How to Get Rid of Gnats and Spider Mites in My Houseplants

Gnats

• 1

  Allow the top inch or so of soil to dry out between watering to limit the food source for gnats. Pick out any dead leaves or wet bark on the top level to let the soil dry faster.

• 2

  Re-pot your plant and remove any dead bulbs or roots if the problems persist. This removes a food source of the gnat larvae.

• 3

  Place small chunks of raw potato on the surface of the soil to determine if there are larvae left. Check the potato after a few days for larvae that have migrated to the surface to eat; if there are none, you don’t have a gnat problem.

Spider Mites

• 4

  Water a plant infested with spider mites on a moderate pressure setting. The force of the water will disturb webs or protection for the mites, and adequately watered plants will have greater resistance. Place houseplants in the bathtub or shower to hose them down.

• 5

  Wipe all large houseplant leaves with a damp cloth. Remove and dispose of the most infested leaves.

• 6

  Apply such insecticides as acephate, bifenthrin, or sulfur every 10 to 14 days according to the product instructions. Use caution when using these products, because improper application can result in insecticide-resistant mites. Apply the oil or chemicals to all of your plants at the same time so the mites don’t migrate and return at a later time.