How to get rid of midges in plants so as not to miss the season and enjoy a good harvest

The beautiful season is ripe for all kinds of insects that can spoil your lunch outside or rot the fruit on your plate. For your harvest to be organic, you want to avoid chemical insecticides. So what to do? How to get rid of midges in plants? Are there natural ways that can protect your plants? Either in the pots indoors or the flowerbeds of the garden? We have provided an overview of the opportunities to be seized in the following article.

“How do you get rid of midges in plants? »Is a current question during the summer season

In principle, it is the humidity that acts as a magnet for the midges. Insects hover around, often attracted to unrefrigerated ripening fruit or even beer and juice containers stored in recycling bins. They search for the intoxicating essence of fermentation and the wetlands around domestic drain pipes. As this presentation is very inconvenient, you are drawn to the challenge “how to get rid of midges in plants”.

Adult specimens are harmless to houseplants, while their larvae can cause serious damage to the root system.

As for mushroom flies, they particularly like to deposit their young in moist soil to feed on mushrooms and decaying plant matter. However, instead of throwing the plant away, you can get rid of the annoying mushroom gnats by using a universal product called white vinegar or apple cider vinegar that you can make yourself at home.

The vinegar against your biggest summer challenge: “How to get rid of midges in plants? “

From the list of products and tools necessary for your fight against midges, you will need:

apple cider vinegar

transparent or semi-opaque plastic cup

liquid dish soap

transparent adhesive tape

yellow sticky traps

fresh raw potato

plastic bag

sterilized potting mix

ripe fruit (optional)

bleach

• Pour a quarter to a half-inch apple cider vinegar into a clear or semi-opaque plastic cup, creating an effective fungal gnat trap.
• Add a drop or two of liquid dish soap and stir to combine.
• Cover the top of the mug with clear tape, leaving an opening of an eighth of an inch in the center of the taped area.

• Place the vinegar trap near your houseplant and check it daily. Do not touch it if you see midges congregating above the taped area. They will soon find their way into the hole and access the vinegar.

Other tips to use effectively

• Set yellow sticky traps around your houseplant to attract hovering adults into the room.
• Cut a fresh raw potato into pieces. Place a few pieces on the floor of the houseplant for two or three days. Pick up the pieces of potatoes and see if they are chewed.

• Gently remove the houseplant from its pot if you have discovered any mushroom fly larvae. Remove as much soil as possible without disturbing the roots. Seal the infected soil in a plastic bag and discard it. Do not add it to the compost pile.
• Clean and disinfect the planter. Repot the plant in good sterilized soil or bought brand new in the store.

Follow the instructions carefully.

There are thirty-six effective and ecological garden tips, but you can always learn more.

• Change your watering practices. Allow the houseplant’s soil surface to dry completely. Hold water for as long as you can without causing damage to the plant. Mushroom flies need a moist environment. Otherwise, the larvae will die when the soil dries out.

• Remove debris and dead plant material from the soil surface daily to remove an attractant for adult fungus flies and a food source for the larvae.

Midges are lighter than liquids, so they can cross the surface without sinking. The dish soap breaks the surface tension of the liquid, causing them to drown in the vinegar of the trap.

• Drop a small piece of ripe fruit such as banana or cantaloupe in the vinegar. Make sure the bait is large enough to protrude above the surface of the liquid. It will attract adult midges faster than vinegar alone.
• Soak plant containers in 1 part bleach and 9 parts water for 10 minutes to disinfect. Wash in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

Should we be worried? 

Mushroom flies are more of a nuisance than a danger. However, they can contaminate food with bacteria.

At the same time, midges in houseplants are annoying. Although they look like mosquitoes, they don’t bite.

First and foremost, since midges in houseplants typically occur when the potting soil contains too much moisture, the best way to keep them from taking over your home is to avoid overwatering. But what if the damage is already done and you are dealing with a swarm of pesky flies?

One way to tell if you are about to have a gnat problem is to look for eggs. Mushroom flies lay eggs in the soil, which become larvae.

In addition to fungi, midges also love organic matter and sometimes eat plant roots or seedlings. As a result, the plant appears wilted. Look for the trail that slugs and snails leave behind. If you can detect it, midges are likely circling. They are also attracted to light, so you may notice them on your windows, especially if indoor plants are nearby.