These fungus gnats are getting to me so I’m considering switching to bottom watering. I’ve seen people say they just fill their plants saucer, but that doesn’t seem like enough water to me. Do you fill it multiple times or something? Below is a pic of the thick well draining plastic liners most of my plants are in.
I bottom water mine with a simple Pyrex type plastic or glass container. The type you’d put leftovers in, then will in with room temp water and let it sit in the container for about 20 minutes, then take the pot out to drain, and if the soil is somehow still dry, I let it sit for another 10-20 minutes. Make sure you let the pot drain and dry the bottom of the pot before putting it back on the saucer. Hope this helps!
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I don’t bottom water just because most of my pots only have a single drainage hole and it takes forever for it to actually suck up enough water to be considered enough. Plus if you have a ton of plants it will take a Million years. If you have a pot with several drainage holes it’s easier but it depends on the side of the pot to figure out if the saucer will water it enough.
2 likesI have a ton of plants, I only bottom water, and it definitely takes a million years 😂 I also use plastic take out containers. I have a few different sizes to fit all my pot sizes, and multiples of each so I can do multiple plants at a time. Dollar store or thrift stores are my go to! I have their schedules worked out (finally) so I just do some everyday, things can get outta hand if I skip a day though! I switched because of a few factors, gnats being one of them. I will switch back to top watering during summer when my soil dries better and my house has better air flow.
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I hate to break it to you, but bottom watering will not get rid of fungus gnats 😭 i tried it. it might help a bit, but those lil guys are persistent I recommend using mosquito bits for the larvae, and sticky traps for the adults. That combo has been the only thing that’s finally worked
3 likes I bought this trap online that is definitely catching them more than those sticky flowers
Nice!
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Woah, I think I need one of those. What should I search for to find it??
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I got something similar on Amazon called a katchy . If you look it up it should bring up all those types of bug catchers .
0 likes Amazon!
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Get some beneficial nematodes and bonides systemic granules. Treat your entire collection at the same time. Make sure your soil is getting proper wet dry cycles and not staying too wet. You’ll wipe them in a couple weeks.
1 like Thanks!
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Bottom watering doesn’t get rid of fungus gnats unfortunately. It definitely helps but they’re pretty persistent given they have a fast life cycle. I use a catch tray and fill it multiple times until the top of the soil is moist, or just use a bigger container if I have one available
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as most have said, you can definitely still get fungus gnats even bottom watering. BTI drops are the way to go!
1 like What are BTI drops and how do you administer them, add to water? And where do you get it? Don’t see em on Amazon
0 likes they’re a bacteria that kills the larvae in the soil. use 1-2 drops per gallon of water and water every single plant with this every single time. if you skip, they’ll come back. one gnat can lay over 200 eggs in soil!
0 likes there’s a dropper inside this tub container it’s shipped in. it’s the same bacteria as mosquito tea/dunks. just easier to use in liquid form.
Ordered. Thanks !
1 like the biggest and most important part is doing with every single watering. I also have those plugin bug catchers and it gets the random gnat that comes in. they can come in through windows screens!!!
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I’ve tried ALL of the above methods! Mosquito bits, peroxide, cinnamon, etc and now we have moved on to watering with neem oil on a 7 day cycle in hopes that will work. I do have a bug catcher and I put out stickys too the problem is have too many plants 😂 good luck! I hope you find what works for you.
0 likes Thank you!
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Not exactly related to the question, but buy Venus flytraps! They will help decrease the gnat population while you use pesticides and switch pots and all that stuff. Plus they’re cool.
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