Hey everyone! I just noticed a swarm of tiny bugs flying around my plants after turning off my grow lights. I haven't added any new plants or soil in ages, so I'm a bit surprised. Could these be fungus gnats that I've only just started seeing? I do check my plants regularly, and they seem to have appeared out of nowhere. The window was open, and there's a hole in the screen – could that be how they got in? Or maybe they were just hiding out? What's my best move now? I live in Canada, and I'm pretty sure a lot of systemics aren't legal here, so I'd love any advice on what else I can do to tackle this! Thanks a million!
5 Answers
I’ve totally gotten rid of gnats with this routine: First, keep a mosquito dunk in your watering can for constant treatment. Next, cover the top of your soil with diatomaceous earth to keep them from escaping. Lastly, use a black sticky trap—it’s less noticeable than yellow ones. This combo has kept my plants gnat-free for years!
Definitely sounds like they might have come in from the outside! You could use bacillus thuringiensis israelensis to deal with them, which is a natural soil bacteria that targets gnat larvae. The best option in Canada is to get mosquito dunks; just keep a quarter of one soaking in water. It isn’t as fast-acting as chemicals, but it’ll reduce their numbers over time.
If you can, grab some BT concentrate for those larvae—it’s harmless to us and pets. Just a heads up, you might need to order it, but it should be available as it's considered organic. Helps a lot with fungus gnats!
Gnats can definitely be tricky, especially if they love moisture! I've dealt with them using a few methods. Sticky traps work great, and I've found that carnivorous plants like sundews can really help snag those little pests. Just be careful, as they’re quite the handful to keep alive. As a side note, if you go that route, make sure you do a bit of research on their care requirements!
You're right about gnats laying eggs in moist soil. It's best to let the top couple of inches dry out completely and try bottom watering instead. I had success using sticky traps on the pots too. While there are gnat barriers like loose stones, I haven't found them very effective. Focus on the watering technique and traps for a solid start!
Got it! So you think I should just leave the top completely dry even when bottom watering? I usually just wait until the surface feels wet.