{"id":87274,"date":"2022-06-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-14T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats\/"},"modified":"2025-02-06T16:35:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T15:35:38","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get rid of Fungus Gnats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Today we\u2019re going to talk about one of the <strong>most common cannabis pest infestations, fungus gnats<\/strong>, which are also called dark-winged fungus gnats or mushroom flies. They\u2019re scientifically known as Sciaridae, part of the Diptera family. These are one of the hardest to see, yet most <strong>disastrous insect infestations<\/strong>. Let&#8217;s have a look at how to get rid of <strong>fungus gnats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These insects are quite common in <strong>humid and hot areas. <\/strong>This&nbsp;is why they tend to rear their ugly heads when it comes to indoor <strong>growing as well as greenhouses<\/strong>. They can also appear in areas with lots of rain or if your plants\u2019 substrate is soaked for too long.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats-1-300x169-1.jpg\" alt=\"how to get rid of fungus gnats\" class=\"wp-image-36749\" title=\"How to get rid of Fungus Gnats\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e33ec252c6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenido<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e33ec252c6\"  \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats\/#How_to_get_rid_of_Fungus_Gnats_Detecting_them\" >How to get rid of Fungus Gnats | Detecting them<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats\/#How_do_fungus_gnats_spread\" >How do fungus gnats spread?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats\/#What_damage_do_fungus_gnats_cause\" >What damage do fungus gnats cause?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats\/#How_to_prevent_fungus_gnats\" >How to prevent fungus gnats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats\/#How_to_get_rid_of_Fungus_Gnats\" >How to get rid of Fungus Gnats<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_get_rid_of_Fungus_Gnats_Detecting_them\"><\/span><strong>How to get rid of Fungus Gnats | Detecting them<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to know <strong>what fungus gnats look like<\/strong> if you\u2019re going to catch them in the act. They have <strong>four different distinct stages<\/strong>; <strong>eggs, larvae, pupae and adult fungus gnats<\/strong>. You most likely won\u2019t be able to see them at all until they\u2019re fully grown adult insects and begin flying around your plants.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/fungus-gnat-size.jpg\" alt=\"fungus gnat size\" class=\"wp-image-36315\" title=\"How to get rid of Fungus Gnats | Detecting them\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Adult fungus gnats are usually <strong>black, dark grey and sometimes brown<\/strong>. They generally grow between <strong>1.6-3.2mm<\/strong> and have six long legs, which can give them a sort of mosquito-appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to figure out if you have a <strong>fungus gnat infestation<\/strong> among your cannabis plants is to place a couple of yellow fly-catching steps near the bottom of your plants. Another easier method is by simply lifting the flowerpot up and letting it fall back down \u2013 this will cause them to <strong>stir and start flying<\/strong>. They can be quite hard to detect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_fungus_gnats_spread\"><\/span><strong>How do fungus gnats spread?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once fungus gnats have started their <strong>reproductive cycle<\/strong>, they search for somewhere to lay their eggs, and your plants\u2019 substrate is a great spot. They can lay <strong>between 50 and 300<\/strong> eggs at once, and they only hatch if the humidity and temperature are high enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_damage_do_fungus_gnats_cause\"><\/span><strong>What damage do fungus gnats cause?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Around <strong>48-72 hours<\/strong> after the gnats have laid their eggs in your plants\u2019 substrate, they\u2019ll begin to hatch, causing an infestation that feeds off of your plants\u2019 roots for around <strong>13 days<\/strong>. This, in turn, may cause the infected plants to<strong> develop fungi and rot in their roots<\/strong>, which can be thoroughly fatal if not caught in time. They also make it much easier for your plants to become infected by other types of virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another side-effect of this annoying pest is that your plants may <strong>stop absorbing nutrients<\/strong> all together due to the fact that they eat at the roots and the follicles used to absorb nutrients and water. If you manage to get rid of your fungus gnat infestation, your plants will <strong>re-grow their own root follicles<\/strong>, although if they\u2019re flowering this may not happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fungus <strong>gnat infestations<\/strong> tend to put your plants on hold almost entirely. They can also cause a lot more <strong>serious problems<\/strong> that can be harder to get rid of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_prevent_fungus_gnats\"><\/span><strong>How to prevent fungus gnats<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/fungus-gnat-humid-conditions.jpg\" alt=\"how to prevent fungus gnats\" class=\"wp-image-36311\" title=\"How to prevent fungus gnats\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Like we said, fungus gnats tend to thrive in humid, shady environments that are <strong>warm enough<\/strong>. If you want to get off to a good start and avoid having to deal with these gnats at all then you\u2019ll need to take a series of precautions when planting. Try and <strong>avoid soaking your substrate<\/strong>, keep the area ventilated and place a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/growing-media-substrates\/1225-perlite-6l-and-100l-sack.html\">thin layer of clay or perlite<\/a> on top of your substrate to stop the flies from getting in in the first place. We also recommend placing some <strong>clay balls<\/strong> at the bottom of your flower pots too. This allows water to train and <strong>evaporate much easier<\/strong> from the bottom of the pot, which stops it from accumulating humidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another handy thing that you can do is place <strong>yellow fly traps<\/strong> around the bottom\/middle of your plants. This can keep any wandering flies under control although it isn\u2019t good enough to get rid of a full infestation. You should use yellow fly trap strips whenever you <strong>grow cannabis anyway<\/strong>. They help to keep plenty of different types of flying insects at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you really want to keep these <strong>nasty fungus gnats<\/strong> away from your plants, you can always use <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/trabe\/3347-neem-press-cakes-proneem-trabe.html\">Neem cakes<\/a> or neem flour<\/strong>. All you have to do is mix it in with your plants\u2019 substrate before you actually plant them, or mix it in with the surface layer of substrate and then water so that it filters down through the <strong>entire flowerpot<\/strong>. Neem is used in plenty of different cultivations in order to keep your plants\u2019 roots safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_get_rid_of_Fungus_Gnats\"><\/span><strong>How to get rid of Fungus Gnats<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"183\" height=\"276\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/fungus-gnat-neem-tree.jpg\" alt=\"how to get rid of fungus gnats\" class=\"wp-image-36307\" title=\"How to get rid of Fungus Gnats\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Once gnats have taken hold of your plants you\u2019ll need to use <strong>specific products<\/strong> in order to get rid of them. One of the most effective ways to get rid of them is by using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/misc-insecticides-and-fungicides\/3121-snake-poison-anti-worms.html\"><strong>Bacillus Thuringiensis<\/strong><\/a>, which is a bacteria that\u2019s also used to get rid of <strong>caterpillar infestations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also use other types of <strong>nematodes such as Stienemema Feltiae<\/strong>, although they\u2019re a bit delicate to keep alive. If you manage to control the <strong>parameters in your grow room<\/strong> properly this can be quite an effective method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to other insects you can use <strong>a type of Acari insect called Hypoapsis Miles<\/strong>, which is quite a feisty pest. It\u2019s known as the tiger fly, and adult tiger flies absolutely love to show down on fungus gnats. Synacra Paupera is another insect that you can use. It\u2019s a flying insect that <strong>infects fungus gnat larvae<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to using biological means of <strong>controlling insect infestations<\/strong>, you\u2019ll need to keep careful control of the parameters surrounding your plants, as all insects need specific parameters to stay alive. If you use this method you won\u2019t be able to use insecticides at all, as you may end up <strong>killing off the insects<\/strong> that are trying to help.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>[ppgbo products=&#8221;5090,6046,7175&#8243; language=&#8221;en&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div style='text-align:center' class='yasr-auto-insert-visitor'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today we\u2019re going to talk about one of the most common cannabis pest infestations, fungus gnats, which are also called dark-winged fungus gnats or mushroom flies. They\u2019re scientifically known as Sciaridae, part of the Diptera family. These are one of the hardest to see, yet most disastrous insect infestations. Let&#8217;s have a look at how\u2026 <span class=\"leermas\" onclick=\"window.location.href='https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-fungus-gnats\/'\">Continue reading<\/span ><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":94586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[256,254],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana-news","category-marijuana-crops"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":2,"sum_votes":10},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87274"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":194038,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87274\/revisions\/194038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}