Gnats are drawn to apple cider vinegar, which makes it the perfect bait in this handy trap.įill a wide brimmed jar or bowl with apple cider vinegar, cider or beerĪdd a drop or two of washing up liquid to get rid of surface tensionĬover the rim with cling film and pierce with a fork a number of times It did reduce the number of larvae wriggling about underneath the soil, but it didn’t come close to eliminating the problem completely.īecause many plants can’t be chronically under-watered for a long time, it means that once you resume normal watering, the gnats will just multiply again.

Wait until the soil is dry to a depth of about an inch and a half before watering again. This exposes the larvae and eggs and helps dry out the soil more quickly. Turn up around 2cms of soil in the plant. By waiting longer between watering sessions, theoretically you can make your plant soil dry and inhospitable to gnats. Many infestations happen as a result of overwatering plants. I decided to put my recent fungus gnat infestation to good use by putting the most popular remedies to the test. There are no-end of “effective” remedies online in gardening forums, but it is hard to know exactly which method is the most effective. In their larval form they are white or translucent and around 5mm long, with a distinctive black head. In their adult form they can be identified by their long legs, squat body and their semblance to tiny mosquitos. In their larval form they eat plant roots, which can make them a potentially lethal infestation for young or vulnerable plants. They are drawn to moist conditions and, as their name suggests, feed on fungus and other organic matter. Geoff: Despite being one of the most common indoor plant pests, fungus gnats are notoriously hardy and difficult to get rid of. I was particularly interested to hear from Geoff Hanbury who has researched all the possible solutions: They are notoriously difficult to get rid of and I never know how to advise gardeners on this one. Gardening and plant experts Geoff Hanbury & Andy McIndoe discuss fungus gnats.Īndy McIndoe teaches courses including Gardening for Wildlife, Shrubs & the Garden Design DiplomaĪndy: Fungus gnats are those annoying, tiny little black flies that you find wafting around your pot plants. How To Control Fungus Gnats On House Plants Weapons of Gnat Destruction: The Ultimate Guide to Killing Fungus Gnats

How to get rid of gnats