How To Use Diatomaceous Earth To Kill Fungus Gnats

Overwatering indoor plants also contributes to gnat infestations.

How to use diatomaceous earth to kill fungus gnats. Fungus gnats and crawling insects can make their way into your seed starts. Insects typically pick up de particles on their cuticle as they move. Mix food grade diatomaceous earth into the soil to kill the gnats. De is made from the fossilized skeletons of diatoms. Diatomaceous earth works by removing the waxes on the insect s body and by absorbing oils and waxes on the outer cuticle.

The most common reason to use diatomaceous earth is that it kills pests in your potted plants. So for every 10lbs of food you can use 3 to 4 ounces of feed. Feed your horses or cattle as you normally would and make sure they have access to plenty of drinking water. The whole key is to keep the dust dry. Literally sprinkle a layer of the powder over the topsoil of your pot plant.

An effective pest control solution for dealing with fungus gnats is food grade diatomaceous earth de. On the day you water your plant add some more crawling insect control diatomaceous earth to the soil again. Fill a new pot with fresh healthy soil mixed with a scoop of diatomaceous earth to prevent the development of gnat eggs. Dust your potted plants with diatomaceous earth to keep the topsoil dry and desiccate any larvae or gnats that land on the plant. You want the insect to crawl across the dry dust and get the microscopic sharp silica into its joints.

Another way in which de can kill insects is through desiccation or by rupturing or abrading the insect cuticle and causing extensive water loss. It s possible to use the same pot the plant was purchased in but be sure to wash it out with warm soapy water during the repotting process. With your cattle or horse feed at a 2 ratio by weight. One strategy to reduce their numbers is to use the de on the surfaces of your seed starts and on the leaves of the plants. Purchase diatomaceous earth that s non toxic from a local garden or home improvement store.

Follow the instructions that come with the diatomaceous earth and mix it into your houseplant s soil or just spread it on the top layer of soil so it s about 1 in 2 5 cm thick. When the fungus gnat larvae come into contact with the razor sharp powder it removes the waxes from the insect s body and absorbs the oils located on their outer cuticle. It helps improve the potting soil the diatomaceous earth when mixed with potting soil helps improve its texture. You can get rid of several insects like aphids whiteflies beetles silverfish earwigs gnats and ants using it.