I've recently discovered some pesky little black insects flying out from the soil of my indoor plants when I water them. After some investigation, I found out that these are fungus gnats, and I've managed to kill four of them today. To tackle this issue, I've been using neem oil diluted in water when watering, sprinkling cinnamon on the soil to combat fungus, and I've set out cups of vinegar and dish soap to catch the adults. Tomorrow, I've got some pumice granules arriving to put on top of the soil. Am I doing enough, or should I consider stronger measures like hydrogen peroxide? I've heard dealing with a full-blown infestation can be a nightmare, so any advice on what more I should do would be appreciated!
3 Answers
It sounds like you're on the right track, but I wouldn't wait too long! Grab some mosquito bits or dunks, plus sticky traps to catch any adults. It's a multi-faceted approach that's really needed to keep those pesky gnats at bay before they go wild. Your methods aren't bad, but they could be more effective with these added tools!
Exactly! Mosquito bits help with larvae and sticky traps will really help with your current adult problem!
One underrated strategy is letting the soil dry out thoroughly—fungus gnat larvae can't survive without moisture. Make sure the soil is completely dry before watering again; just be careful with plants that need more consistent hydration!
That’s tough with a mix of plants—like succulents that can dry out versus others, right? Just watch the moisture on the roots.
Instead of sticky traps right in the plants, consider using a plug-in trap with LED light. It’ll draw the gnats away from your plants and keep them from multiplying near your greens. Once you deal with the current infestation, it helps to have something further away to keep them in check!
Thanks for the tip! I’m concerned about shipping times here, but I’ll definitely try to get those traps as soon as possible.