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Home » Houseplants

Houseplants 101: How to get rid of gnats

Published: Apr 20, 2021 · Updated: Dec 27, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. We earn commission from purchases made. ·

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Gnats are pesky little gnats that like to live in and lay their eggs in houseplant soil. Let's face it, no one wants gnats in their home.

a houseplant with a sticky trap on it which is catching gnats and text overlay that reads how to get rid of gnats for good
Jump to:
  • What causes gnats in houseplants?
  • Houseplants with gnats...what to do?
  • Getting rid of gnats FAQ
  • Natural Alternatives for pest control

What causes gnats in houseplants?

Plants that have been over-watered will develop a fungus that attracts gnats. You can help by only watering your houseplants what they need and nothing more.

They come in from outside, but they can also be found in bags of potting soil! As a rule of thumb, any houseplants I recently purchased from a nursery or garden center, I spray some of this insect spray on. This way I don't unknowingly bring in a plant with gnat eggs.

Houseplants with gnats...what to do?

  1. Neem oil spray- Add some neem oil spray to help kill any gnats that are in your soil. I like this particular houseplant spray because it gets rid of lots of pests, not just gnats.
Garden Safe insect spray
a houseplant and garden insect spray

2. Sticky Traps- You can also place some of these sticky traps directly into your planters to trap them to the adhesive. Then, just toss them and put in a new trap.

3. Don't overwater- I'm guilty of this too, but when you overwater your houseplant, it lets fungus start to grow, which then attracts those annoying gnats.

4. Good Drainage- Are your planters properly draining? Check the bottom side of the planter for a drainage hole. This again helps keep the soil from growing fungus.

Getting rid of gnats FAQ

Is there a plant that will eat gnats?

Very much like a venus fly trap, a carnivorous cape sundew plant will kill gnats. It is a tropical plant and also pricey, which is why it would be my last resort.

Where do gnats come from?

Gnats lay their eggs in soil, so you could unintentionally be bringing them in when you bring your plants inside for the winter. They are also attracted to fungus from overwatered plants.

Natural Alternatives for pest control

  • carnivorous cape sundew plant (that will eat gnats that lead on it)
  • Venus fly trap (these are better for bigger flies, but they can sometimes work on gnats)

Hope this helps you finally get rid of those pesky gnats on your houseplants. Happy gardening!!

You might also enjoy reading:What keeps eating my strawberries?

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Hi, I'm Joanna! The mom behind "mom with plants". Mom with Plants was started to help beginners learn how to garden everything from strawberries to houseplants and more.

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