Both the larval and adult stages of fungus gnats can cause big problems for houseplants. This complete guide lays out all the ways you can get rid of fungus gnats indoors effectively.
Fungus gnats (families Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae) are a common pest of plants grown indoors, especially where humidity and moisture are high. They’re usually first noticed when the harmless adults are seen flying around house plants or gathered at a nearby window.
These non-biting adult gnats can become a flying nuisance. But it’s the larval stage, feeding in the soil, that can damage tender plant roots.
Read on to learn more about what fungus gnats are, how to identify them properly, and all the methods you can use to effectively get rid of them.
Fungus gnats are a common nuisance for indoor plant parents. These tiny flying insects thrive in the moist soil of houseplants, where they lay hundreds of eggs that soon hatch into larvae Left unchecked, fungus gnats can weaken and even kill your houseplants.
If you’ve noticed small flies buzzing around your basket grass plant it’s likely infested with fungus gnats. Getting rid of these pesky bugs takes some persistence but there are several effective organic methods you can try. With a multi-pronged approach, you can kick fungus gnats out of your basket grass plant for good.
Identifying Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats are mosquito-like insects about 1⁄8 inch long. Unlike fruit flies which congregate around overripe produce, you’ll see fungus gnats flying in short bursts over the surface of potting soil. If you notice the following signs, your plant has a fungus gnat infestation:
- Small black flies hovering around the plant
- Larvae crawling in the top layer of soil
- Decreasing plant health or yellowing leaves
- Adult gnats emerging when you water the plant
Why Your Basket Grass Has Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats thrive in damp conditions with decaying organic matter, Their larvae feed on fungi and plant roots growing in wet soil, That’s why overwatering is the #1 cause of fungus gnat infestations
Basket grass needs moist soil, but soggy soil creates the perfect breeding ground for fungus gnats. Letting the soil dry out more between waterings removes these moisture-loving insects’ ideal habitat.
Eliminating Fungus Gnats in Your Basket Grass
With basket grass’s need for moisture, totally drying out the soil long-term isn’t an option. Use these methods together to break the fungus gnat life cycle and get rid of the larvae:
Allow Soil to Dry Out Between Waterings
Let the top few inches of soil dry before watering again. Test with your finger to be sure it’s not just the surface drying out. With less moisture, fungus gnat eggs and larvae will die out.
Use Yellow Sticky Traps
Sticky traps placed near infested plants catch adult gnats, preventing them from reproducing. Change traps out each week until you see fewer gnats caught.
Apply a Light Layer of Sand
Covering the soil’s surface with a 1/4″ layer of horticultural sand or aquarium gravel blocks gnat access. Just be sure to control watering to account for slower drying.
Treat Plants with Neem Oil
The natural pesticide neem oil kills fungus gnat larvae when applied to the soil. Follow label instructions and reapply every week while infestation lasts.
Use Mosquito Bits
Sprinkle these granules containing BTI fungus gnat killer over the soil. They kill larvae but are harmless to plants, pets, and people.
Drench Soil with Hydrogen Peroxide
Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts water. Water plants with this solution to kill larvae and larvae eggs without harming plant roots.
Apply Beneficial Nematodes
These microscopic worms seek out and kill fungus gnat larvae. Buy them online and apply to moist soil to let them feast on larvae.
Replace Some of the Potting Mix
If other remedies aren’t working, replace the top few inches of old potting mix with fresh, sterile mix to fully remove larvae.
Preventing Fungus Gnats from Returning
Getting rid of fungus gnats takes diligence, but preventing future infestations is easy if you follow these simple practices:
- Allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings
- Remove dead leaves and debris from the soil surface
- Avoid overfeeding with excess fertilizer
- Provide proper lighting conditions to avoid overly moist soil
- Repot plants annually in fresh potting mix
- Quarantine new plants before introducing to your existing plants
Following an integrated pest management approach combining several methods consistently will eliminate fungus gnats from your basket grass plant. With prevention tactics in place, you can keep these annoying flies at bay for good.
Life Cycle of a Fungus Gnat
Adults live about one week and lay up to 300 eggs in the cracks and crevices of growing media such as rich, moist soils. They develop in four stages, namely egg, larva including four larval stages or instars, pupa, and adult.
Females lay eggs in moist organic media, and the developing larvae feed on the media before emerging as tiny, oblong pupae. At a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, it takes approximately three days for eggs to hatch.
Within 4-6 days tiny larvae emerge and begin the larvae feed on plant roots during their two-week period. The pupal stage lasts 3-4 days before the pupae turn into young adults and leave the soil and begin the next generation.
The entire life cycle from egg to adult may be completed in as little as 3-4 weeks depending on temperature. Because of their proclivity and relatively short gestation, potted plants can host each stage — egg, larvae, pupae, adult — in multiple generations at once. Because of this remedies usually require repeated applications until there are no surviving eggs.
How to Identify Fungus Gnats
Adult fungus gnats are delicate, grayish-black, mosquito-like flies (1/8 inch long) with long legs and one pair of clear wings. They are not strong fliers and emerge from potted plants, especially when watering.
Adults have segmented antennae that are longer than their head and these help distinguish them from other more robust shore flies that are commonly found in places like greenhouses and are found near algae and decomposing organic matter since the latter have short antennae instead.
Larvae or maggots (1/4 inch) have a shiny black head and an elongated, whitish to transparent body. They are most abundant in damp, rich soils and feed on root hairs, fungi, and other organic materials.
Easy One Step – How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats – 100% Guarantee – Fungus Gnat Prevention
FAQ
How do you get rid of fungus gnats in plant pots?
Will plants recover from fungus gnats?
What can I spray on my houseplants for fungus gnats?
How did my indoor plant get fungus gnats?
How to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplant soil?
Here is a list of helpful natural ways to get rid of fungus gnats and kill these bugs in houseplant soil: Hydrogen peroxide to kill off fungus gnat larvae —Make a soil drench with hydrogen peroxide 3% to flush the soil and kill these bugs in the plant soil. This remedy helps kill off gnat larvae in the soil to break their lifecycle.
How do you get rid of gnats in soil?
Neem oil, hydrogen peroxide soil drenches, beneficial nematodes, and pyrethrins are all excellent for killing gnats, their eggs and larvae in plant pot soil. You can also use yellow sticky traps to catch and kill flying gnats. Fungus gnats are from the superfamily Sciaroidea, and their larvae feed on the fungus growing in soil.
How do you prevent fungus gnats?
Sanitation: Good sanitation practices can help reduce the risk of fungus gnats developing in the growing area. This includes removing and disposing of any dead plant material, as well as cleaning and disinfecting growing containers between plantings. Yellow sticky traps: These traps can capture adult fungus gnats in the growing area.
What are fungus gnats?
Fungus gnats, also called soil gnats, are small flying bugs that are the bugbear of anyone who has houseplants. The tiny flying pests lay their eggs in the potting soil where they hatch into larvae. The gnat larvae thrive in damp soil and can quickly harm the roots of young plants.