You found that cute little plant in that adorable pot and you have set it up on your desk in the perfect spot. The next morning you’re in your office typing away and suddenly feel like you’re doing air karate. Tiny little gnats are crawling up your walls, on your desk, and floating in your coffee, and you feel like you’ve made a tragic mistake. How do we get rid of gnats?

What do you do? Well don’t trash that plant just yet, there are some simple methods to banishing those annoying gnats. These critters are annoying, but they don’t bite, phew. How did this happen? It’s often the result of over-watering. Once they are there, it is too late to avoid the over-watering, so now it is time to take steps to get rid of those pesky bugs.

What are they?

Fungus gnats are only about 1/8 inch long and are small flies that are attracted to moist potting soil and decaying plant material. They often lay eggs in the soil, and these become larvae which feed on fungi in the soil of the plants. Larvae are about ¼ inch long with a shiny black head and a long whitish to transparent body. They like to eat plant roots and seedling and can make the plant appear wilted. Even though they aren’t slugs or snails, they do leave a slime trail! If you see a trail, you most likely need to get rid of gnats. You’ll also notice they are attracted to light so they will often hang out on your windows.

So, what do you do? How do you eradicate these indoor flying invaders? Aside from going out and buying some carnivorous house plants to fight the battle for you, you can start a warfare of your own with a few easy options.

Kill them with vinegar

Fungus gnats like sugar and sweet-smelling dish soap just like we do, imagine that! You can make a DIY gnat trap using vinegar. Take a tablespoon of sugar and place it into a small bowl. Next add 2-3 drops of dish soap and a cup of white vinegar. Take some cling wrap and cover the bowl and then poke a few holes in the top of the wrap. Place the bowl next to your houseplant overnight and watch the gnats go to a sugary grave.

Trap them with sticky strips

Are you not a fan of vinegar? Some people just cannot handle that smell at all! If you’re not ready to create your DIY gnat trap you can instead buy some sticky gnat traps. When selecting your traps try and choose ones that are non-toxic and double-sided to increase your effectiveness. Hang the strips over the plant or place directly in the soil to reduce the adult population and prevent eggs from being laid.

Buy an indoor fly catcher

Not your first fungus gnat rodeo? If you’re finding that you’re fighting the battle to exhaustion, you can hire a friend. Invest in an indoor fly catching device. Indoor fly catchers are usually USB powered and use LED lights and fans to attract and suck flies into the trap. Bye Bye gnats!

Prevention is key

Oh gnats! How do you avoid them in the first place? The trick is to target the larval stage and not allow them to grow into adults. How? Allow the soil to dry out. Gnats love to lay their eggs in moist soil, so getting rid of excess moisture is important. Avoid overwatering and allow the soil to dry between watering. The eggs and larvae will die in dry soil. Be sure to select a pot with good drainage and remove any excess water from the saucers.

Before bringing a plant home or inside inspect the soil to make sure they are free of insects and unwanted houseguests. Finally make sure to use a sterile potting mix when planting and re-potting.

If you have any questions or concerns, we would love to chat. Stop on by and visit!