Eliminating and Preventing Fungus Gnats on Houseplants

If fungus gnats are a problem with your houseplants here is an easy solution that has worked for me every time. Fungus gnats lay their eggs and develop into adults in the top 1/2 inch of the soil and they need moisture to survive. They have a 2 week life cycle.

The simplest way to break that cycle and get rid of them is to water all your plants from the bottom only and not let the top of the soil get moist. To be doubly certain of results I always keep closer to 1 inch totally dry and extend this routine for closer to 3 weeks, just to make sure.

Also before bringing plants home look around if you see any fungus gnats flying around the plant display area. You can also check the top of the soil for them by gently disturbing the soil with your fingertip. If you see any you will be better off to find another place to buy your plants. I hope this helps.

By Sylvia from Cobalt, Ontario