Along with the warm weather and sunshine comes some of summer’s unpleasantness: house flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. If you have potted plants in your home, you may have noticed they’re sometimes surrounded by tiny black flies. These small pests known as fungus gnats are attracted to the potting soil at the base of your house plants, along with any decaying leaves or plant material. Fortunately, there are some simple yet effective ways to send gnats on their merry way.
Although gnats don’t generally bite, their presence alone is a nuisance. In addition to being attracted to potted plants, gnats are also attracted to leftover food residue on the bottom of your sink, fruit, and around garbage cans. Here are some easy ways to get rid of them:
1. Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle some food-grade diatomaceous earth on the top layer of your houseplants’ soil to kill gnats and deter them from coming back. It’s important to keep the diatomaceous earth dry, or it won’t be effective.
2. Gnat Strips
Although not necessarily the most sightly, sticky gnat strips can be hung from the branches of your houseplants to trap and kill gnats. When hanging and handling the strips, be careful! They’re very sticky and can easily stick to other things besides just the gnats. If you have pets or small children and use this method, put the plants out of their reach.
3. Avoid Over-Watering
Keep reading to learn more…
