Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats

I get asked this question A LOT!! How do I Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats? They are one of the MOST annoying pests. The good thing is, unlike other infestations, I have successfully rid my plants and home of gnats! With my step by step instructions and suggested products, you’ll be on the road to gnat free in no time!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy for details.

Fungus gnats are small, dark, flying gnats. They are attracted to the damp soil of your houseplants. They are able to lay hundreds of eggs in the soil within their one week life span. Once the larva hatches, they begin to feed on the fungal matter. They also feed on the roots of your plants which is what really causes the plant harm.

Let’s get rid of Fungus Gnats!

You’ll need:

• Fresh soil
• Sink or hose to rinse plant off
• Bonide Systemic Insect Control
• Gnat Nix or Horticulture Sand
• Yellow Sticky Traps
  
  

First Step

Pull the infested plant out of the pot. Rinse all of the soil and roots as much as possible with room temperature water, and dispose of the old soil!

Second Step

Wash the pot out with hot water and a drop of dish soap. Clean the inside thoroughly to ensure all organic matter is gone.

Third Step

Pot the plant back in the pot with new soil. Use Bonide Systemic Insect control in the soil, as directed.

Fourth Step

Place a thin layer of Gnat Nix or Horticulture Sand on top of the soil. This is optional but it prevents the adult flies from being able to penetrate the soil and lay more eggs. I think it’s a good idea, especially if you have a lot of gnats flying around your home. Often times, if you have them, they have infested more than one plant, and you’ll have more than you know.

Fifth Step

Use yellow sticky traps to catch the adults. You may think there are just a few but before you know it, those traps will be full!

TIPS

• Allow your soil to dry out as much as possible. Especially in the winter.
• As soon as you see even one gnat, try to identify which plant has the problem and quarantine it from the rest of your plants. Always keep plants with pests quarantined from the rest!
• Use Bonide Systemic Insect Control every three months, as directed, to prevent pests from happening in the first place.
• When you bring a new plant home, always quarantine the plant for 1-2 weeks. This gives you time to examine it for hitch hikers. Then use Bonide in the soil before adding the plant to your collection.
• If you are unable to repot your plant for some reason, start at THIRD STEP with adding the Bonide.

Now give it some time. The adults fungus gnats need to die off and the Bonide needs to start working. I’ve done these exact steps many times before and they really work well! 

Hopefully this was helpful for you. There’s nothing I hate more than pests in my plants! YUCK! Now you have the knowledge to get rid of fungus gnats! As always, I’m just a DM away on Instagram! Let me know if you have any more questions!