Are you tired of houseplant flies (Fungus Gnats)? Do you see small black flies living in or hovering around houseplants (Houseplant flies or Sciarid flies). These tiny black flies, also known as Fungus Gnats or Sciarid Flies are mostly harmless; adults cause no real damage to plants; however their larvae feed off algae, fungi, and plant roots within 5-8 cm of compost where they feed off of algae, fungi roots as they feed off of all sorts of sources (which healthy houseplants can often tolerate without issues), while larvae could do cause considerable root damage in seedlings or vulnerable plants which would require removal.
How to Recognize Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats are small black flies found flying around houseplants and living in house plant compost. You might mistake them for fruit flies, but if they appear around your plants they’re most likely sciarid flies instead.
How to Get Rid of Houseplant Flies (Fungus Gnats)?
Eliminating fungus gnats is easier than you may think! Simply by watering less frequently and using gravel mulch you can break their lifecycle and prevent breeding in house plant compost. We also present four other effective strategies below for eliminating them.
Step 1:
Water your compost less frequently GNAT Control.
Fungus gnat larvae need moist compost in which algae and fungi thrive, providing sustenance to feed upon for their larvae to feed on. Simply by allowing the compost to dry out between watering sessions, you will greatly reduce their population.
Step 2:
Use a gravel mulch when covering compost bins.
Commercially available composts have been treated to remove fungus gnat larvae. Covering its surface with 1cm-thick mulch such as gravel, grit, or ornamental glass pebbles should prevent houseplant flies from laying their eggs in it and houseplant flies from breeding there. Avoid homemade garden compost indoors as this could become a source of fungus gnats.
Step 3:
Set Sticky Traps Yellow sticky traps can help protect you from theft.
Yellow sticky traps work by trapping adult fungus gnats and breaking their lifecycle. Simply hang one up near affected plants or attach it to a bamboo cane in your compost pile – keep the trap near soil level as gnats tend not to fly very far from their sources; hanging outside may attract butterflies or hoverflies too.
Step 4:
Employ Biological Control Solutions.
Carnivorous Sundew Plant If you have many houseplants, biological control could be worth exploring. To combat fungus gnats use Steinernema feltiae nematodes or predatory mites or rove beetle larvae according to pack instructions; available online from suppliers. While nematodes can be used at home as long as a greenhouse or conservatory environment remains undisturbed – mites and beetle larvae should only be used under controlled environments like greenhouse or conservatory conditions – greenhouse or conservatories should remain open all year round. For just a small home plant try growing sundew (Drosera) near where sundew (Drosera) sticky carnivorous plants will quickly trap any unwanted visitors before they escape into your plants’ surroundings!
FAQs
Q1. What methods exist for killing fungus gnats on houseplants?
Neem oil, sticky traps and drying out soil may all work to rid yourself of these pesky insects.
Q2. Which are the best Gnat Killers for Indoor Plants?
Yellow sticky traps and Neem oil are two effective Gnat Killers that should be considered when protecting indoor plants against Gnats.
Q3. How can I eliminate houseplant flies?
To do so, utilize sticky traps, dry out your soil thoroughly, and apply either neem oil or hydrogen peroxide solutions as appropriate.