts? My yellow traps/sticking plasters are almost full within a few hours
Gnats life cycle is long, I think ab 5 weeks. I’d treat your plants with neem oil, etc and lessen watering. I had this problem a few months ago and now my plants are gnat free!
2 likes So yes it just takes a little time. If it’s coming from a plant isolate it from your other plants too!
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Also, consider switching your substrate to non-soil-based one, like Rosy Soil. Gnats thrive in certain soils from, say, Miracle-Gro. There are also organic products from Arber or Bios (out of Canada) that fight the critters with natural ingredients. They sometimes take a bit longer but the results are happier plants and even happier plant parents. Good luck!
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Agree! I switched to a soilless medium for most of my plants and also use Arber’s pesticide and fungicide in every watering.
1 likeGnats are usually there because the soil is really wet. Try not watering your plant for a few days to dry out the soil and kill them. One of my teachers, who has plants in her room, also said that pouring extremely diluted rubbing alcohol into the pot also helps. Idk how accurate my tips are though
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To kill them pour hydrogen peroxide in the soil it doesn’t hurt the plant
1 likeI would not use rubbing alcohol. Not sure about peroxide. I have sold mosquito dunks to treat fungus gnats. As previously mentioned they breed in the top inch or two of soil and they love moist soil to breed in so definitely dry down the soil. Fungus gnats can be very annoying in their little bites itch like crazy.
1 likeI use a neem oil/peppermint oil misting tgat you can buy on amazon. It works really well and my gnats dissapeared after first use
0 likesHow did you apply the oil? Onto the soil?
0 likesThe one i use sprays directly onto the leaves and air roots and soil pretty much everywhere then you can gently wipe away the excess from leaves with a tissue or whatever and it acts as a leaf cleaning agent also.
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Mosquito bits work well for gnats.
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