I like to occasionally aerate the soil in my potted plants to help promote air flow. Watering in planters without drainage holes can also lead to soil retaining too much moisture, so it’s best to avoid that too. Letting the top few inches of soil dry out helps to keep things healthy and to prevent the moist environment necessary for fungus gnat breeding. Some might work better than others depending on the plant, so try them out and see what works best. There are a few things you can do to help prevent fungus gnats in your houseplants. Not only does it lead to root rot and just generally unhappy plants, it also leads to fungus gnats. I overwatered so many plants years ago when I first started getting into houseplants. In reality, they are probably just overwatering them! Most common houseplants don’t need as much water as we think they do. Many people think they aren’t good at taking care of plants. So the chief cause of fungus gnat infestations in houseplants is overwatering. What causes fungus gnats?Īs I mentioned, fungus gnats lay their eggs in and feed on the fungus that breeds in damp soil. The adult gnats will buzz around the pot they don’t fly very long distances and always seem to aim for your face. The whole lifecycle is about 2.5 weeks depending on the conditions (temperature, humidity, moisture, etc.).
Once you see them buzzing around, they are at the adult stage. And they lay 200 eggs at a time! These 200 eggs then hatch and turn into larvae…which feed on the fungi produced from the damp soil (hence the name fungus gnats). The gnats lay their eggs in damp soil, usually the top layer of soil. They start as eggs, then develop into larva, then pupa, and then adult. Fungus gnats have a four-stage lifecycle. So let’s talking about what fungus gnats actually are. Also they are trapped inside, so you notice them a lot more! What are fungus gnats? That’s why they typically affect indoor plants-the soil takes longer to dry out, and many people overwater their plants by mistake.
Fungus gnats are teeny tiny black flying insects that are attracted to wet potting soil. If you have any houseplants, you probably have dealt with fungus gnats at some point. Wondering how to get rid of gnats in houseplants? I’m talking all about what fungus gnats are and what causes them, as well as how to prevent fungus gnats in your plants! How to get rid of gnats in houseplants
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