Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

how to get rid of gnats

kelscates21450991kelscates21450991 Posts: 2
edited 20 January in Plants
Ever since I brought my plants inside I’ve been having issues with some gnats. When I picked the pot up and hit it on the side a few times then I can see them. I have tried not watering them until they almost look like they’re dead, I have used neem oil.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    The fungus gnats need to get to the compost to lay their eggs.
    When the eggs hatch the larvae get into the compost and eat roots - but don't usually cause much real harm.
    You need to stop the gnats getting to the compost.
    The way I do it it to put a 1/2" layer of quite fine gravel (aquarium gravel is perfect) on top of the compost, so the gnats can't get to the compost to lay eggs.

    Neem oil only works on insects that are on leaves. It has no effect on bugs in the compost.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • kelscates21450991kelscates21450991 Posts: 2
    Thank you so much o:)
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    👍


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Some people use yellow stick fly sheets put by the pots if inside. Mozi dunks also work on gnats.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I have great success with the sticky yellow paper traps.  
    Utah, USA.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I find it worse if re-using soil or compost from the garden for pots inside. 

    Other people in the forum say it doesn't make a difference if you open a brand new bag of compost, but it may be worth trying.
  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    sciared fly (fungus gnats) nematodes. I didn't find yellow stickies any use in plants but stuck / leaned on window next to plants caught loads. Had to treat several times but eventually successful.
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
  • timhayes00149025timhayes00149025 Posts: 9
    this method works on fruit flies so maybe worth a try ,take a small tumbler and pour anout one inch of apple cider vinegar in and about one inch of any washing up liquid mix the two together ,stand the tumbler next to the plants for a couple of days and have a look in ,you may have to lift the glass up so you can see from underneath whether it has been succesful if so leave it there for good and repeat the process about every seven days ,
    Good Luck  Tim.
  • MozigualMozigual Posts: 12
    You can get a biological control that you water on to the compost, nematodes for sciarid flies e.g. here, nemasys:  fly. https://www.greengardener.co.uk/product/sciarid-fly-nematodes/
Sign In or Register to comment.