I've been dealing with fungus gnats ever since I started buying soil from various brands in the UK. It's been a nightmare, and now that I've moved to Poland and bought more soil, here we are again—gnats everywhere! Is this a new issue or has it always been like this? It really feels like there's a conspiracy behind it to get us to buy more products. Any tips for a lasting solution to this problem?
3 Answers
There are a few strategies you can try. Before using the soil, you could bake it in the oven to kill any eggs. Also, I recommend bottom watering your plants; it helps keep the top layer dry, which can kill off those gnats. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth over the soil, but keep it dry for it to be effective!
Ugh, those pesky flying bugs! When I repot my plants, I usually give the soil a hydrogen peroxide treatment. Just mix 5 parts water with 1 part 70% peroxide. This kills all the unwanted critters in the soil without harming your plants! Just a tip: it foams up, so don’t do this over a white carpet unless you want a mess. 😂
If you’re dealing with an existing infestation, try watering with something like Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, which is great for knocking out those gnat larvae. I've been fighting them every autumn since they love to come inside during the summer. It's a battle, but that stuff works!
Yeah, I’ve heard about using diatomaceous earth. It’s pretty useful, but you really have to watch your watering habits!