Got Gnats?

Gnats can be such a pain in the butt when collecting houseplants!

Everything is going great… new leaves, growth, cute little plant corner… & then suddenly you’ve got freaking gnats hovering around your pots like they pay rent.

If you’re seeing them, they’re usually fungus gnats. They love moist soil & organic matter, & while the flying adults are mostly just annoying, the larvae in the soil can mess with your plant roots — especially on younger plants. So it’s definitely something worth getting under control early.

A few things that help right away:

• Let the top inch or two of soil dry out between waterings

• Don’t let water sit in saucers

• Remove dead leaves or debris sitting on the soil

• Use yellow sticky traps to catch adults (not my favorite, because… aesthetics…)

& if you’re dealing with a full-on gnat situation, one tool I actually like is the Katchy Indoor Insect Trap (you’ve probably seen it on Amazon). It’s chemical-free & works by using a soft UV light to attract gnats, a quiet little fan to pull them in, & a sticky pad that traps them inside. No zapping, no smell, & it’s safe to run around pets and plants.

I like it because it’s not ugly sitting near your plant shelf, it’s super quiet, & you can just swap the sticky cards when they fill up. It’s not magic overnight, but paired with better watering habits it really helps knock the population down.

Just remember — gnats are common with indoor plants, especially when you’re growing your collection. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad plant parent. It just means you’re officially one of us now. 👽

If you’ve battled gnats before, tell me what worked for you 👇 I love hearing everyone’s plant tricks.