Gnats have appeared in indoor plants: how to get rid of them at home

Almost every apartment has a so-called green corner, where flowers and other plants thrive, but unfortunate situations occur when home flora is exposed to diseases.

The main source of the problem is the flower gnat. This begs the question: "What causes gnats, and what effective methods can be used to get rid of them at home?"

Where do midges come from?

Before treating your plants, you need to determine how and where the pests entered your greenhouse, as well as why they chose the soil near this particular flower as their habitat. Here are some of the main causes of black and white gnats:

1. Humidity. Over-watering leads to stagnation and rotting, which is a perfect breeding ground for flower gnats.
2. Contaminated soil. This soil can be found in both transplanting soil and in new containers purchased at the store.
3. An open window. Insects can easily enter an apartment directly from the street. Finding suitable conditions, they begin to "make arrangements" for their new home.
4. Watering with liquids other than water. Some housewives like to feed their plants with liquids unsuitable for watering, such as tea leaves, compost, vegetable broth, or any other organic matter. Such experiments contribute to soil rot and the emergence of pests.

Types and characteristics of flower gnats

There are two types of midges: black and white:

1. Whiteflies (fleas, whiteflies, fruit flies, and poruds) that have taken a liking to flowerpots settle on the topsoil, creating a white coating. They are grayish-yellowish or white in color and reach approximately 1 mm in size.
2. Flying black flies (sciarids). Also known as "fungus gnats," they have a narrow body and reach up to 2 mm in length.

Why are midges harmful?

The flower gnat's greatest danger is that it lays a huge number of larvae in the soil, which feed on the plant's root system. In severe infestations, the larvae completely destroy the plant's roots, leading to inevitable death.

Important! In the final stages of the disease, the flower can no longer be saved!

Plants where midges most often appear

Although flower gnats are unpretentious, they carefully select their "victims" and do not harm all plants. For example, poruds prefer to nest in pots with flowers with succulent and delicate leaves, such as begonias, fuchsias, and orchids. Sciarids prefer plants with thick leaves, such as ficus, violets, and azaleas.

For your information! All types of pests absolutely cannot stand the smell of mint and tobacco.

How to get rid of midges at home?

There are several methods of pest control, each effective in its own way. Below, we'll take a detailed look at each method.

Traditional methods

Before using folk remedies to combat gnats, the soil in the pot should be dried, loosened, and cleared of dead and diseased leaves. Then, follow these step-by-step instructions:

• water the plant with a pale pink solution of manganese of low concentration (otherwise you can burn the roots);
• Place orange or lemon peels in the soil near the diseased plant to repel the midges with a strong smell;
• water the soil with a solution of laundry soap and tar soap in equal proportions;
• put match sulfur into the soil (a couple of matches is enough);
• cover the soil with wood ash;
• sprinkle the ground with tobacco (this aroma also repels midges well);
• stick a couple of cloves of garlic into the pot in a circle, having first cut them in half;
• place a container with ammonia near the flower pot;
• infuse celandine, strain and spray the leaves of the plant;
• sprinkle the ground with crushed chalk to get rid of cockroaches.

Physical methods

1. The safest option is to completely change the soil in the pot, but to avoid damaging the plant's root system, this must be done very carefully and gently. Before adding new soil, be sure to disinfect the pot with boiling water.
2. If the pests have not yet had time to thoroughly settle in the pot, you can replace only the top couple of centimeters of soil.
3. It's a good idea to place sticky or adhesive tape around the container. This will stick the gnats and prevent them from laying eggs, meaning their population will eventually decline.

Chemicals

If none of the above methods produce a positive result, you can resort to chemical pest control. Fortunately, flower and home improvement stores now offer a wide range of sprays and aerosols. It's important to be extremely careful and cautious when using chemicals, as improper use can kill not only the gnats but also the plant itself. Before use, read the instructions thoroughly and strictly follow all recommendations. Also, remember to wear personal protective equipment during treatment, such as a gauze bandage, goggles, a gown, and gloves.

The following are most often used for processing:

1. Aerosol insecticides: Dichlorvos, RAID, RAPTOR, NEO. Spray the top layer of soil and the plant itself.
2. Liquid solutions: "Thunder", "Fufanon", "Aktara", "Mukhoed", "Bazudin", "Inta-Vir", "Aktellik", "Karbofos", "Agravertin", "Kinmiks", "Fitoverm", etc. Dilute and treat the plant and the top layer of soil according to the instructions.

After the treatment, wrap the pot containing the diseased plant in a plastic bag, creating a "toxic greenhouse," and leave it there for 8-10 hours. Over time, all the harmful gnats will die, and chemical residues remaining in the soil will prevent new colonies of pests from settling in the pot again.

Preventing the appearance of midges in flowers

To avoid worrying about treating your plants in the future, it's important to think about preventing them in the first place. By following a few rules, you can rid your green pets of these unpleasant guests. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Avoid overwatering. It's recommended to choose a watering frequency specific to each plant. Seasonality should also be considered. Flowers require more water in summer than in winter.
2. Maintain optimal humidity levels. Before watering your plant again, make sure it needs it.
3. Regular loosening of the soil around the flower helps saturate it with oxygen, which will prevent the formation of lumps and compaction of the soil.
4. Provide drainage. This helps water penetrate deeper into the soil and prevents it from becoming acidic.

Avoiding attacks from harmful flower gnats is easy by following simple precautions. If trouble has already occurred, don't despair, let alone throw away your favorite plant. From the many options for controlling gnats in flower pots at home, you can choose the most convenient and effective one. Remember, it's easier to treat your green pet in the early stages of the disease, before the pests cause irreparable damage!