Fungus Gnats Be Gone: How to Kick Gnats Out of Your Plants for Good

If you’ve ever gone to admire your prized Anthurium only to inhale a fungus gnat mid-sentence — welcome to the club. These tiny flying freeloaders are the worst. They thrive in damp soil, multiply faster than you can say “new leaf incoming,” and seem to orbit your face like it’s their job.

But here's good news: there’s a whole toolkit of ways to evict them, for good. Below is our tried-and-true guide for gnat-proofing your plant collection, whether you’re a lush-leaf beginner or a seasoned foliage addict with a Milsbo full of velvet.

🚫 First up… what are fungus gnats?

Fungus gnats are teeny-tiny flies that love moist, organic-rich soil. They lay their eggs in the top few centimetres of your potting mix, and the larvae feed on fungus, decaying matter — and sometimes the tender roots of your baby plants. If you’re noticing lots of tiny black flies hovering near your soil, you’re probably hosting a gnat rave.

The key to kicking them out? Break the breeding cycle.


1. Switch to a low-organic substrate like Pon or LECA

Organic potting mix is basically a five-star resort for gnats. Swapping to a semi-hydro substrate like BioLeaf Pon or LECA cuts off their food source and breeding ground completely. No soil = no party.

These substrates also promote healthy root aeration and reduce overwatering — which fungus gnats hate. It’s a win for your plants and your sanity.

👉 Browse our Pon and LECA in the Plant Substrate section of our shop — your roots will thank you.

2. Use uBloomd Sticky Traps to catch the adults

Adult fungus gnats only live about a week, but they can lay hundreds of eggs in that time. Stop them in their tracks with sticky traps — our go-to are the uBloomd ones shaped like Monstera leaves (because even pest control should be cute).

Stick a few traps around the base of your plants and near light sources — you’ll be shocked how many you catch overnight.

🌿 Find uBloomd Sticky Traps here in our store — they’re subtle, stylish, and seriously sticky.

3. Brew up some Mozzie Tea (a.k.a. BT bits)

Mosquito Bits (often affectionately called “Mozzie Bits”) contain a natural bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTi), which specifically targets fungus gnat larvae. You can soak them in water to make Mozzie Tea and water your plants with it.

This won’t harm your plants or beneficial insects — but it will interrupt the gnat life cycle at the root. Literally.

 

 

How to use Mozzie Tea:

  • Soak a tablespoon of Mosquito Bits in a litre of water for 6–24 hours

  • Strain out the bits

  • Use the tea to water your plants

  • Repeat weekly for a few weeks to catch all life stages

🛒 You can usually find Mozzie Bits at garden centres, Mitre10 and Bunnings or online — and we’re working to get them stocked soon too!




4. Bring in the carnivores — yes, really

If you want to go full Jurassic Park on your gnat situation, we highly recommend a Pinguicula (ping) plant. These gorgeous little succulents have sticky leaves that passively catch gnats — like a leafy Venus flytrap but prettier and less dramatic.

Plus, they’re compact, adorable, and look great next to your Anthurium.

Bonus tip: Keep them near your more gnat-prone plants. They’ll do the dirty work for you, silently and stylishly.

I often have one or two stashed in my cabinets and near dense populations of plants.

5. Water smart — and let the top layer dry

Overwatering is gnat fuel. Try these techniques to keep things dry where it counts:

  • Bottom water when possible (especially with Pon/LECA)

  • Add a top layer of LECA or coarse sand to your pots

  • Avoid letting water pool in saucers

  • Don’t water on a fixed schedule — check your substrate first

Keeping the top few centimetres dry helps break the gnat cycle by making it an inhospitable place to lay eggs.

Final Thoughts: Consistency is Key

One sticky trap won't solve it. One Mozzie Tea pour won’t either. But together, and done consistently, these methods work. Combine Pon or LECA for the long-term fix, sticky traps for quick wins, BTi tea for larvae, and a ping or two for good measure — and you’ll be back to admiring your plants in peace.


Ready to fight back?

Head over to FoliageObsession.nz to shop:

Because your plants should thrive — without the flying side effects.

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