If you love houseplants, you are probably familiar with small black flies, also known as fungus gnats. These flies may seem harmless, but they can quickly become a real plague. Fortunately, there is an effective and sustainable way to get rid of these flies and that without chemical pesticides! In this blog I will explain what fungus gnats are and how you can keep them out of your plant pots for good.
What are fungus gnats?
Fungus gnats are small, black flies of about 2-4 millimeters in size. You often see them flying around your houseplants, especially when the soil is a bit damp. They are harmless to humans, but not so harmless to your plants. The adult flies themselves do little damage, but their larvae can be harmful to the roots of your plant. The larvae feed on fungi and organic material in the potting soil, but they can also gnaw at the fine roots of your plants. This can cause your plant to grow less well.
These flies lay their eggs in moist potting soil, usually in the top 2-3 centimeters of the soil. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin their destructive work. If you don’t control the flies and their larvae, the infestation can quickly get out of hand. Fortunately, there is a lasting and effective way to banish them from your home.
How do you get rid of fungus gnats for good?
The key to combating fungus gnats lies in eliminating the place where they lay their eggs: the potting soil. This is where a Beautanic Lifestyle hydro system comes in handy. When repotting your plant, no traditional potting soil is used, but volcanic granules in combination with a watering system, which makes a big difference in the fight against these flies.
Why does this work?
As mentioned earlier, fungus gnats lay their eggs in the top layer of the potting soil. However, when you transfer your plants to volcanic granules, this process is interrupted. Here are a few reasons why this system is so effective:
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Limited access to potting soil:
In the Beautanic Lifestyle system, plants are repotted onto volcanic granules, and only a small amount of potting soil is left at the roots to help the plant acclimatize. This means that there is no potting soil on the top layer of the hydropot for the flies to lay their eggs in. -
No damp topsoil:
Mourning flies thrive in moist soil. The watering system ensures that the volcanic granules retain water well, without the moist potting soil that the flies love. This makes the top layer unattractive to lay eggs in. -
Durable and low maintenance:
Using volcanic granules not only eliminates the fungus gnats , but also creates a healthier plant environment. These granules are free of mold and pests and provide the right water and oxygen ratio at the roots, leading to stronger roots and happier plants.
How do you transfer your plants to volcanic granules?
Repotting your plants to a hydroponic system is easy. Read below how to transfer your plant step by step to the watering system or watch the video.
- Click the water meter into the water reservoir and place this water system in the hydro pot.
- Press the rubber cap on the side of the hydroplant, so that the hydropot is watertight. If you use the pot for outside, you can skip this step.
- Fill the hydro pot with a small layer of volcanic granules (about 2-3 centimeters).
- Carefully remove the plant from its current pot, removing as much potting soil as possible without damaging the roots. Leave a small amount of potting soil around the roots.
- Place the plant in the hydro pot, make sure the plant is firmly in the pot and then fill with extra volcanic granules to cover the roots well.
- Then pour 1 liter of water over the volcanic grains, this can be on a spot of the hydropot. Give the water meter about 60 seconds to react to the water. If the water meter does not react immediately, follow these steps.
Conclusion
Fungus gnats can be quite annoying, but with a sustainable solution like using volcanic granules in the Beautanic Lifestyle watering system, you will be rid of them for good. Not only is it effective against these flies, but it also provides a healthier environment for your plants. Win-win!