Pour apple cider vinegar into a cup or glass and mix in a few drops of dish soap. Cover it with tape or cheesecloth, leaving holes large enough for the bugs to get to it. The scent will attract the bugs and they sip the solution and drown.
The easiest way to get rid of gnats and to prevent further infestation is simple detergent - plain, old-fashioned dish detergent or liquid hand soap. Mix one large drop of detergent into each gallon of fertilizer water each time you fertilize, and water your plants with it normally.
Homemade gnat killer spray: A mixture of half a cup of water, half a cup of isopropyl alcohol, and a teaspoon of dish liquid can be filled in a spray bottle. This mixture can be sprayed on the gnats directly to kill them.
Hydrogen Peroxide Solution: Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with four parts water and use it to water your plants. This can kill larvae in the soil without harming the plants. Insecticidal Soap: Apply insecticidal soap to the soil and leaves to help control adult gnats and their larvae.
One surefire way to get rid of them is using Vinegar. It is an effective method for controlling gnats in indoor plants. In addition to sticky traps, this is another effective strategy. A simple solution is to fill a shallow basin with vinegar and add a few drops of dish soap. And place it beside your plant.
You just need to use a few drops of dish soap and a table spoon of vinegar for each cup of water. With this these destructive gnats will parish with just a few spritz of your new chemical weapon. The best part is that you don't have to worry about this solution harming your indoor plants.
Vinegar is a contact herbicide, so you can unintentionally kill plants in your garden if you accidentally spray them with vinegar.
Don't overwater your plants. Fungus gnats lay their eggs in the top inch of moist soil around the plant. Reducing excess moisture can hinder the eggs from developing into larvae.
With all that in mind, the EPA says that hydrogen peroxide in low doses is indeed safe for plants. The caveat is of course, in the concentration. Too much can damage plants.
Does Cinnamon Keep Fungus Gnats Away? No—but the idea that cinnamon could provide a natural method for controlling fungus gnats has some basis in reality. "Unfortunately, you can't count on cinnamon on or in the potting mix to help control fungus gnats," Hancock says.
The only way to get rid of gnats without killing them is to repel them with scents they don't like: vinegar, vanilla, pine oil, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, and lavender. Even dryer sheets could help. Of course, the first line of duty would be to get rid of the infestation's root cause.
Simply cover your potting mix with a small layer of sand and you are good to go. This creates a barrier that the gnats cannot get through. If they can't lay the eggs, they can create an infestation.
Coffee grind is great at removing gnat infestations. Dry the grind thoroughly – this will prevent mould from forming – and spread it over the potting soil. A thin layer will keep the female gnats from laying their eggs. Additionally, the coffee can fertilise your plants.
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide and four parts water. Use this solution to water your plants. Hydrogen peroxide will kill the gnat larvae without injuring your plant. Keep reapplying weekly until you notice the gnats are gone.
In addition to seeing adult gnats flying around, you may see symptoms of this infestation in your plants, including sudden wilting, loss of vigor, poor growth, and yellowing. Any plant is a target, but African violets, geraniums, carnations, cyclamens, and poinsettias are especially prone to attack.
Prevent Fungal Disease
MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.
To get rid of fungus gnats, mix a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide with four parts water. Pour the mixture onto the soil around the infested plant.
Known as a garden helper, Epsom salt is a natural and effective way to provide essential minerals to plants.
For hydrogen peroxide, mix one part 3% hydrogen peroxide with four parts water. Carefully pour this solution onto the top of the soil, ensuring it reaches the root zone. The hydrogen peroxide will help kill the gnat larvae and any eggs in the soil without harming your plant.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), occurs naturally in rainwater and acts as nature's cleanser. It oxygenates soil and bodies of water, is non-toxic and safe to use around food, people and animals. Adding it when watering your indoor plants, mimics what Mother Nature does for outdoor plants every time it rains.
Use a fine layer of sand or diatomaceous earth on top of plant soil to deter gnats from laying eggs. Use well-draining pots and soils. Inspect new plants for gnats before buying them. Seal cracks and holes around doorways, windows, and drains to prevent gnats from entering.
There are almost countless uses for cinnamon in the garden: it can be used as a nature-friendly pesticide, a repellent against annoying insects, or as a catalyst to promote root growth in plant cuttings.
Simply mix 2 tablespoons of hot pepper sauce, a few drops of biodegradable dish soap and 1 quart (0.94 liters) of water and let it sit overnight. Use a spray bottle to apply the spray to infested plants.
One of the single best uses for unfinished opened beer is as a compost pile jump starter. The sugars and yeast in beer are excellent for your compost pile. Simply pour it over your compost pile and then stir or turn it when required. Beer can be used as an effective fungicide for your plants.