Indoor gardeners always face the threat of having fruit flies and fungus gnats hovering and buzzing above their plants. Their diet is mostly the matter that is organic and the fungi in the potting soil. Though they do not cause any harm to the plants, it can be quite disturbing for the gardeners to watch their plants being attacked by these fruit flies. Here are a few easy tips to keep the fruit flies away from your plants:

  1. Control Your Watering

Thankfully, getting rid of them does not require much investment, and you don’t have to buy chemicals for this either. Controlling your watering will help to keep the fruit flies away from loitering around your plants.

  • The fruit flies usually carry several fungi such as Pythium and Phytophthora, which can spoil your plant.
  • This process is known as damping off. You must keep in mind that a damped off plant cannot be cured; it can only be prevented.

  1. Use Sand

Since fruit flies come as adults and larvae, one of the most efficient methods of keeping them away is to eliminate the larvae.

  • The adults usually lay their eggs on the top part of the moist soil.
  • Adding sand over the top of your soil will confuse the adult fruit flies and this prevents them from laying their eggs in the pot.

  1. Use Vinegar

Once you eliminate the larvae, the adults should be trapped.

  • For this, fill a food jar with little drops of dish soap along with the apple cider vinegar and poke holed on the lid of the jar, through which the fruit flies can enter.
  • Keep this jar where you can see them in a higher number. The plants will dive in the vinegar and the drowning will happen straight away.

  1. Use Potato Slices

  • Slice a few raw potatoes into 1-inch pieces. Keep these slices on the surface of the soil to attract the flies.
  • Leave them there for about 4 hours and replace them every day to catch as many fruit flies as possible.

  1. Employ Sticky Traps

They are the easiest and most efficient method to ensure that the fruit flies go away.

  • Spread some Vaseline on a piece of cardstock and place this card horizontally on the surface of the soil on which the affected plant is growing.
  • As the fruit flies leap from the soil, this card will catch them and the Vaseline will keep them stuck onto the card. You can set up another similar card in a vertical position to trap more of them.

  1. Make the Use of Hydrogen Peroxide

  • Make a mixture with four parts water and one part hydrogen peroxide.
  • Once the topmost layer of the soil is dry, water the plants with the above solution. As soon as the larvae of the fruit flies come in contact with this mixture, they will die.
  • The soil might fizz for a while, but that is normal.

  1. Apply Cinnamon Powder

This is a natural fungicide, people usually use it to prevent damping off.

  • The cinnamon powder kills the fungus on which the fruit fly larvae feed on, thereby destroying them in return.
  • All you have to do is sprinkle some cinnamon till it forms a visible layer on the affected soil every few weeks.

TIPS

  • We recommend you start the process of getting them away as early as possible to reduce the number before it gets out of hand.
  • Also, you can also consider using some chemicals that are available in the market as long as they do not cause harm to the well – being of the plants.

What is the fastest way to get rid of fruit flies?

Pour boiling white vinegar or boiling water into drains. This is a simple way to get rid of fruit flies immediately. Many fruit flies make themselves at home in moist and hidden areas, such as shower drains, sink drains, garbage disposals, toilets, and more.

How do you eliminate plant flies?

Mix four parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide and soak your soil with the solution. Neem oil can also be diluted with water and applied to the soil to kill larvae. You can also use neem oil as a spray to kill adult flies on contact.

Why are there flies around my plants?

A: They’re most likely fungus gnats. These little buggers are a really common pest over winter, and they’re more attracted to the moist soil in houseplant pots than to the plants themselves. Fungus gnats are mainly an annoying nuisance.

What is the fastest way to get rid of gnats?

Homemade gnat killer spray: A mixture of half a cup of water, half a cup of isopropyl alcohol, and a teaspoon of dish liquid can be filled in a spray bottle. This mixture can be sprayed on the gnats directly to kill them.

Does peroxide hurt plants?

Hydrogen peroxide is made up of the same atoms that water is made from with the exception of an additional oxygen atom. So, the answer to the question, “Does hydrogen peroxide hurt plants?” is a resolute no, provided the strength is sufficiently diluted.