HOMESTEAD HOW-TO

How to Outsmart Gnats Before They Take Over Your Houseplants

Gnats may be small, but their presence can quickly become a big nuisance—especially when they decide to make a home in your houseplants. These persistent pests hover around your plants, lay eggs in the soil, and multiply before you even realize there’s a problem.

Here are effective ways to keep gnats away from your houseplants.

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Use Yellow Sticky Traps to Catch Adult Gnats

These traps take advantage of that attraction, luring adult gnats in and trapping them before they can reproduce and lay eggs in the soil of your houseplants.

Neem Oil

When applied to the soil, neem oil acts as a botanical insecticide, disrupting the life cycle of gnats by interfering with their ability to feed and develop.

Use Quality Soil 

Gnats thrive in damp environments, so using soil with good aeration and proper drainage helps prevent excess moisture buildup that attracts them.

Allow the Soil to Dry

Allow the top layer of your plant’s soil to dry out between waterings. Gnats flourish in wet conditions, so letting the soil dry can prevent their larvae from thriving.

Layer the Soil with Sand or Gravel 

Consider topping your soil with sand or gravel. This improves drainage and discourages gnats from laying eggs by creating a barrier they can’t easily penetrate.