How to Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats in Your Houseplants

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  • Опубліковано 27 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 130

  • @jackiegoodrich1351
    @jackiegoodrich1351 5 місяців тому +2

    Hi! I hung bug zapper lites near my plants for about 2 months! I smiled with every zap, crack & pop! Took them down when the zaps stopped..about 2 months, & no more gnats for over a year now! Good Luck! Rev. J. 😊

  • @yousorin
    @yousorin 2 роки тому +38

    I have been in a war with these gnats for a long time, but finally got rid of them completely :)
    I used an air humidifier/diffuser, put three to five drops of tea tree essential oil in it, and let it run for a whole 8 hours. I repeated this process a couple of times within the next few weeks and now I am proud to say that I won this war. They are all gone! If I happen to bring home more of these when I buy new plants or soil, I just give them the same treatment and they dissappear.

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  2 роки тому +1

      Sounds interesting, not heard of that remedy before.

    • @SuperCaliforniaBarbi
      @SuperCaliforniaBarbi Рік тому +3

      Will try because at this point I'm ready to throw them away

    • @jeremiahbullfrog9288
      @jeremiahbullfrog9288 Рік тому +2

      @@SuperCaliforniaBarbi Did you try the tea tree oil humidifier? How did it work out?

  • @jeanniechristy3885
    @jeanniechristy3885 2 роки тому +14

    I absolutely love your channel. Came across it a few weeks ago. I love the no fuss, straight to the point, simplicity that you bring. You don’t over talk the subject Or act cutesy and trying to put on a show. Just simple information and I like that you are being yourself. The information is easy to take in. Also cracks me up the way you say the word plants.

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  2 роки тому +3

      Thanks Jeannie 😁 Lots of people comment on how I say plaaant 😬

    • @Pp7450-n5u
      @Pp7450-n5u 2 роки тому +2

      I want to hear him say potato.. Lol

  • @SophieBrown-ci2vu
    @SophieBrown-ci2vu Рік тому +3

    love this site thanks for teaching me so much. I got the gnat when I went on holidays and watered to much. I am almost over it what I did learns is:
    1. the yellow sticky items helps attract the flies so they can reproduce ...yeah
    2. bottom watering
    3. water from the top with water and hydrogen peroxide
    4. the other name for fungus gnats are drain gnats so I did the trick of putting baking soda in the drain and pour applecider over it and put the plug in it kills the larve in the drain
    5. sprinkle cinnamon on the soil
    6. remove fruit from your counter and compost make sure is covered by a good lid and removed from your kitchen often so you don't have fruit flies at the same time making you crazy

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +1

      Thank you for your tips. Tip 6 I think you are mixing up gnats with fruit flies though. Gnats never fly far from the pot. They are very weak flyers 😁

    • @SophieBrown-ci2vu
      @SophieBrown-ci2vu Рік тому +1

      @@SheffieldMadePlants good to know obviously I was dealing with 2 problems....and if they don't fly far from the pot does having lots of plants together help make a small problem bigger just wondering, I have a small house and lots of plants maybe I should get a fan

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +1

      @@SophieBrown-ci2vu yes they are more likely to spread that way unfortunately. They’re so annoying.

    • @wilmaw1190
      @wilmaw1190 Рік тому +1

      I’m sorry but I have to agree with Sophie Brown, I live in Australia and have the exact same problem with gnats hovering around my kitchen sink area, particularly when I leave a draining Enjo glove . I’ve actually disturbed them from the glove when picking it up and identified and killed them. Definitely gnats. My kitchen is in close proximity to my plants. I have the same issue in my ensuite where they are often flying from the drains in the shower and basin when I turn the tap on as I have a parlour palm in there. This is probably a bit naughty near the plants, but I sometimes just get the good old fly spray and spray around the room if I get too many. Thanks for your great videos 😊

  • @VoidloniXaarii
    @VoidloniXaarii 5 місяців тому +1

    Thank you for your generosity. This vid feels way more stiff than your recent ones which actually feel somehow funny-chill so also big congrats on your improvements

  • @shannalane8349
    @shannalane8349 7 місяців тому +6

    Actually fungus gnats can fly further than your plant as has been my experience. 😩

  • @leehawke4165
    @leehawke4165 Рік тому +3

    I've got a few sundew plants positioned next to any plant that may be infected by these fungus gnats. Great to watch the sundew plants catch and devour these annoying critters 😊

  • @AllyM-r3b
    @AllyM-r3b Рік тому +2

    These were doing my head in. I went the nematode route (bought from dragonfli) - it has been very successful! I only have about 25 plants so was able to use the smallest packet which cost £11. I also used the infestation of gnats as an excuse to buy a new plant - a Sundew carnivorous plant. It is very satisfying to see the Sundew catching gnats.

  • @hoofhearted1102
    @hoofhearted1102 Рік тому +2

    I’ve just watched a video of a chap that uses neem cake powder mixed with water to put in the soil and has worked well for him and acts as a littler fertiliser for the plant 🤷‍♂️ I will give it a go.

  • @maccoll3644
    @maccoll3644 Рік тому +1

    I tried various things in the past, but the best results came when I lost my patience and just sprayed the soil around the plants with household fly spray. Now I always open new bags of compost outside, decant it and spray the whole lot with fly spray, leave it until I know the flies are finished and then use it indoors.

  • @sharonroten4525
    @sharonroten4525 11 місяців тому +1

    I have never done what I am about to tell you ... yet. But, my grandmother would put her potting soil in a pot she used just for it with enough water to cover the soil and boil the dickens out of it...lol. After she let it cool over night, she would then pot her plants. No bugs in that soil!

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  11 місяців тому +1

      Interesting approach. I’ve heard of baking it in the oven

  • @Boutys_mom
    @Boutys_mom Рік тому +4

    Those particular 'sticky traps' are super sticky and work great! The only down side ...and I don't know WHY... but my cat is obsessed with "smelling" the thing and I always find a swatch of fur on one of the sticky sides! PS Great video sir, as usual!

  • @missj9908
    @missj9908 2 роки тому +5

    Those yellow stickers really work !! Good advice

  • @marilyncoffen126
    @marilyncoffen126 Рік тому +2

    Lightly sprayed the soil as well as the outside of my pot plants on discovering fungus gnats with a mixture of vinegar and water, check it every day and not one single fungus gnat has been seen. Did this a month ago. And the plants are thriving with no sign of decaying or dying off.

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +2

      Thanks for the tip

    • @marilyncoffen126
      @marilyncoffen126 Рік тому +1

      Always a great pleasure!

    • @marknightingale5674
      @marknightingale5674 5 місяців тому

      Hi hello. How much vinegar to water did you use? And I assume it’s white vinegar. Thanks

    • @marilyncoffen126
      @marilyncoffen126 5 місяців тому +1

      Hello Mark, yes, ordinary white vinegar and water but more water than vinegar cause I wasn't sure if too much vinegar might affect the soil. Used more water than vinegar. Unfortunately I can't give an exact ratio as I'm bad at maths and measurements so unfortunately I can't give an exact ratio as I've heard people speak about ratios. Hope you win the war against them Mark!

  • @Nitasha1988
    @Nitasha1988 Рік тому +1

    Going to get some sticky traps, found a couple fruit fly looking things in my soil today when checking if anyone needed water lol thank you for always helping! You have a video on everything nearly 🌹🌿🌷 i refuse to let anything die 😂

  • @ChessieChess
    @ChessieChess Рік тому +6

    H2O2 and yellow sticky traps are the only things that work for me. I always water with 1 part H2O2, 4 parts water. This kills the eggs. And I have read that the H2O2 is good for the roots. But you have to be patient! It can take a month or two because they have life cycles. But the H2O2 works every time.

  • @AvastYourAssss
    @AvastYourAssss 2 роки тому +4

    I had these gnats I believe come from a monsterra plant I bought from Wilko's. I didn't have anything like this prior. It has ruined my monsterra plant...
    On top of this issue, there was a small webbing area under where the roots were, a spider that had a protruding abdomen (almost bulbous and shiny-like, with speckles of red and lightly coloured browns and orange) was hiding beneath the soil, but not above like normal spiders behave. I have it in a terrarium, it hides in soil and almost blends into it, I think it's a defense mechanism, almost camouflaging. I wasn't sure if anyone knew this type of spider by my description alone - or if it was a culprit to my monsterra's rapid health decline.
    Also a tip I've had people say to stop these gnats, put horticulture rocks and stones above the soil, about 2cm deep so the adult gnats cannot bury. And try to bottom feed your plants to avoid over watering as they love humid/damp soil.
    (Make sure to water on top of the soil every so often to flush out the bad stuff plants don't need/the soil needs to dispel of once in a while, and use a chopstick or a similar tool to break up the damp dirt on top so it doesn't accumulate too much moisture on the surface if you stick to watering above as usual but face the gnats).

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  2 роки тому +3

      They’re a real pain. If you’ve got webbing then check for spider mites. Is there blotching on the leaves? I tried adding perlite on top of the soil and it didn’t do much. I bottom water to keep the top inches dry and seems to help. Other than that cinnamon is good that I have learned of recently!

    • @smievil
      @smievil Рік тому

      maybe a labyrinth spider, think they can live in tunnels or make their own web tunnels

  • @platinakuka
    @platinakuka Рік тому +4

    Yeah, I had issue with these guys a few years ago. 😂
    Luckily, they couldn't move into the another room, and into pots which were a few meters away.
    At first I didn't realize what are they, I thought they are the fruit flies (okay it could be suspicious because the plants were the only living thing in that apartment, no resident inside), but later I was kinda surprised 😮
    I let the soil to completely dry out, hoping that every plants will survive (3,5 weeks) and then watered with Mospilan three times maybe. They gone.
    And they came into the house with good quality (at least the brand is a good one in Hungary) soil mix.

  • @wilhelminaulry4663
    @wilhelminaulry4663 Рік тому +1

    Got the yellow sticky flowers and my hats are almost gone. I think. I use all your suggestion. Great help. Be well

  • @lazyoctopus6183
    @lazyoctopus6183 Рік тому +2

    I love my plants but my poor intuition when it comes to watering keeps causing them harm. So now I am dealing with multiple issues but after watching your videos I feel a little more confident in my ability to restore and care for my leafy children. I actually bought a couple of items your recommend. But I do wonder about one thing, is there a significant difference in quality of perlite available out there? Some is on the expensive side, some on the cheaper. Don't want to make costly mistake of buying cheaper and having poor results, but also don't want to throw money on the expensive brands if there's no difference.

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +1

      I don’t think there is. You can buy it in different grain sizes but that’s it. I buy bulk and it works out quite cheap. Like 100 litres

  • @tobiaswegner2725
    @tobiaswegner2725 Рік тому +1

    This video is rather old but i still react to the shoutout. Maybe it helps someone out there. I had two severe infections with all my plants at a level where you could not sit for 5 min without one of these flies landing on you. I kept replacing the stickers on a daily basis because they where already black and could not keep more insects on them.
    I bought some nematodes and they are wonderful! They take a while to actually take effect because they attack the larvae. So you have to wait a full lifecycle until you notice less flies. But until then (roughly 1-2 weeks) all the flies are suddenly gone. Nematodes are such ridiculously effective and sturdy animals, they will linger around in your soil for quite a while and feed on any newcomers as long as you keep the soil moist (which you should anyway for your plants). I haven't seen them in half a year. And they are not as expensive as claimed. You can buy like 6 mio for 12 sqr meters of soil for less than 10€.

  • @wilmaw1190
    @wilmaw1190 Рік тому +10

    I have been on a quest for the past 2 years to find the best way to rid my home of these dreadful little beasts and I have used pretty much every known remedy, including all those listed. There are only 2 things that have brought success although, sadly, I don’t think you can ever completely get rid of them unless you have a very small number of indoor plants. You can however keep them to a bare minimum. The first item are the yellow sticky inserts, they are great for the adults that have managed to hatch. The second is a product called Tanlin Drops. Available in Australia, not sure if they are available OS. Prior to finding these, I tried to obtain an American product called mosquito bits that were getting great results, but our regulations here in Aus are ridiculous and they can’t be imported in. So I did some homework on ingredients and that’s how I found these. You mix only one drop to 2 litres of water. They’re not cheap initially, $40AUD per bottle, but they go a long way. Apparently they are widely used within the hydroponics gardening realm which is interesting as they aren’t using soil. These little buggers just love moisture! The drops absorb into the soil and the larvae are supposed to self implode when they consume it 😅. Stopping the life cycle before they hatch. If you have a room with many plants this will take some time as they’re all breeding at different stages. They recommend using it every 2 weeks initially. This of course means you can’t water from the saucer or bottom of the plant as suggested, but once you get some good control, you could reintroduce base watering and perhaps use the drops every other time. I truly hope this helps you all…..hey, anything and everything is worth a try 😊

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +5

      Thank you for the recommendation. I’ve just ordered some 😁

    • @wilmaw1190
      @wilmaw1190 Рік тому +2

      Haha that’s great! I hope you have the same success 😃. Good to know you can get them in the UK 👍🏼

    • @barbaraowens2299
      @barbaraowens2299 Рік тому +1

      I just ordered some. I have a serious gnat problem. I'm using sticky traps. Hydrogen peroxide had no effect on them. I bought mosquito bits but haven't used them since I found out it causes mold. You're right it's not cheap. Hopefully they work for me.

    • @wilmaw1190
      @wilmaw1190 Рік тому +1

      @@barbaraowens2299 I wish you all the best with them. Wow, interesting to hear about the mosquito bits causing mould 🤔. As mentioned you can’t get them in Aus, I had just read a lot of success stories about them from US sites. Persevere with the drops and sticky traps and hopefully they’ll work as well for you as they have for me 😊.

    • @barbaraowens2299
      @barbaraowens2299 Рік тому

      @@wilmaw1190 I hope they work. Exterminator recommended I spray weekly to help control them or get rid of the plants. He didn't know of a product to eliminate them.

  • @SuperCaliforniaBarbi
    @SuperCaliforniaBarbi Рік тому +1

    I even took the plants outside and replaced the soil, being sure to rinse the roots before potting. It lessened the issue but didn't completely resolve it. I live in dry Arizona.

  • @AntoineOliver-e5j
    @AntoineOliver-e5j 3 місяці тому +1

    Thanks a lot | Merci beaucoup

  • @dreamermrcds6204
    @dreamermrcds6204 Рік тому +2

    Oh no! I bought some Fungus Gnats from Ikea.
    Thank you very much for the video.
    Have you try Cabbage Collars? I know it will not be suitable for many house plats (more stems more difficult to fit). You could cut them yourself and make perfect size and shape for each pot.

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +1

      I've not heard of them. Does it work for gnats?

    • @dreamermrcds6204
      @dreamermrcds6204 Рік тому +1

      @@SheffieldMadePlants I really don't know.
      It's mostly to stop infecting to other plants since the perlite it is too permeable.

  • @JQueen-ul5eh
    @JQueen-ul5eh Рік тому +4

    I can tell you're super annoyed with those gnats 😂 Thank you for the video, very helpful.

  • @tamaramccrae2798
    @tamaramccrae2798 Рік тому +1

    Love your Channel by the way🎉

  • @kino7539
    @kino7539 Рік тому +1

    I came here to say that this title is hilarious, 😂😂😂 but not really as I’m going through it. Screaming at them daily in a bloody war of slapping at the air in a fury

  • @SillySeamstress
    @SillySeamstress Рік тому +3

    There is another way that fungus gnats can come in uninvited; in the potting soil!! My house is full of plants, and I haven't had a problem until it was time to divide and report my plants. I bought a bag of Black Gold, which has historically been a very high quality soil. It came loaded with eggs. Just days after repotting, I had gnats all over the house. The bag of soil is still mostly full. I have it wrapped up so it can't cause further damage. I'm considering putting it on a pan and baking those bugs . They are a menace!!

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +2

      That’s a nightmare 😬

    • @maccoll3644
      @maccoll3644 Рік тому

      Exact same thing happened to me from a bag of highly infected soil. I ended up putting it in a wide, shallow container outside and spraying it with household fly spray. It worked well and now I always do this with new compost. The inclusion of slivers of wood into compost in the last few years has caused this huge problem with fungus gnats, in my opinion. I never had seen or heard of them until last year in all of my plant-loving life.

  • @1957Bevy
    @1957Bevy Рік тому +1

    I sprinkle cinnamon on around the soil, use the yellow sticky things and I read that you can add a little hydrogen peroxide in the water to water your plants with. I also got the meter like yours. I see a major improvement but not totally gone.

  • @AmazonAddiction
    @AmazonAddiction Рік тому +1

    Hi, love ur vids! How do I find your updated video on this topic?
    Thanks ❤

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +1

      Thanks! I've not really got one...

    • @AmazonAddiction
      @AmazonAddiction Рік тому +1

      I couldn't sworn I recently watched a video of your with a 3 step process...Mosquito bits, dunks & sticky traps..

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +2

      @@AmazonAddiction not me. I can’t get dunks or bits

  • @George1789
    @George1789 Рік тому +2

    Would re potting help? I’ve got them on just one plant so far and It needs re posting anyway so I was wondering if that would help control them too

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +2

      Yes getting rid of the soil will help as long as the new soil is free of them

  • @grandmajane2593
    @grandmajane2593 4 місяці тому +1

    Is the green plant on your right, not the Peace Lily, a Ficus Altissima? I have a plant I grew from a small stalk and I'm trying to idenify it. The plant you have looks like it, although mine has larger elongated green leaves. Yes I'm going crazy with these gnats. To make the problem worse I live across the street from a big garbage dumpster. I ordered some of those yellow papers for the plants from Amazon. (I'm in the USA)

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  4 місяці тому +2

      Just a normal ficus elastica

    • @grandmajane2593
      @grandmajane2593 4 місяці тому +1

      @@SheffieldMadePlants - Thank you so much, that is probably what mine is. I love it. It's growing like crazy and it's leaves are so green and pretty.. I rescued it from a dying bouqet of purchased flowers and it came back from almost dead..

  • @4mymetc4lf
    @4mymetc4lf Рік тому +1

    Have you never found/heard of nematodes? Little micro organisms you water into the soil. They kill the larvae/eggs in the soil, combine with sticky traps for adults - boom! I always wipe them out.... until I bring in another house plant that's infested that is ;-) I have just started watching channel and was interested in your take on the little blighters.

  • @francissomadaly4043
    @francissomadaly4043 Рік тому +1

    I've seen lots of youtubers messing with Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2); basically, water with an extra oxygen atom. The best advice I've had is to get the standard 3% concentration and mix it 1 part water and and 1 part Hydrogen Peroxide 50:50 It works miracles. That in tandem with the sticky yellow butterflies is fab. The down side of H2O2 is that it also murders beneficial microorganisms in the soil. It seems that a lot of the commercial potting soil also has mycorrhizal fungi added, which attracts fungus gnats, Peroxide will kill the gnats, the eggs, the pupae and the larvae BUT remember there are all sorts of these bacteria floating around and you will soon see recolonisation (well you won't because they're too small, but you get my drift 😅). Anyway, we're only mimicking nature because rain does the same thing. Remember as Mr. Sheffield points out they're very weak flyers so they aint gonna come calling like other happy wandering flies. You really only introduce them with other plants 🪴 or infected soil😊. So follow the wise precautions of checking and double checking then whilst the new plant is quarantined drench the soil with the potion. It works.

  • @magau3698
    @magau3698 5 місяців тому +1

    If a plant is badly infested.. would just propagating, start from scratch and instead of soil just keep them in water, suffice??

  • @zamisingh2594
    @zamisingh2594 2 роки тому +1

    I have seen Advice using Neem oil
    I am trying and hoping that this will help

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  2 роки тому +1

      I’ve heard good things too. Let me know how you get on. Also try pure cinnamon. I’ve got a video on that

    • @wilmaw1190
      @wilmaw1190 Рік тому +1

      I have had limited success with neem oil and nil success with cinnamon. I swear by a product called Tanlin Drops. Not sure if it’s available outside of Australia though. Apparently used a lot for hydroponics. The drops absorb into the soil and the larvae are supposed to self implode when they consume it 😅

  • @sjain8111
    @sjain8111 Рік тому +1

    I’ve put a clear plastic bag over the plants, shake a bit until gnats fly up into bag and take outdoors, does reduce their population

  • @beangarden
    @beangarden 2 роки тому +5

    Hydrogen peroxide, cinnamon, bottom watering and traps have helped reduce the gnats

  • @sherrydavis6293
    @sherrydavis6293 Рік тому +1

    I've been fighting these little beggars for months now. I have been using Fungus Gnat and Larvae killer along with the yellow stickers, but having limited success. Some of the yellow stickers are getting full of the flies, but they are spreading to areas where I do not have any houseplants. l mainly have orchids and Christmas Cactus plants and pouring the mixture into the orchids just drains straight through so I do not know if it is working, also does the orchid bark act as a barrier, a bit like perlite?

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  Рік тому +1

      I’m not sure it does. They still get in. Have you tried cinnamon powder on top of the soil?

    • @smievil
      @smievil Рік тому

      can't you submerge the pots in water, or bottom water the orchids?

  • @jacobfreeman3461
    @jacobfreeman3461 2 роки тому +1

    i heard that putting a thin layer of tobacco on the top of your soil works, like you i tried everything and spent a fortune and they work like a doctor treats you so you keep coming back for more. I will first try it on a couple plants that i really dont care if they die and if it works ill try it on all the plants and then see if that works. a 1lb bag of pipe tobacco is only 20 dollars and will do all the plants in my house. most my plants have very dry soil all the time because they are cacti. and still they have fungal gnats, i dont think how dry the soil is matters to these little buggers.

    • @SheffieldMadePlants
      @SheffieldMadePlants  2 роки тому

      Not heard about adding tobacco before but sounds interesting. I might trial it on a couple of plants that seem to always get gnats. I don’t think you can ever really get rid of them entirely.

  • @worldgonemad1977
    @worldgonemad1977 2 роки тому +2

    I tried these but landed up tearing bits of leaves off my plants when they touched the stickers which can happen very easily🙁

  • @bookmouse2719
    @bookmouse2719 Рік тому +2

    I used cinnamon in the soil and trying to bottom water, I still see some around. It is a war. 😭

  • @eljel44455
    @eljel44455 11 місяців тому +1

    I'm dealing with these damn gnats..getting artificial greens from now on !!!

  • @littleroxie315
    @littleroxie315 Рік тому +1

    Water with neem cake tea

  • @tamaramccrae2798
    @tamaramccrae2798 Рік тому +1

    Have you tried Mosquito bits.? I seen on youtube you make a strong tea and run through your soil don’t mark my words def research . I haven’t tried it yet~~ the video seems believable just looking for something to kill these annoying things. They’re eating all my new baby succulents their roots ahhhhh😢

  • @stuartwells4133
    @stuartwells4133 Рік тому +1

    Only a few days ago I noticed Fungus Gnats on my young Monstera Deliciosa 🪴 I was unsure were they came from considering I’ve had the windows shut and haven’t left the front door open. But I think I now know where they have come from 🤔💭 last Wednesday I went to a shop and bought a large bag of Peat the bag was kept on the sitting floor about 1 foot away from my Monstera yet unopened but the bag has air holes 😳. Have I unintentionally brought them into my home when I purchased the bag of Peat. I have ordered some Hydrogen Pro-oxide off of EBay yesterday and have this morning gave my Monstera a wash. If I start to see them in the other room where I have moved the Peat to then I will know…..