How To Use Diatomaceous Earth To Kill Fungus Gnats

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.

How to use diatomaceous earth to kill fungus gnats. With your cattle or horse feed at a 2 ratio by weight. Purchase diatomaceous earth that s non toxic from a local garden or home improvement store. 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. 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. You will firstly want to use food grade diatomaceous earth.

Overwatering indoor plants also contributes to gnat infestations. The most common reason to use diatomaceous earth is that it kills pests in your potted plants. 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. 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.

Insects typically pick up de particles on their cuticle as they move. Fungus gnats and crawling insects can make their way into your seed starts. Mix food grade diatomaceous earth into the soil to kill the gnats. You want the insect to crawl across the dry dust and get the microscopic sharp silica into its joints. So for every 10lbs of food you can use 3 to 4 ounces of feed.

The whole key is to keep the dust dry. Fill a new pot with fresh healthy soil mixed with a scoop of diatomaceous earth to prevent the development of gnat eggs. An effective pest control solution for dealing with fungus gnats is food grade diatomaceous earth de. Feed your horses or cattle as you normally would and make sure they have access to plenty of drinking water. On the day you water your plant add some more crawling insect control diatomaceous earth to the soil again.

Dust your potted plants with diatomaceous earth to keep the topsoil dry and desiccate any larvae or gnats that land on the plant. 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 helps improve the potting soil the diatomaceous earth when mixed with potting soil helps improve its texture. Ideally add when the soil s surface is dry to the touch but before your plant is in dire need of watering soaking up water will make it ineffective.