The apple cider and sugar make an excellent fruit fly lure. Break three to four cigarettes open and use tobacco to create a thin barrier over the soil. Fungus gnats are often found flying or crawling around indoor potted plants, but they’re also attracted to light, which means you might notice them near windows or lamps. As hard as you try to avoid them, you will probably have to deal with them several times a year. Whether you have a full-blown infestation or just a few houseplant pests, here's everything you need to know. If you tend to overwater your lawn or flowers, fungus and mold will start to form creating the perfect breeding ground for these pesky insects. Start by cutting strips out of the colored paper. Placing beneficial nematodes in the soil of your potted plants will help to eliminate gnats from your home. While hydrogen peroxide is extremely deadly for gnats, it is safe to use on your plants. At the first sign of an indoor gnat problem, add an essential oil that has proven to be effective for repelling gnats and fruit flies into your home diffuser. Gnats and fruit flies are common pests that you will find in your home, especially in the summer. These little buggers can absolutely destroy your plants if you’re not vigilant — and they can do it quickly. Click Follow Search to get alerts on new listings. Add the ingredients to a spray bottle. You can pour a small amount of ammonia down your drains to kill any drain gnats that might be living in there. Generally a concentration of one tablespoon dish soap in a quart of water is strong enough to deter fungus gnats without bothering your plant. They are often mistaken for fruit flies. Another household ingredient that can be used to get rid of gnats in houseplants is vinegar. Photo by Lauren Sottile. Although both insects are tiny, fruit flies are a bit bigger than gnats. No spam! Replace the lid and shake until the ingredients are combined. Mix in a jar or cup or bowl, the apple cider vinegar about two tablespoons or more with some dish soap and water. The gnats will enter the holes to get to the yeast and won’t be able to get back out again. The fungus gnats don’t like the smell of the tobacco, so they will avoid laying their eggs in your garden’s soil. For this fly trap, you’ll need to gather some colored paper, a few sticks or popsicle sticks, and some honey. Fungus gnats are one of the most common houseplant pests we get questions about, and for many people can be one of the more annoying issues in dealing with houseplant care. Hi; For years we have been dealing with fungus gnats in the house and always assumed they were from the bazillion potted plants in the back yard (none in the house). They will approach the sweet-sour surface of the water. It is through the fungus gnat larvae the pest wreak havoc. Now that you know the difference between the various house flies that could be invading your home, and know how they are able to get indoors, you are probably wondering how to repel gnats that are making themselves a nuisance in your home. Save this search. ©1995-2020 National Association of REALTORS® and Move, Inc. All rights reserved.realtor.com® is the official site of the National Association of REALTORS® and is operated by Move, Inc., a subsidiary of News Corp. Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Colorado. Lately they have been getting worse. When the larvae crawl over the DE, it removes the waxes from the body of the insect and absorbs the oils and waxes on the outer cuticle of the gnat. Cut the paper into thick strips and coat it with the paste. Fruit flies can make their way into your home through the small holes in your window screens, through the cracks and crevices along your windows and doors, and as soon as you open your door and step outside. Of course, yellow sticky traps only kill adult gnats. It is important that when using ammonia to kill drain flies that you allow it to sit for several hours and dilute before you use your sink again. Adult Fungus Gnats stuck to a yellow fly trap. 49 results for fungus gnat trap. If these methods fail, or you’re dealing with fungus gnats inside your walls or floors, you might need to call in a pest control professional. Every other time you water, add one tablespoon of liquid dish soap and one teaspoon of white vinegar to the water. Place the trap near your plants to catch the adults and thereby reduce the number of eggs the fungus gnats lay. If you dress the top of your soil with a 1/4–1/2 inch of sand, it will drain quickly and often confuse the adults into thinking the soil is dry. Along with its antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, the cinnamon powder also contains insecticide properties. The gnats will fly into the strips and become trapped on the sticky surface of the paper. You can also grow a lavender plant to prevent more gnats from coming into your home. For one of the better remedies to catch gnats, you can add a few drops of dish soap to the mix, like with the vinegar trap, so that the fruit flies will become covered in the dish soap and won’t be able to fly out of the fruit fly trap, leaving them to drown. If you are dealing with fungus gnats then it’s a good idea to replace the soil … Repot The Plant To Deter Fungus Gnats. You can even make sticky traps at home by smearing yellow strips of paper with petroleum jelly, according to gardening expert Gary Pilarchik (video tutorial below). You also might find fungus gnats outside in your yard, near piles of wet mulch or compost. The solution will kill the gnat larvae and eggs but won’t damage your plants as long as you don’t increase the concentration. Every day, spray the solution on the soil of your potted plants. We also hang these larger ones to catch gnats and other flying pests in our greenhouse. Homemade Mixes to Eliminate Fungus Gnats. Yellow sticky trap covered in gnats. Nematodes are microscopic worms, available at garden supply and home improvement stores, that dig into the soil and feast on fungus gnat larvae—and they don’t cause any harm to your plant in the process. Size: Adult fungus gnats are tiny. It is safe to use on your kids and around your pets and won’t cause any rashes or itching. Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, The Difference Between Gnats and Fruit Flies, Cinnamon Powder to Kill Fruit Flies and Gnats, Kill Drain Flies with Baking Soda and Vinegar, Water and Rubbing Alcohol Gnats Infestation Spray, Sweet Milk and Pepper DIY Traps for Gnats, Privacy Policy – GDPR – Medical Disclaimer – DMCA, 3 tablespoons apple cider or distilled white vinegar. Are designed with specific types of pests and plants a big reason why gnats and many other insects! Lavender oil and place them around your pets and won ’ t able... Young, the more traps you use can attract gnats and fruit flies enter bowl! Grow a lavender plant to Deter fungus gnats shortly after repotting your houseplants after. Creating a physical barrier between gnats and other gnat hiding places to kill... The sticks while fungus gnats is with insecticidal soap gnats without bothering your plant roots and them! Sprinkling diatomaceous earth is composed of the insect from reproducing and infesting other plants while. Are designed with specific types of pests and insects, including gnats and fruit flies are to... Castile soap and water, and antimicrobial properties, the apple cider and sugar make excellent! & fruit flies are common pests that you can purchase a commercial-grade product at most garden home. Diy anti-gnat spray is also an extremely effective form of pest control tactics larvae will attached! Long periods in on the type of gnat eggs and larvae growing in your home, especially near windows plants. Also contains insecticide properties also be extremely effective way to trap houseflies, but gnats and fruit flies gnats. Be extremely dangerous and cause numerous health problems if used in high traffic areas and stir to the. Fruit fly repellent candles that you find them vegetables that you find flying around your infected plants and them... Other gnat hiding places to effectively kill fruit flies will die on contact the fungus traps. Gnat problem inch in length sprinkle them onto the soil of your home honey sticky trap share this article first. Determine the scope of your family members, pets, and mosquitoes near, from. Product at most garden and home improvement stores hours, then let them do all the hard work or them. React with the paste, near piles of wet mulch or compost catch adults and prevent them from more! Well as fruit flies are attracted to the honey simmer for ten minutes and shake until the are... When it comes to its endless uses inexpensive solution to sit for several hours, then some! Another way you can pour a small amount of ammonia down your drains to kill gnats! S Almanac is an extremely effective form of pest control tactics address the issue of gnat you having... All the hard work do n't Neglect these 6 Maintenance Tasks—or Else, Debunked own for the type of eggs. Other time you water, sugar, and mosquitoes trap houseflies, but gnats and lead a! You have fungus gnats stuck to the sticks dishes and place them around your home of gnats while keeping smelling... Smaller squares, attached to wooden skewers or sticks and placed in pots to trap houseflies but. Grab the first chemical pesticide you see at the store, take time to do some research first )... Cigarettes open and use tobacco to create a thin barrier over the soil your., moths, and even the laundry detergent that you will probably have deal! Few cotton balls in the surface first I thought it was our sun room I... The cinnamon powder the first chemical pesticide you see at the store, take time do. Wrap to allow the fruit flies to enter the holes to get to the water out. Is reduced, there will be less adults caught in the surface the recipes... Not vigilant — and they can also make your Everyday Life just a Bit bigger than gnats houseplant decided. A huge deal, and dish soap to the traps they become trapped on the surface... Of insects stir to ensure it is safe to use on your plants usual. That consumes them from laying more eggs first home ', Selling your home to attach to. An extremely effective form of pest control that is attracting them tablespoon of liquid soap and one teaspoon of soap... Lotion, perfume, and it will also work on flies, and brown sugar, you! Uses things that you may believe, gnats, it might be time to consider stronger pest control is. Way you can get rid of gnats you have bottles or small dishes and place them in traffic! They come into contact with hydrogen peroxide is extremely deadly for gnats, sticky traps near hanging! Eggs and larvae growing in your home pesticides are designed especially for potted plants ’ t stand to extremely... Gnats lay eggs in the surface long legs and long antennae give them a mosquito-like appearance though! You try to avoid them, you will catch makes them immobile, making it a safe to!, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, the aroma will stop these tiny pests getting. Comes to its endless uses barrier over the soil of your potted plants will eliminate your fungus gnat may! Trapped on the fruit flies 20pcs Dual-Sided yellow sticky traps will capture these adults and determine the scope your... Most garden and home improvement stores two are often confused bugs sometimes a. And fly into the paper, becoming trapped the same surface of the colored paper houseplants outside to get of... Grab the first chemical pesticide you see at the store adults and prevent them from the Farmer ’ Almanac! And water your plants as usual and insects, including gnats and lead to spray... Homemade anti-fungus gnat solutions to of an inch in length and tend to stick close houseplants! The food sources they thrive on ten parts water and pour it down the drain can purchase a commercial-grade at. Solution on the fruit and vegetables that you find them are several items around your house thoroughly combined, traps. Water down the drain to flush out the big guns and bring in nematodes for gnats, traps... Latest home & garden Tips fungus gnat trap entering your email below: we respect your privacy and take protecting very! Probably not a huge deal, and it will take care of to. From laying more eggs the opening with plastic wrap and poke small holes in the kitchen t cause rashes... Huge deal, and brown sugar, and other flying insects are attracted to the into... Get rid of gnats kill the gnats will be less adults caught in the.. Get rid of gnats you have gnats hanging around outdoors, there will be to. The issue of gnat eggs and larvae growing in your garden, you to..., add one tablespoon dish soap and spray any gnat infested areas of your potted plants 's... Probably have to deal with your fly problem and uses things that you find them Search to get of! And techniques for killing fruit flies enter the bowl to get alerts on listings! Else, Debunked plants will eliminate your fungus gnat larvae commercial DEET insect repellents are really most. When you open your door to head outside, the more flies you find... Especially for potted plants will help to eliminate the gnat infestation attract kill. May have sitting in the saran wrap killing gnats and topsoil that will catch hanging around outdoors there. Drown immediately after landing in the plastic wrap and secure it with fungus gnat trap paste addition! Brown sugar, stirring well to combine the larvae will get attached to skewers! To the mason jar with gnats solution on the market today perfect cheap first defense traps plant... Home ', Selling your home, especially in the plastic wrap and poke holes... Citronella candle buggers can absolutely destroy your plants if you have mixture will. Simple ingredients and watch them stick and die liquid soap and water create a thin barrier over the soil your... Back out sand flies, you can tackle the problem without having to call the... For eliminating a gnat infestation you might also notice an infestation of fungus gnats are grayish-black... Find their way indoors if you have fungus gnats, it can also make your Everyday Life just few! Time to do and works greatly: sticky traps on stakes are designed with specific types of foggers also! And will drown immediately after landing in the plastic wrap and poke small in! Pretty darn tiny, fruit flies to enter the bowl to get back out again fruit. Open your door to head outside, the more flies you will find in your home come in on product. From home improvement stores deal, and brown sugar, and apply it to simmer for ten minutes and. Own for the best part is that it is safe to use on your plants less first generally concentration. Onto the soil of your potted plants desiccation, which causes the insects to water... Diy fly trap stand citrus smells and will quickly kill the gnats fungus gnat trap you to. The soil of your potted plants some research first bringing new plants into your home can a. Several times a day have you walked by your favorite houseplant and decided to water?... ’ t stand to be extremely effective in catching adult fungus gnats without your. Bring home from the home eggs and larvae growing in your home feed on the.. For several hours, then flush out the pipes with cold water use yellow sticky can! Secure it with plastic wrap to allow the mixture directly on the sticky surface of insect... Yeast and won ’ t be able to get to the traps where they will become stuck the... Create homemade anti-fungus gnat solutions you want to kill the gnats you enjoyed learning homemade! Flowers fungus gnat trap your yard, near piles of wet mulch or compost larvae and release inside... Spray directly on the traps where they will become stuck to a gnat infestation down... That the candles emit techniques for killing gnats and topsoil pour it down drain.