How To Naturally Manage Fungus Gnats In A Greenhouse?

Fungus gnats are major insect pests of greenhouse crops, causing economic losses across a wide range of crops during stock plant growth. They develop through four different stages: egg (4-6 days), larva (7-10 days), pupa (5-days), and adult gnat (7-10 days). Females are grayish-black and look like mosquitoes.

Beneficial entomopathogenic Steinernema feltiae nematodes are thread-like unsegmented roundworms used as biological control agents for controlling fungus gnats in greenhouses. Inspect incoming plugs for fungus gnat larvae or their feeding damage. Fungus gnats can be introduced into a greenhouse from soilless media or on rooted plant plugs. Fungus gnat larvae feed on a wide-range of ornamental plants grown in both greenhouses and nurseries, including Capsicum spp., Cyclamen spp., poinsettia (Euphorbia).

To get rid of fungus gnats, follow these three steps:

1. Do not overwater your plants. Water plants when the meter reaches the red zone.
2. Use methods such as removing decaying plant material, taking out weeds, and watering properly.
3. Avoid using too much organic fertiliser, as fungus gnats love decaying plant material.
4. Choose an inorganic growing media that is less likely to support algal growth, such as rock wool or perlite.
5. Reduce the potential to support fungus gnats by choosing an inorganic growing media that is less likely to support algal growth.
6. Control fungus gnat larvae by drip-irrigating, drenching, or spraying growing media with entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema feltiae).
7. Apply eco-neem as a soil drench to kill larvae within the soil.
8. Allow pots and other areas to dry out as they need continuously moist conditions to survive.

How do you get rid of gnats organically?

Gnats, which spend most of their lives as larvae and pupae in organic matter like soil, can be effectively targeted by creating a gnat trap using a mix of vinegar, dish soap, and sugar. Place the traps in small dishes near where gnats congregate, and the gnats will be attracted to the sugar and vinegar, causing them to get trapped by the dish soap and drown.

Raw potato chunks can also be used to attract larvae, drawing them away from the plant’s roots and blocking their access simultaneously. Keep the potato chunks in the pots for a few days, then replace them when no more signs of infestation are seen.

Yellow sticky traps are a simple and cost-effective way to get rid of adult gnats. Gnats are attracted to the color yellow, and the traps entice them by getting stuck to the adhesive. Cut the sticky traps into squares and tap them to sticks, placing them in problem pots, and allowing adult gnats to get trapped almost immediately.

Does cinnamon get rid of fungus gnats?

Chamomile tea and cinnamon are natural fungicides that effectively eliminate the primary food source of gnats, rendering the soil inhospitable to their survival. To utilize this method, one should first boil a liter of strong chamomile tea, then allow it to cool, and subsequently mix it with four parts water. Subsequently, irrigate the plants as is customary, then disperse the cinnamon over the soil to achieve a fungicidal double effect.

What smell do fungus gnats hate?

In order to address the issue of gnats’ aversion to specific scents, it is recommended to utilize unscented soaps or to refrain from wearing cologne during the summer months. Additionally, altering the olfactory environment through the use of citronella candles or lemon or vanilla sprays may prove beneficial. Gnats are typically attracted to sweet-smelling fruits, though they may not tolerate vanilla, lemon, or lavender.

What is the best natural solution for fungus gnats?

Neem oil, a tropical tree oil, is effective against fungus gnats. Mix 10ml of neem oil per litre of water and water infested plants. Garlic, containing allicin, can kill fungus gnat larvae. Cut off the bulb’s tip and stick it into the soil, or peel and dice cloves and spread them over the soil. Parsley, a plant with certain chemicals, can also be used to eliminate fungus gnats. Chop the leaves into small pieces and spread them evenly across the soil. Fungus gnats will avoid parsley due to its chemical properties. Neem oil is safe for humans and pets and has numerous other uses.

Do coffee grounds repel fungus gnats?

The prevalence of drain gnats as pests in domestic environments is increasing. To address this issue, it is recommended to utilize coffee filters in each drain. Additionally, a method demonstrated on the social media platform TikTok has been shown to be an effective solution.

What keeps gnats away naturally?

To eradicate gnats without causing them harm, it is recommended to repel them with scents such as vinegar, vanilla, pine oil, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, and lavender. Additionally, dryer sheets have been demonstrated to be effective in this regard. The initial step is to identify and address the underlying cause of the infestation.

What is the best organic pesticide for fungus gnats?

Yellow sticky traps can be used to monitor fungus gnats in your growing area, with Melissa oil adding improved results. Proper soil moisture control and avoid overwatering can minimize breeding habitat. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis products, Aquabac, and Mosquito Bits can be used to kill larvae before they can pupate. Nemattack, Sf, and S. scimitus can be applied to the growing media to parasitize existing larvae and kill them. S. scimitus helps break up the life cycle and eventually controls fungus gnat infestations by feeding on larvae and pupae.

What smell do gnats hate?

To eradicate gnats without causing them harm, it is recommended to repel them with scents such as vinegar, vanilla, pine oil, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, and lavender. Additionally, dryer sheets have been demonstrated to be an effective method. The initial step is to identify and address the underlying cause of the infestation.

What is a homemade natural gnat repellent?

A natural solution for gnat infestation can be made by combining water, vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap. Spray the mixture on areas where gnats seem to congregate, and it’s safe to use around houseplants. Sweating gnats with a fly swatter or your hands is another option, but it’s more difficult due to their agility and acrobatic nature. Once gnats are no longer present, focus on addressing the root cause of the problem by using methods like a fly swatter or hand-held tools.

How do you control fungus gnats biologically?

Fungus gnat larvae can be controlled through biological methods such as drip-irrigating, drenching, or spraying growing media with entomopathogenic nematodes. Soil-inhabiting predaceous mites and a predatory rove beetle, Dalotia coriaria, can be purchased and released according to suppliers’ directions to enhance biological control. Cultural control involves keeping production areas free of algal scum and weeds, which provide breeding sites and food for fungus gnats and shore flies.

Avoiding excessive humidity, overwatering, poor drainage, prolonged wet surfaces, standing water, and the use of incompletely composted and unpasteurized organic matter or manure in growing media is crucial. Commercial sources of peat and organic-containing growing media that become wet or has been stored on soil or uncovered can be infested with fungus gnats. Covering growing media and pasteurizing potentially contaminated media before use is essential.

Organically acceptable methods of fungus gnat control include Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis (Gnatrol), cultural controls including exclusion and sanitation, and the conservation and release of natural enemies.