Monstera: Houseplant expert details how to remove pests
Fungus gnats are a common pest of houseplants, especially where humidity and moisture are high.
They’re usually first noticed when the harmless adults are seen flying around houseplants or gathered at a nearby window.
These non-biting adult gnats can become a flying nuisance. But it’s the larval stage, feeding in the soil, that can damage tender plant roots.
Indoors, adult fungus gnats can cause problems if they find their way out of potted plants.
Taking to a popular gardening Facebook page called Gardening UK, one woman asked for advice on how to get rid of pests taking over her houseplants.
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Alison Henderson wrote: “Can I please ask a houseplant question? How do I get rid of wee black flies on top of the soil, they are driving me crazy.”
Group members suggested a range of solutions, but the most common seemed to be to use dish soap.
Mayama Salman commented: “I spray dishwashing liquid diluted with water and it works a treat.”
Beverly Dunlop said: “I’ve just used washing up liquid with water and sprayed it on the soil. Seems to have worked.”
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James McLean claimed: “The one thing that made a massive difference for use was adding fairy liquid to the water of the plants.
“Plants have remained healthy but absolutely no more gnats and we were infested with them.”
Christina Turner wrote: “They were destroying my orchid and I used water and dish soap in a spray bottle. Killed them all instantly.”
Washing up liquid is a surprisingly versatile tool in the fight against a range of houseplant pests.
Washing up liquid is a staple for all homes. Express.co.uk found this product to be the cheapest at Asda as it retails for 55p. The next cheapest store to pick up dish soap is Sainsbury’s as it costs 60p.
Mix water with a few drops of dish soap, and spray it around affected plants to kill the larvae. Very simple and effective.
However, this is a solution for established plants and can damage seedlings and young plants.
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