HOW DO I GET RID OF FUNGAS GNATS INDOORS?

Massgrower98

Active Member
My baby seedlings are only 1 week old and they already have bug problems... soon as I sprouted my plants in my closet the gnats have made there way onto and around my soil and keep flying around everywhere very annoying... with the plants being so young I don't want to add any organic pesticides such as amazingdrzymes just to young for food, and pestices maybe should I try spreading some type of gnat nix or something minty perhaps to make them go away ? I've had fungas gnat infestations get really bad in the past when I use to over water but I've learned to not over water so much so not really sure why these guys are sticking around guess my environment is to humid, and needs more air flow but any advice helps and is appreciated!!!
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
They also have trouble with and hide from wind. If you can get a small fan blowing lightly over the soil it helps make them start to hide from it.

Then try to leave some sticky traps in spots they’ll use them to hide from that wind. The adults won’t stand a chance.

Takes time to get rid of them all once they start laying eggs in the soil or if there were eggs already there which can happen very easily.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Oh and put some sort of screen over your air intake if in a tent. If they are in your environment even just nylon stocking will keep the adults out. Then you just need to worry about your stored mix getting eggs laid in it.
 

Wattzzup

Well-Known Member
So basically everyone agrees on the sticky traps. And everyone has their own way way of treating the medium.
 

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
I believe a layer of steel wool over the medium will do wonders for getting rid of them. Prevents adults from getting to the medium and newborns from escaping. I have only read this as I have never had fungus gnats but it could be worth trying.
 

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Steel wool rusts.
I don't disagree but it's also dirt cheap so you can remove and reapply fairly often. That said I am pretty sure that the tiny amount of rust won't hurt your plants as it does not come from toxic metal and may even be beneficial as it would add a bit of iron to your medium. As I say, it's just something I read on a few sites regarding how to get rid of fungus gnats.
 

Severed Tongue

Well-Known Member
I switched to fabric pots, put them in trays and bottom water. I let my topsoil completely dry out (using Miracle-Gro moisture control potting soil).

I keep yellow sticky traps as indicator, but haven't seen a single stuck fly since the top soil dried out.

Fungus gnats 100% defeated.

What's interesting is I have a palm tree in my living room which is infested but the gnats stay there. I've seen a few come upstairs to my grow room but there's no moisture or access to roots so they don't stay.
 

Massgrower98

Active Member
fly traps will kill adults flying around
neem oil will kill the eggs on the soil
nematodes will kill the larva eating the plants roots.
Def thinking of going with this method... should i soil drench the neem oil and nematodes together or do one at a time? also after i do that i want to cover the top soil with something so they cant get back in the soil maybe gnat nix or diamtomacious earth?
 
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