I have a houseplant infested with gnats--what can I do to save it?

Answer 1

Gnats are NOT fruit flies, they are a different species all together.
Un pot the plant, throw the old potting soil right into the trash and get rid of it.
Fill your sink with warm soapy water just as if you were going to wash dishes. wash the PLANT and the POT in the warm soapy water.
Get clean potting soil and re pot the plant.
Cut a raw potato, and stick white side down, skin side up in the pot in the new potting soil.
Any adults left that can lay eggs in the new potting soil, the potato will draw the hatched eggs (larvae) away from your plant and into the raw potato.
Every couple of days take the potato slice out and toss it into the trash and put in a new one.
Soon, no more fungus gnats, and all with out nasty pesticides, that by the way, the Adult gnats are totally resistant to pesticides, they have seen it all!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I had this problem before. I was told it was from overwatering. A pest control employee suggested I spray the soil with windex. Also let the plant dry out between waterings. I guess the ammonia in the windex killed the gnats. It worked on the gnats but those spider plants never looked as good. You could also replant and make sure you don't overwater.

Answer 3

Put some pieces of fruit in a jar, cover the opening with foil and secure with a rubber band, poke a few (not too many) very small holes in the foil with a toothpick and set it near the plant. They will find the hole to enter but won't be able to get out.

Answer 4

The gnats are living in your soil. Put a layer of horticultural sand on top of your potting soil. It will shred their bodies when they try to leave or go back home.

Answer 5

Put a drop of dishwashing soap into a spray bottle. Then fill with water. Spray on your plant and on the soil in the pot. Repeat a couple of times a day.