What to put on plants to keep gnats away?

Author: Mr. Javier Kassulke  |  Last update: Friday, July 18, 2025

Use Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (Bti) Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils. Bti kills fungus gnat larvae. Follow the instructions on your product, adding Bti to the soil of your plants. This will kill gnat larvae while leaving your plants unharmed.

How do I keep gnats out of my plants?

Drying Out Soil

Many infestations happen as a result of overwatering plants. By waiting longer between watering sessions, theoretically you can make your plant soil dry and inhospitable to gnats. Turn up around 2cms of soil in the plant. This exposes the larvae and eggs and helps dry out the soil more quickly.

How often should I use cinnamon on plants indoors?

Recipe for Cinnamon Foliar Spray

Let cinnamon sits in water overnight. The next day, strain the powdered cinnamon using a sieve or coffee filter and use the water as an anti-fungal spray. Spray the water on affected areas of plants twice a week.

What smells do plant gnats hate?

Peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, vanilla, and lavender essential oils all have scents that gnats dislike. Place a few drops of any of these essential oils on cotton balls and set around entryways to your home or areas where gnats are a problem.

What can I spray on my houseplants to keep gnats away?

Pair a hydrogen peroxide solution with a powerful spray bottle for the best results. Mixing water and hydrogen peroxide creates a solution that can be sprayed on plants to get rid of gnats without harsh chemicals. The solution helps kill gnat larvae and even deters adult gnats from laying eggs.

How to Get Rid of Gnats Indoors (Save the plants! Take back our homes!)

Can I spray vinegar and water on my plants to get rid of gnats?

The mixture should contain a few drops of dish soap, a tablespoon of vinegar, and baking soda per cup of water. A few sprays of this mixture is an effective gnat repellent. They may be sprayed in areas where gnats are commonly seen, such as around plants, in the bathrooms, etc.

Is hydrogen peroxide safe for plants?

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.

What is the best homemade gnat repellent?

Fill a glass or a bowl with 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a half cup of warm water, and about 5 drops of liquid dish soap and stir well. Gnats will be attracted to the sweet sugar and pungent vinegar, but the sticky dish soap will disable them from escaping.

Do dryer sheets keep gnats away?

Conclusions. Based on the results obtained from our study, it is evident that Bounce original brand fabric softener dryer sheets repel fungus gnats.

What do gnats absolutely hate?

Use Lavender Spray Or Plants

Gnats are not fans of the aroma of lavender, so whether you want to plant your lavender because you enjoy the look as well as the scent or choose to use a liquid substitute to this scent, gnats will avoid it.

Can I just sprinkle cinnamon on my plants?

Cinnamon helps protect seedlings against rot, which ultimately accelerates growth. What is more, for seedlings, you do not need to prepare the cinnamon solution: simply sprinkle some ground cinnamon directly on the seedlings and the rest should take care of itself.

Does sprinkling cinnamon on plants keep bugs away?

For starters, they do not like the scent of cinnamon. But they will also perish if they ingest it as well. Using cinnamon oil to spray on the plants will also deter thrips. In addition, the oil or powder can also help to deter aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies in the same manner!

Is coffee good for plants?

Coffee grounds contain several key nutrients needed by plants, including nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals. These are all nutrients that plants need to grow. The grounds are particularly rich in nitrogen, making them a great addition to compost.

Why is my plant full of gnats?

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.

How to get rid of gnats in plants with cinnamon?

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.

What keeps gnats away in soil?

Fungus Gnat Deterrents

First, you need to know what deters fungus gnats: Dry soils; Fast-draining soils with inorganic additives, like perlite, vermiculite, and sand; Inorganic soil covers, like pebbles, coarse sand, chicken grit, or diatomaceous earth (Some swear by the gnat-killing power of diatomaceous earth!);

How do I keep gnats away permanently?

Natural methods like vinegar traps, sticky honey-coated paper, and homemade spray repellents can effectively eliminate gnats without the use of harsh chemicals. Prevent future gnat infestations by disposing of overripe produce, cleaning sink drains, and addressing mold or mildew on houseplants.

What smell do gnats stay away from?

Gnats hate the smell of Cloves, Citrus Fruits, Lavender so you could use them for keeping gnats away.

What can I wear to repel gnats?

Insect Repellent Hats

Help keep mosquitoes, flies, and other biting bugs away from your face, head, and neck with Insect Shield Bug Repellent Hats. Our insect repellent packable hat, brim hat, sun hat, and caps also repel gnats and midges (no-see-ums).

How to get rid of gnats in plants?

How to Get Rid of Gnats on Houseplants
  1. Lure Them to Sticky Cards. Gnats are drawn to the color yellow and can be trapped on special yellow cards covered with a sticky adhesive. ...
  2. Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth. ...
  3. Drench the Soil. ...
  4. Let Plants Dry Out Slightly. ...
  5. Repot.

How to get rid of plant gnats with hydrogen peroxide?

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.

How often should I water my plants with hydrogen peroxide?

If you're spraying or watering the soil for fungus, eggs or larvae, be certain you really soak the soil. If you have any of these problems, you can use hydrogen peroxide on your plants once a week.

What does baking soda do for plants?

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.

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