One of the many challenges in house gardeners or any gardeners face is dealing with pests that are attracted to their plants. Finding fruit flies or fungus gnats hovering above the surface of the potted plant dirt is a typical nuisance for everyone; these pesky pests feed on decaying organic matter and fungi in potting soil. However, you do not need to be alarmed; they do not cause any damage to your plants.
Fruit flies need to feed on rotting organic debris to complete their life cycles. None the less, it is unhealthy for flies to flood your kitchen, especially when foods are lying around. Unfortunately, kitchens are one of the favorite places of fruit flies, especially when there are overripe fruits in the kitchen.
The good news is, you do not have to use chemicals or other harmful methods to get rid of flies in your house plants- they are easy to get rid of, so save your money for different home improvement budgets.
There are two primary and effective ways to get rid of house flies in house plants; you can call pest control , or you can follow these steps below;
How to Get Rid of Flies in House Plants Yourself
Before you head to the pest control store, to spend money on products that can harm your health, try this simple technique;
What you need:
- Aquarium gravel or very coarse sand
- 3-by-5 index cards
- Yellow highlighter
- Glue or stapler
- Woodcraft stick/ toothpick
- Petroleum jelly
- Apple cider vinegar, fruit juice or beer
- Disposable plastic cup
- Liquid dish soap
- Plastic wrap
- Rubber band
First, you need to do is to spread a layer of aquarium gravel or get coarse sand if you don’t have, over the top of the infested dirt in the plant pot. When you are done with the spreading, pick a color that goes with your room décor. The sand particles or gravel will stop the flies’ eggs from hatching, and prevent newly hatched larvae from climbing out of the soil. Both the eggs and the newly hatched larvae die and interrupt the cycle.
The second step is to create a plant stake by coloring both sides of a 3-by-inch index card solid yellow with a highlighter, then staple or glue one end of a woodcraft stick to one side of the card. Streak enough petroleum jelly on both sides of the yellow card; make it sticky and evenly. Poke the stake into your potted plant’s dirt. Flies are naturally attracted to bright things, including yellow sticky traps.
For the third step, pour ¼ inch apple cider vinegar, beer or fruit juice into a disposable plastic cup, and add a drop of liquid soap. Stir to blend thoroughly and cover the container loosely with plastic wrap. Secure with a rubber band and poke some holes in the plastic wrap with a toothpick or any woodcraft stick you have.
Furthermore, place the trap close to the infested plant; the fermentation will attract the flies, and unknowingly enter the holes, touch the liquid and drown. The soap in the solution breaks the surface tension and prevents the flies from escaping even though they are light enough to walk on water.
Ensure you are not overwatering your plants; this is one of the mistakes new gardeners make. Please give them the right amount of water to prevent them from wilting. Besides, flies are attracted to damp dirt; they need damp soil to lay eggs and continue the cycle. If you feed your plants with the right amount of water, eggs and larvae cannot survive in such an environment.
Lastly, empty your plant saucers as soon as you are done watering your plants to prevent moisture from accumulating in the area. Besides, the dirt in the pot will tend to dry out a little, which will discourage fly infestation.
Bonus Tips for Gardeners
If you are having pest troubles in your lawn or garden, check out our practical tips that will help you get rid of flies, ants, or other pesky pests from your garden in no time.
If you want to protect your plants while getting rid of pests, it is preferable to use cinnamon and cloves or other dry ingredients like coffee grounds, mint tea leaves, and chilli powder around your plants to prevent ants or other garden pests from munching on your vegetables. These ingredients are pest repellants and they are easy to get without breaking the bank. The ingredients, especially the coffee grounds also protect your soil and enhances the soil nutrients. You can use a single ingredient, or combine them together for further protection.
The above steps will get rid of flies in house plants in no time, so try it and share your experience with other readers.