That ’s nasty .
You see gnats hovering around your potted plants . Not a good wad .
You call for to do something about them . You heard that bottom watering may serve keep them away . But does it work ?
Bottom watering prevents gnats because the top grease does not stay damp for long . Moist soil draw gnats and with bottom watering this can not happen . you could tote up mulch to the ground to further prevent gnat trouble .
In this billet , I ’ll help you figure out how to get rid of gnat from your potted plants and how to keep them from get along back again .
Keep reading to know more .
Can bottom watering prevent gnats?
Bottom wateringis the appendage of putting the plant life into a bowl of H2O . This allows the solution to take in the water system . There are a fewbenefits to this approaching , these include :
But to understand how it bear on gnats , we need to first screw what makes a plant attractive to these pesterer . Someelements that they will await forinclude :
Since wet is one of the most crucial element attracting gnats to your soil , the elbow room you water the plants is important . This is why bottom can be a unspoilt alternative . It is an easy way to preventoverwateringwhile create certain that the works are getting enough water .
More significantly , though , there is no pauperization to drench the topsoil . This type of swampy grunge is precisely what the gnat rely on to breed . Withbottom watering , the roots will absorb the water , while the top of the soil will remain comparatively wry . This should make it severely for gnat to position larvae .
Bottom wateringhelps prevent gnat by minimizing overwatering . When the soil is overwatered , it becomes concentrated . dampish soil provides an excellant enironment for gnats to live on . – Brian Walker , Founder , The Landscape coach
I asked fellow gardeners if they remember bottom tearing would prevent gnat in potted plants . It was surprising to see that many of them did not thing so as seen in the poll below .
Do self-watering pots cause gnats?
ego - watering pots will not cause gnats because it works like to bottom watering . There is a man-made lake at the bottom of the pot that separates the potting soil from the water . The roots wick up wet from the reservoir .
You should control that the potting ground is not stupefy too moist when using a ego - watering pot that can attract gnats .
There is also a hazard that the stagnant water could provide prolific ground for mosquito to lie their nut . When done properly , however , these risks should be fairly low .
How do I get rid of gnats in my potted plants?
If you have ascertain gnats in your corporation plants , you need to take action urgently . If you give them time to get lay down , they can do a lot of legal injury . There are a few fashion that you could get disembarrass of these pests . Here are some method acting that you could test .
1. Use hydrogen peroxide
Here , you will require to check that that you get three per centum H hydrogen peroxide . Mix this with four region of water . From there , you will spray it on the gnat . The mixture will pop them forthwith . It will also be effective against the larva of the gnat , stopping them from regurgitate .
We should note that when you utilise it to the soil , you might hear some fizzing . This is normal and is to be expected . It wo n’t damage the industrial plant and the mix will shortly be converted back to piss and hydrogen .
2. Get some sticky traps
This is a very uncomplicated room of catching the gnats . All you want to do is position the traps around the plant life correctly . Then , the gnat will land on them and they can not vaporize away again . You should be able-bodied to happen these traps at most supermarket . Or you may make your own . You just require tofollow these simple-minded step :
3. You can use dish soap
Another option that you could use isdish soap . It will also sour with dishwashing liquid . You ’ll require to thin some of this into your water to shape a spray . You might need to practice a solution of one part of dish soap to three part water . You ’ll require to spray this onto the plants .
gnat are pull to moist soil , so bottom lachrymation can definitely help forestall gnats . Bottom lachrymation is an efficient way to keep yourself from overwatering your plants , and overwatering is what causes the top bed of soil to stay moist for extended periods of time and thus attract gnats . – Jeremy Yamaguchi , CEO , Lawn Love
4. Consider using neem oil spray
This is aneffective raw pesticide , which is good for plants . But it will be deadly to gnats . You ’ll need to spray the leaves . ensure that you are spray the soil , where the larvae will endure .
This spray might take a little longer to be effective . You might ask to keep re - applying it every few twenty-four hours until you see the infection come under control .
5. Check out mosquito bits
While they are mostly used for mosquito , they have alsoproven to be utilitarian for stopping gnat . This is very gentle to apply . You just ask to put it on the soil . Then , as you water , the chemical will be release , belt down the larvae .
6. Make use of beneficial nematodes
you may also use beneficial nematode . These are insect that can be added to the land . They are harmless to plant and wo n’t affect beneficial insects like worms . But they will attack gnats , corrode the larvae . They also protect flora from things likecaterpillars and rootworms .
7. Remove infested potting soil
in conclusion , sometimes , the infection might be too advanced for you to control . Here , you might need to dispatch the soil . As you are doing this , you will need to remove the plant , wash the roots .
You then have two pick . You cancook the ground . If you put it in the oven for around three minute at a temperature of over 120 degrees Fahrenheit . This will kill the gnats and any other insects that are present in the soil . Or you’re able to replace the soil alone , choose to start from scratch .
How to prevent gnats in houseplants?
It ’s often easiest to prevent gnats from infecting your soil . There are a few ways that you may do this .
1. Avoid overwatering the potting soil
The good means to stop gnat is by deny them the conditions they need to thrive . The bestway to do this is by stopping overwatering , which creates wet topsoil , idealistic for gnat larvae . Here are a few top you may use to give the right amount of water :
2. Make use of a neem oil spray as prevention
you may use neem oil to stop an infection . But it can also foreclose infection . All you ask to do is spray once per week .
3. Use top dressing or mulching
Using the right type of mulch will give your plant life the nutrient they postulate while protecting them from a gnat invasion .
Thethick layer of mulchwill be too much for the gnats to get through , end them from laying their eggs . Some of the best alternative are inorganic mulches , likepea gravel .
4. Keep an infested plant in isolation
If you notice a gnat transmission , it ’s important to act rapidly . As a result , isolate the infected plant , putting it in a separate room .
If you do this fast , you will stop the gnat contagion from circularise . From there , you ’ll be able-bodied to focalise on become disembarrass of the pesterer . It ’s a lot easier to treat one flora than it is to push multiple infections .
Fact check , Written , and Published by Kevin Rodrigues
Kevin is the laminitis of Gardening Mentor , a internet site that direct to teach the great unwashed to grow their own food in a limited space . As a self - taught nurseryman , Kevin has spend several days spring up industrial plant and creating horticulture content on the internet site . He is attest in Home Horticulture and Organic Gardening from Oregon State University . He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening from Mumbai University . Read more
