Gnats On House Plants. While they look similar to mosquitoes, they don't bite. Some of the commonest sources of fungus gnats (and other houseplant pests) are “outdoor” plants which were brought indoors in the fall.
How to Get Rid of Gnats in Houseplants from yardandgardenguru.com
So, allow the top 2” (5 cm) of soil to dry out before watering your houseplant. They usually feed on mushrooms, but decaying organic matter is an equally great meal for annoying gnats. The only way to prevent this migration is to avoid bringing the plants inside.
Fungus Gnats Belong To A Family Of Insects That Include Bolitophilidae, Diadocidiidae, Keroplatidae, Ditomyiidae, And Diptera.
Fungus gnats (family sciaridae) are insects commonly associated with overwatered houseplants. Fungus gnats do have wings, however, they only fly around the soil or nearby the plant. Since fungus gnats thrive in moist soil, avoid.
They Can Become A Nuisance When They Are Present In Large Numbers And Fly Around Inside A Home.
You also might find fungus gnats outside in your yard, near piles of wet mulch or compost. A slime trail that looks like traces of slugs or snails across the top of the soil is another telltale sign there are fungus gnats in your houseplants. While they look similar to mosquitoes, they don't bite.
In Most Situations, Fungus Gnats Are A Cosmetic Problem.
If you want to get more natural in getting rid of gnats in houseplants, place or plant a carnivorous plant among them. However, on occasion, fungus gnat larvae can cause plant damage. Stick a portion of the potato into the soil.
So, Allow The Top 2” (5 Cm) Of Soil To Dry Out Before Watering Your Houseplant.
Fortunately, these fungus gnat insects are more annoying to us than harmful to our plants. T
hough fungus gnats are quite annoying to deal with, they are harmless to both your potted plant and yourself. To get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants, you can use the same concoction you would use for fruit flies and drain flies, or you can try one of these home remedies for gnats in plants:
Fungus Commonly Gnats Get Into A House Either Because The Plants Have Been Outdoors, Where Adult Gnats Can Lay Their Eggs Into The Soil, Or The Plants Came From Their Source With Contaminated Soil.
They usually feed on mushrooms, but decaying organic matter is an equally great meal for annoying gnats. While not necessarily harmful, fungus gnats can quickly grow out of control and may also indicate an overwatering issue with your houseplants. They don’t typically fly great distances and tend to stick close to houseplants.
