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
Over-watering house plants means the soil never dries out, and the likelihood of fungus and bacteria surrounding the plant increases. These are both perfect environments for gnats, so avoid over-watering plants to keep them at bay.
4. Prune Plants
Another simple way to prevent gnats from hanging around your houseplants is to prune off any dead or dying leaves on a regular basis. Gnats are attracted to decaying material, so clearing out the dead leaves is a simple way to keep them away.
5. DIY Trap
This DIY gnat and fruit fly trap is so easy to make, yet so effective. Fill a shallow bowl with some apple cider vinegar and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Cover the top with plastic wrap and poke holes in the wrap. The gnats and fruit flies will be drawn into the bowl by the scent, but will be unable to climb back out. You’ll be amazed how quickly and how many gnats this trap will catch!
6. Regular Cleaning
As mentioned, gnats are also attracted to sink drains, garbage cans, and garbage disposals. Cleaning these areas on a regular basis with a mixture of water and bleach will help keep gnats from hanging around.
If you have gnats in your house, hopefully these quick, simple, and extremely effective tips will help you deal with the problem. Good luck!
