It has long been known that vinegar is a true all-rounder, and not just in the kitchen. The home remedy is also used in many places in the household. But would you have thought that acetic acid also proves to be very useful in the fight against pests? On this page you will learn how to get rid of fungus gnats in a simple and environmentally friendly way.
How do you fight fungus gnats with vinegar?
To combat fungus gnats with vinegar, mix 50% vinegar and a little dishwashing liquid in a glass of water and place it next to the affected plant. The smell attracts the fungus gnats, but they drown in the solution due to destroyed surface tension.
Application
Many home remedies for fungus gnats are used directly on the plant. With the vinegar method, the plant does not come into contact with the agent:
- Fill a large glass halfway with water.
- Now add 50% vinegar and dish soap
- Place the jar on the windowsill next to the affected plant.
- After a few hours, the first fungus gnats should be floating dead in the solution.
How it works
The intense smell of acetic acid attracts fungus gnats. These settle on the surface of the water. However, since the detergent contained destroys the surface tension, they fall into the water and drown.
Benefits of vinegar treatment
- cheap
- environmentally friendly
- Your plant will not be harmed.
- not tied to any season
- If the fungus gnats respond to the vinegar mixture, the method is very effective.
Disadvantages of vinegar treatment
- acrid stench in the rooms
- doesn't always work
- the animals die
- Several repetitions are often required.
Note: Both your outdoor plants and your houseplants are part of the ecosystem, which also includes pests such as the fungus gnat. It is certainly not the best option to let the fungus gnats drown in the vinegar solution. Nevertheless, this home remedy is much more recommended than chemical poisons. With the vinegar method, you only harm the fungus gnats, but not your plant or the environment. If you still don't want to kill the animals, you can find other home remedies here that only drive away the pest.
