How To Use Diatomaceous Earth For Gnats

Or the time just after a light rain.

How to use diatomaceous earth for gnats. Overwatering indoor plants also contributes to gnat infestations. It s an all natural non toxic barrier to bed bugs that can both kill them and prevent them from moving freely throughout your house. While diatomaceous earth does not kill the bugs immediately it can take 7 to 17 days it does have long lasting effective results. Placing giant mounds of d e. Blue light electric trap.

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. Mix food grade diatomaceous earth into the soil to kill the gnats. The best time to apply diatomaceous earth is in the morning after the dew has settled. You want to spread a very thin layer of dust where you are having the issues and make it so that the insects can t go around or circumvent the dust. Mix some diatomaceous earth around the soil in those parts and prevent their larvae from becoming full grown adult gnats or fruit flies.

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. Diatomaceous earth works by removing the waxes on the insect s body and by absorbing oils and waxes on the outer cuticle. The diatomaceous earth is most effective against soft bodied insects. Diatomaceous earth is a great tool to use in your fight against bed bugs.

Purchase diatomaceous earth that s non toxic from a local garden or home improvement store. To properly use diatomaceous earth as an insecticide you want to use a thin powder layer. In your garden will not work because the pests will just go around it. 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. Diatomaceous earth is effective thanks to the presence of sharp shard like silica molecules which easily slice through the insects.

How to use diatomaceous earth in potted plants. You want the insect to crawl across the dry dust and get the microscopic sharp silica into its joints. Dust your potted plants with diatomaceous earth to keep the topsoil dry and desiccate any larvae or gnats that land on the plant. 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.