Fungus Gnat Elimination: Breaking the Life Cycle Naturally

Adult gnats annoy; larvae in soil cause damage. Coffee grounds and tobacco feed larvae.

Effective Non-Chemical Controls

1. Dry soil: Top 1-2" dry between waterings.
2. Surface barrier: Sand, diatomaceous earth, coconut coir, or fine peat moss.
3. Potato traps: ¼" slices on soil 24 hrs; discard with larvae. Repeat.
4. Biological: Steinernema feltiae nematodes (Knock-Out Gnats) or Hypoaspis mites (Gnat Not).

Detection

Add water; watch for tiny larvae swimming in surface pools.

Prevention

• Sterile, bark-free potting mix with perlite.
• Quarantine new plants.
• Avoid overwatering—root cause.

Oxamyl granules (old granular insecticide) banned for health risks.