September is a little tough on my plants. The seasonal transition means houseplants with prime locations get pushed aside to make room for plants that need to come back inside. Suddenly each plant has to compete for space and light. I also tend to over water my plants this time of year. It’s easy to do. During the height of summer plants require a lot of water, but by early fall the same amount of water overwhelms them. At the end of each summer I end up swatting gnats away, thinking next year I will get it right. Fungus gnats can appear any time of the year, and for many plant owners they do. People often ask me if there is a plant-safe spray you can use to kill them. There is not, but you can still stop them. I’ve gotten better at eliminating gnats over the years. Here are three easy methods to prevent fungus gnats.  

Tried and True Sticky Stakes

There’s something satisfying about seeing a dead gnat stuck to a piece of yellow tape. I know that sounds mean, but if you love your plants you tend to lose tolerance for the gnats. Sticky Stakes are basically fly tape on a stick. The look of little yellow flags will definitely compromise your tranquil green aesthetic, but these tried and true sticky stakes do the job. Designed for houseplants, small stakes go right into your soil and hold bright yellow sticky tape just above the soil like flags. Gnats are drawn to the yellow and fly right into the tape where they struggle, stick, and die. It’s heartless, but it works. These traps catch the adult flies, but not the eggs, pupa, or larvae, so you’ll need to let the soil dry out along with using these traps. 

The Inhospitable Desert

Gnats live and breed in damp soil. An overwatered plant with a wet drainage saucer is the perfect home for fungus gnats. One of the easiest ways to prevent gnats is to let your soil dry out between watering. You may have to dehydrate it to the point where your plant looks a little droopy, but it works. Drying out the soil creates an inhospitable environment for gnats and prevents them from laying eggs in your soil. This is often my first line of defense because it’s natural and doesn’t require anything but refraining from watering. I find this method will often slow down an infestation, but not eliminate it altogether. Nevertheless, it is enough to regain control. 

Zevo Flying Insect Trap

Time will tell if this new gnat trap works, but the reviews are positive. I just purchased one of these and plugged it into my plant room, but it takes a few days to work. The Zevo flying insect trap is a plug-in with a sticky trap backing. The plug-in uses both multi-spectrum light and heat to attract gnats to it. Once they fly towards the light, they stick to the backing and die. Space is a factor with the Zevo insect trap because you’ll need to plug it into a visible outlet near your houseplants. I’m hoping to find a slew of dead gnats on mine. 

Don’t Get Discouraged

Gnats are the most common houseplant pest and if you have a large collection, at some point, they’ll make an appearance. It is normal to get discouraged, but don’t give up. The good news is you can quickly eliminate them before they damage your plants.