I've been trying to fight off a bad fungus gnat problem by bottom watering my plants. As a stay-at-home mom on a budget, I'm looking for an affordable way to deal with these pests, especially since I've already been using sticky traps. Do I just place my pots in water, or is there more to it? It seems too simple! ?
1 Answer
I totally get your struggle with those pesky fungus gnats! Bottom watering helps keep the top of the soil dry, which makes it less inviting for gnats to lay eggs. However, it’s not a complete fix if the problem is really bad. I've been using mosquito bits lately, and they’re supposed to work great on larvae, though it might take a few weeks to see results since it targets their life cycle. Plus, they’re usually pretty affordable, especially for smaller packages. Another thing you could try is sprinkling diatomaceous earth on top of the soil—it can help with eggs and larvae, but I get it's tricky if your plants are in semi hydro. Just remember to avoid leaving standing water around to prevent more gnats from appearing!
Good point about the standing water! I usually let my plants soak for about an hour and dump any excess—helps prevent those little buggers from breeding!