Gnats in plants are a problem that many gardeners face on an annual basis. Not only do they ruin the aesthetics of your garden, but they can also spread harmful diseases to your plants if left unchecked.
Luckily, there are several different natural methods you can use to get rid of gnats in plants so you don’t have to resort to harsh chemicals that could harm your prized possessions.
How to Get Rid of Gnats in Plants
Gnats in your houseplants can be annoying and harmful to the health of your plants. These tiny flying insects can ruin the appearance of your home as well as diminish the value of your plants and flowers.
In order to get rid of gnats in plants naturally, try these three methods that work to remove these pests and keep them away!
Gnats are a problem
The good news is that there are lots of natural ways to get rid of those pesky gnats from getting into your plants. The bad news is that you can’t always rely on a single method. That’s because flies have short life spans, so you may need several methods to kill them before they lay eggs and multiply.
Let’s start with some basic info about how these insects got into your house or garden in the first place. Gnats often find their way indoors through open doors or windows. Rainstorms may bring these annoying creatures in by the hundreds.
They also travel by wind, riding dust particles into your home when outdoor winds cause dirt to become airborne. (The same thing happens when you do yard work.) To stop them from coming in, be sure all doors and windows are closed tightly—especially if you plan to go out for a while but don’t want things covered with bugs by the time you return! You should also use fly screens (if not already installed) and close window treatments at night unless completely open for ventilation
The right temperature.
Gnats in your houseplants are a big problem and can seem impossible to eradicate. One reason for their prolific presence is that they thrive at room temperature. If you take your plants outside during spring or summer, it’s possible that you brought some insects with you.
To reduce gnat populations, try placing your potted plants outdoors during summer but bring them inside before nightfall when temperatures drop. Exposing gnats to lower temps will cause them to die quickly if left out overnight.
Keep your windows open while bringing indoor plants outside so that any insects living in leaves will have time to escape into your garden or yard where they belong. When bringing plants back indoors, it's important not to bring any unwanted hitchhikers back in as well; clean off stems with rubbing alcohol and transfer existing soil around carefully.
Preventing future infestations
When you have gnats flying around your house, it’s only a matter of time before they land on a plant and lay eggs. In order to prevent future infestations, keep plants well-watered and fertilized. To make sure pests don’t return, apply white vinegar or vegetable oil around their base as a natural deterrent.
Just don’t overwater them! Also, be sure to check for any rotting fruit or vegetables near your plants; these items often attract flies with open sores on their bodies that are ready to lay eggs and will end up infecting your plant as well. Lastly, avoid using fly traps because not only do they attract even more gnats but many times insects will die from dehydration or exposure when trapped inside one.
Letting them go outside is better for everyone involved and can help introduce some variety into their diet if there isn't much else available! If all else fails: If you notice signs of an infestation—like dozens of little black/yellow bugs buzzing around your windows—check for a nearby trashcan or other food source causing them to congregate indoors (e.g., rotten fruits) that might be attracting even more gnats than normal, then quickly remove it from sight and smell (or toss it entirely) so they'll stop coming over altogether while you continue treating the rest of your home individually.
Getting rid of current infestations
If you’ve got a current infestation, there are a couple of different options depending on where they’re hiding. For example, peppermint oil is a great method for getting rid of aphids on indoor and outdoor plants. Just add some drops to your garden hose, spray over your plant, and let it sit for about ten minutes before rinsing off with water.
Another good trick for eradicating fungus gnats is using naturally occurring predators as a biological control; you can attract these predators by providing moist leaf litter or compost to lay eggs in. And finally, you could use an insecticidal soap like Safer's Insecticidal Soap Concentrate to treat existing infestations.
This soap doesn't kill them—it just keeps them from feeding on your plants. Once they stop eating, they'll die off within a few days. Be aware that not all soaps work equally well (check out our review of various brands here) and that insecticidal soaps shouldn't be used when trying to create barriers between gardens because it kills beneficial insects too. But otherwise? Pretty safe stuff!
