Have you seen little bugs fluttering up from your houseplants' pots whenever you water? Known as fungus gnats, they're actually tiny flies, about 1/8-inch long, drawn to moist potting soil and decaying leaves on the surface of the soil around your plants. If you spot one up close, you'll notice that they look a little like tiny mosquitoes, but they don't bite. Fungus gnats also don't cause much harm to plants, but they can be annoying to have around. Luckily, there are ways you can make your houseplants less welcoming for them in the first place. And if they've already moved in, there are methods you can try to get rid of fungus gnats.
 Fungus gnats love to lay their eggs in damp potting soil. The eggs become larvae, which feed on fungi in the soil (hence their name). The larvae are around 1/4-inch long with a shiny black head and an elongated, white-ish transparent body. In addition to fungi, they also like organic matter and will sometimes eat plant roots or seedlings. A slime trail that looks like traces of slugs or snails across the top of the soil is another telltale sign of fungus gnats in your houseplants. These insects also like light, so you may notice them on your windows, especially if houseplants are nearby. Take action as soon as you spot gnats in your houseplants. While it may be tempting to spray the adult fungus gnats, that's usually just a short-term fix because more adults will appear from the larvae in the soil. A better approach is to target the larval stage of their life cycle. Because gnats lay their eggs in the moist soil around houseplants, reducing excess moisture is key to getting rid of them. Avoid overwatering your houseplants and make sure they have good drainage. Allow the soil to dry between regular watering, not to the point that your plant begins wilting but enough that the soil isn't always moist. The eggs and larvae usually die in dry soil. Remember to drain any excess water that accumulates in saucers, too. If drying out the soil doesn't help, it might be time to try a product such as BioCare Gnat Stix Traps ($10, Amazon), which are sticky yellow traps. Place one sticky paper near your plants to trap the adults and reduce the number of eggs the fungus gnats lay. Be careful not to touch the plant leaves with the trap. Check them every few days and replace them with new traps when they become covered with gnats. Eventually, you'll eliminate all the gnats. Fungus gnats are usually more noticeable in the fall. Some might hitchhike on houseplants when you bring them inside for the winter. Before taking plants inside, check them to make sure they're free of insects. When you're looking to buy new plants, examine them to make sure there are no insect infestations. And always use the fresh potting mix when planting or repotting.
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We show you how to tackle house plant flies, also known as fungus gnats or sciarid flies.
Published: Wednesday, 12 January, 2022 at 11:00 am
Do you have small black flies living in your house plant compost? Or hovering around your house plants? These are fungus gnats, also known as house plant flies and sciarid flies. They’re mostly harmless – adult gnats cause little or no harm to plants, but they can become a nuisance in the home. Their tiny worm-like larvae live in the top 5-8cm of compost, where they feed on algae, fungi and plant roots. Healthy house plants usually tolerate this minor root damage, but the larvae can harm seedlings or weak plants. Fungus gnats are small black flies that fly around house plants and live in house plant compost. You may mistake them for fruit flies – but if they’re in and around your house plants, they’re likely to be sciarid flies. Getting rid of fungus gnats is easier than you might think. Simply by watering less often and using a gravel mulch you can break the fungus gnat lifecycle and stop them breeding in your house plant compost. But there are other ways, too. We list four ways to get rid of fungus gnats, below. Passionate about your indoor jungle? Find a gorgeous new plant container with our carefully curated collection of the 10 best indoor plant pots, or create an eye-catching display with one these stylish indoor plant stands. Alternatively, you might find our selection of the best indoor greenhouses just what you need to nuture tender specimens?
Fungus gnat larvae need damp compost to live, as this is where algae and fungi thrive, on which the larvae feed. Simply by allowing the compost dry out between waterings, you’ll greatly reduce the fungus gnat population.
If you have lots of house plants, it may be worth applying a biological control. To tackle fungus gnats use the nematode Steinernema feltiae, predatory mites or rove beetle larvae, and apply according to the pack instructions. These are available from online suppliers. While nematodes can be used in the home, the mites and beetle larvae are best used only in the contained environment of a greenhouse or sealed conservatory. If you’ve only got a few house plants, try growing a sundew (Drosera) nearby, as these sticky carnivorous plants are very good at trapping fungus gnats.
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