How to get rid of gnats in indoor plants: 6 folk remedies and the necessary chemicals
We explain which midges can settle on indoor flowers, how to spot an infestation in time, and provide a selection of effective pest control methods.
Indoor flower beds require no less care than outdoor flower beds. Throughout the year, flower growers take care of their plants to ensure lush blooms or beautiful decorative foliage. The appearance of small flying insects can be an extremely unpleasant surprise. Let’s take a look at how dangerous they are and how to get rid of gnats in indoor flowers and plants.
How to get rid of gnats in flowers
What kind of gnats live on indoor plants
To an inexperienced gardener, the small creatures crawling around plants may seem identical, but in reality, this is not the case. Various flying insects settle in the moist and warm root layer of flowers. Let’s briefly describe those that attack plants more often than others.
- Sciara, also known as fungus gnats. These are small black flies that live in moist, nutritious substrate. Females lay their eggs in this substrate. After a while, larvae emerge from the eggs, which need a lot of food. They feed on organic matter found in the soil mixture. When there is a lack of food, they begin to eat the roots of the plant. As a result, the plant becomes nutrient-deficient, becomes diseased, and may die. Sciarid flies prefer to settle on all types of ficus, azaleas, aloe, etc.
- Whitefly. Small light-colored flies with wings covered in white pollen. Adult size is no more than 0.1 inches (3 mm). They settle on the underside of the leaf plate, where they lay their eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae that feed on plant cell sap. The leaves turn yellow, curl up, and dry out. Whiteflies live on any plant, but prefer varieties with large, fleshy leaves, such as begonias, fuchsias, etc.
- Springtails, also known as collembola. These insects are wingless, but many people believe that they can fly. They are not capable of flying, but they can jump far and high enough. Springtails settle in moist substrate and lay their eggs there. The voracious larvae feed on plant roots. If there are many insects, the root system suffers greatly, and the bush may die. Springtails spread quickly, easily jumping to neighboring plants.
What kind of gnats live on indoor plants | ShutterStock
Is it necessary to combat them?
Flower flies are considered pests, but adult specimens do not pose a threat to plants. Instead, they are unpleasant to humans when they swarm around green bushes. Even voracious larvae do not always harm flowers. At first, when the population is small, they “eat” the rotten remains in the soil mixture. They can even “clean” the rotting underground part of the root, cutting and removing rot from the diseased root. At this stage, the larvae are even beneficial. As the population increases, the amount of food available decreases sharply, and they begin to feed on healthy root shoots and sometimes on buds near the ground. At this stage, it is imperative to fight them; otherwise, the plant may die.
How indoor flowers become infected
There are not many ways for indoor plants to become infected, so let’s list them all.
- Infected soil. Purchased substrate may be infested with pest larvae. They are tiny and invisible to the naked eye.
- Infected plants. Insect pests can be transferred from nearby infected bushes. Plants purchased in stores are especially often affected by gnats. They should not be placed near “home” flowers right away.
- Transfer from the street. If there are no protective screens on ventilation shafts and windows, there is a high risk that insects will enter the house and settle in flower pots.
If pests have somehow entered the apartment, warm, excessively humid conditions should be considered favorable to them. Overwatering the soil in the pot encourages gnats to settle there. Also, please pay attention to the pot’s size and the flower’s size. If the container is too large, the root system cannot fill it. This creates a constantly wet “empty” zone at the bottom of the container, which is very attractive to insects.
How to get rid of gnats in flowers | Unsplash
Signs of infestation
Gnat larvae are tiny and difficult to spot. It is essential to know that a small swarm hovering over a plant indicates that the situation is already dire. It is easier to get rid of pests at an early stage, when there are few of them yet, and the bush has not suffered significant damage. To avoid missing the early stages of infection, regularly inspect your home flower garden for the following signs.
- The quality of the soil mixture in the pot has changed. It has compacted into a hard lump or crumpled into sand.
- The color of the substrate changes. It fades to a grayish tint.
- The bush looks sick—it has lost its turgor, the leaves are limp, and the buds are falling off. At the same time, there are no signs of any disease.
- A whitish coating appears on the shoots and leaf plates.
If one or two of the above signs are noticed during inspection, there is a high risk of insect infestation. If all signs are present, it must be acknowledged that gnats have infested the flower, and consideration should be given to how to get rid of them.
Signs of infestation | Unsplash
How to get rid of gnats in houseplants
We have compiled a selection of the most effective remedies for treating indoor plants against gnats.
How to get rid of gnats in flowers using folk remedies
It is easiest to remove pests at the initial stage of infestation, when there are not so many of them yet. Non-toxic folk remedies can help here.
Drying
Isolate the affected flower from the rest of the flower bed. Stop watering until the substrate dries out to a depth of 1.2-1.6 inches (3-4 cm). All the larvae living there will die, and the insects will not lay eggs in dry soil.
Mechanical cleaning
This is especially effective against whiteflies on flowers. Remove the brush from the vacuum cleaner, set it to minimum power, and turn the appliance on. Bring the tube a short distance to the foliage and carefully remove the flies and larvae from it. After cleaning, take the vacuum cleaner outside and thoroughly clean it.
Trap
To catch flies, use special adhesive tape sold in stores, or make your own traps. To do this, coat the cardboard with honey or jam. Could you place the trap strips near the flower so that the flies flying around it stick to the paper? This way, you can catch most of the adult flies. The tape, especially homemade tape, needs to be replaced regularly as the sticky side dries out. Tip. Leave the traps in place for a long time to catch individuals that will emerge from the larvae remaining in the ground.
How to get rid of gnats in houseplants | ShutterStock
Transplanting
The infection is found in the top layer of the soil mixture, so it must be removed. The easiest way is to transplant the bush. It is removed from the soil, the roots are cleaned as thoroughly as possible, and washed with a pink potassium permanganate solution. The infected substrate is discarded, and the pot is thoroughly disinfected. Fill with fresh soil and plant the bush. If, for some reason, transplanting is undesirable or impossible, it is best to replace the top layer of soil.
Bay leaf
Insects dislike the aroma of this spice. To combat them, take half of the leaves and stick them into the substrate at a short distance. You can do it differently. Grind the leaves into a fine powder and sprinkle them generously over the soil.
Garlic
Take a medium-sized head of garlic, peel and chop it. Pour 20 fl oz (600 ml) of boiling water over it, stir, and leave to infuse for 4 hours. Then strain, spray the plant generously, and pour over the substrate. The garlic cloves are worked into the soil.
Garlic | Unsplash
Chemical preparations
The most effective way to get rid of black and white flies in flowers is to use insecticides. These are special chemicals designed to destroy insects. They are toxic, so they should be used only in cases of severe infestation. Preparations are available as granules, liquids, or sprays. The packaging must indicate the method of application and dosage. So that you know, these must be strictly adhered to.
Raid and similar products are effective against pests. The chemicals are applied according to the following procedure. Do not water the plant for two to three days before treatment to dry out the soil mixture. Prepare the product according to the instructions, apply it to the soil, loosen it, and apply it again. After that, cover the bush with plastic wrap for 3-5 hours. Then remove the cover and ventilate the plant.
Chemical preparations | ShutterStock
Prevention of pests
Proper plant care is considered the best way to prevent flies. Before you start, please drill holes in the flower pot for excess water drainage and lay a layer of drainage material. It is essential to water the flowers correctly and avoid overwatering. The soil mixture should be loosened after watering to ensure sufficient air exchange for the roots. Fallen leaves or flowers should be removed immediately to prevent a nutrient base for pests. New plants must be quarantined away from other flowers to avoid infection. Isolation should last at least 2-2.5 weeks.
❓ Questions and answers
Are natural home remedies enough to get rid of gnats?
Often, yes — especially in early infestations. Letting the soil dry out, using sticky or vinegar-soap traps to catch adults, and applying a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution to the soil can significantly reduce both larval and adult populations.
Adding a thin layer of sand or small pebbles on top of the soil can also deter gnats from laying eggs.
When should I use chemical or “stronger” treatments instead of home remedies?
If the infestation is severe — for example, if you see many adults flying repeatedly, or plant health is deteriorating (wilting, yellowing, root damage) — home remedies alone may not suffice. Then, using insecticides or soil drenches (per instructions) may become necessary.
How can I prevent gnats from coming back after treatment?
Good prevention practices include not overwatering (allow soil to dry somewhat between waterings), improving air circulation around plants, and checking purchased soil or new plants carefully before bringing them indoors — pests often arrive with new soil or plants.
Are there methods that are both practical and safe for pets/kids when dealing with gnats?
Yes — natural methods like sticky traps, sand barriers, vinegar traps, and diluted hydrogen peroxide are generally safe when used correctly. For chemical treatments, always follow the label instructions carefully and avoid using them near pets or children.
Sofia Lorenson: An expert in floriculture and floristry with 10 years of experience. I will help you create the garden of your dreams, which will bloom from spring to fall.
