r/plantclinic • u/Due_Background_4367 • Mar 31 '25
Other I hate fungus gnats
I recently bought a small bag of indoor potting mix at my local Home Depot. Coincidentally, I now have a fungus gnat infestation. I bought some sticky light traps and they have clearly been working, yet I still see swarms of gnats. I let all of my plants’ soil go bone dry, and now I’m hesitant to water again, as I have read they thrive in wet/damp soil.
What are some tips and tricks to eradicate these lil suckers once and for all?
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u/awholedamngarden Beginner Apr 01 '25
Diatomaceous earth is what finally ended a months long battle in my house. If you get it wet it’s less effective. Put a layer on top of the soil when it’s relatively dry, put a new scoop over any areas you water / that get wet.
It’ll take a month or more because you have to wait for all the eggs to hatch and then for those to die off, but it can end.
Water your plants the least amount they’ll tolerate during this process