Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
The Natural Way to Get Rid of Plant Gnats
The Natural Way to Get Rid of Plant Gnats. Commonly known as fungus gnats, plant gnats are small, nonbiting flies that thrive in decaying organic matter, such as mulch, compost and glass clippings. Plant gnats are also attracted to moist potting soil. Although these insects are generally harmless to plants, they can feed on plant roots and make...
Commonly known as fungus gnats, plant gnats are small, nonbiting flies that thrive in decaying organic matter, such as mulch, compost and glass clippings. Plant gnats are also attracted to moist potting soil. Although these insects are generally harmless to plants, they can feed on plant roots and make plants vulnerable to root rot. Control of plant gnats becomes necessary when they heavily infest or damage plants. Since chemical treatment of plant gnats is unnecessary, get rid of plant gnats using natural control methods.
Things You'll Need
2 tsp. Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis
Garden sprayer
Allow moist potting soil around potted plants to thoroughly dry. Since plant gnats require moist soil to reproduce, dry soil destroys their habitat. Eliminate all nearby moisture sources, such as damp mulch and grass clippings.
Remove any decomposing material from the gnat-infested area. Eliminate piles of decomposing compost, grass clippings and mulch to force plant gnats to flee.
Inspect the infested area after a week for lingering plant gnats. If the gnats persist, mix 2 tsp. of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis with 1 gallon of water in a garden sprayer. Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis is a natural bacterium that kills plant gnats.
Spray the diluted bacterial solution onto the gnat-infested areas. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis according to manufacturer's directions.
Tips & Warnings
Purchase Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis at a local nursery.
Catch plant gnats using yellow sticky traps.
