Nobody likes pests on plants, but they are an inevitable part of the garden. While some of them can cause a lot of damage, there are also some that are more annoying than harmful. A typical example are the annoying fungus gnats. The little pests swarm all around the plants and can reproduce quickly. They are harmless to humans, but their larvae can feed on the young roots of plants and, in the worst case, kill young plants. There are now various methods to combat the small, annoying flies in the soil. Today we will explain how sand works against fungus gnats and how it can be used correctly.
There is probably no hobby gardener who hasn't had to struggle with fungus gnats in their house or garden. The pests are active all year round, being found indoors in winter and both indoors and outdoors in summer. There are numerous methods and home remedies to combat it, which generally work well.if you use them correctly. Since more and more people are trying not to use chemicals in the garden, we have discovered another effective remedy that can help you in the fight against fungus gnats.
This is how the method works
It's about sand. Even a thin layer of it can have a preventative effect against fungus gnats because it blocks their access to the soil and they can no longer lay their eggs there. This method is very simple and works wonderfully for potted plants.
If your plant is already infected, remove the top 5 cm of soil first. Then spread a layer of sand evenly over the substrate. Do not add too much sand to avoid compacting the soil.
Important: If you water the plants from above and moisten the sand, you will still create a favorable climate for the fungus gnats. If the sand is moist, the small flies can penetrate the soil again and lay their eggs. To prevent this, water the plants from below over the saucer. You should remove the excess water that was not absorbed.
Which sand is suitable?
As a rule, any type of sand should work to prevent fungus gnats from laying eggs. You can even use the sand from the child's sandbox. It should be able to dry the surface of the substrate and thus drive away the flies. It is best to choose slightly coarser sand that does not retain moisture. Quartz sand has the advantage that the grain size is uniform, which prevents clumping. But simple horticultural sand also works well. The sand just doesn't have to be too fine, otherwise it won't stop the mosquitoes from breeding.
Conclusion: Sand is a good helper against fungus gnats in the potting soil. It can prevent them from reproducing by blocking the top layer of soil where they lay their eggs. Furthermore, sand does not store moisture and therefore creates an unfavorable habitat for the pests.
