How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats on Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
- Remove the top few inches of soil. Try scooping out the top few inches of soil and replacing with fresh potting mix to get rid of any eggs or larvae ...
- Repot. If your tree is otherwise healthy, you might be able to get rid of the issue by removing the soil containing fungus gnat eggs.
- Helpful bacteria. Bacillus thuringiensis, or BTI, is a harmless bacteria that’s completely non-toxic for humans and animals, but is poisonous to insects and larvae.
- Diatomaceous Earth. This is a powdered mineral with microscopic sharp edges. DE is harmless for your plant, but it kills insects when they eat it.
- Flypaper and traps. Mature fungus gnats will die off on their own in a few weeks, especially if there are new no ones hatching, but you can move the process ...
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on my fiddle?
Mature fungus gnats will die off on their own in a few weeks, especially if there are new no ones hatching, but you can move the process along with sticky traps or flypaper. Simply hang a strip near your fiddle or put one right on the soil to attract pests.
How to get rid of bugs on fiddle leaf fig?
Rosemary oil – Rosemary oil is known for its beautiful scent and is an excellent pest repellent. It can even work on the larvae of the bugs. Use diluted rosemary oil and spray it all over your fiddle leaf to get rid of the bugs. Cinnamate – Cinnamate is non-toxic to plants and is used to treat pests of all stages.
Are gnats on fiddle leaf figs dangerous?
And gnats on your fiddle leaf fig will bug you too! These tiny flying insects buzz around the leaves of your fig (and around your home!) and lay their eggs in the soil. Adult fungus gnats aren’t dangerous on their own, but they sure are annoying!
How do you get rid of fungus gnats on succulents?
Many insects, including fungus gnats, are attracted to dark, damp conditions. Only water when the top few inches of soil are dry (use a moisture meter like this one to be accurate!) and make sure your plant gets lots of indirect sunlight.
How do I get rid of gnats in my potted plants?
Vinegar mixture: Fill a shallow saucer with 2-3 drops of liquid dish soap and a cup of white vinegar. Place the bowl near your plant — the gnats will be attracted to the solution and fall into the trap. Keep repeating the process until all the gnats are gone.
What home remedy kills gnats in houseplants?
Mix one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with 4 parts of water and pour this over the soil of your plant. The hydrogen peroxide works by killing all the fungus gnat larvae, which is the only true way of killing off the gnat population.
What is the fastest way to get rid of gnats?
The most popular option is a vinegar trap, which is simple and cost-effective to create. Simply place a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a tablespoon of sugar in a bowl and stir. Set your bowl in an area where gnats are prevalent, such as your kitchen or bathroom.
Do coffee grounds repel fungus gnats?
No. There is no evidence that coffee grounds repel gnats, and in fact, they may make the problem worse. Since fungus gnats thrive in moist environments rich in organic, decaying material, adding coffee grounds just adds fuel to the fire. If you have gnats in plants, coffee grounds won't help you.
How to keep bugs off fiddle leaf figs?
Tips to prevent bugs on fiddle leaf figs. Understand the water requirements of your plant and come up with a watering schedule according to that. Make sure you are not overwatering the plant. Ensure that the soil you are using is well-aerated and supports proper drainage of water.
What to use to get rid of bugs on fiddle?
Rosemary oil – Rosemary oil is known for its beautiful scent and is an excellent pest repellent. It can even work on the larvae of the bugs. Use diluted rosemary oil and spray it all over your fiddle leaf to get rid of the bugs. Cinnamate – Cinnamate is non-toxic to plants and is used to treat pests of all stages.
How to keep pests away from plants?
Use Plant-based miticide. Using miticides can keep the pests away from your plant. Chemical miticides may be harmful to the plant, so using a plant-based one will be a better option. Start by spraying the miticide on a plant leaf to make sure that it suits the plant. Then you can spray it on the entire plant.
Why do figs need aerated soil?
Lack of air circulation. Plants need good air circulation to remain healthy. Fiddle leaf figs need aerated soil and proper airflow; otherwise, they will start attracting bugs. Aerated soil will dry out quickly and not remain damp, which is the ideal condition for the growth of pests.
Why do fiddle leaf figs have bugs?
Some of these pests like to suck on the sap of the plant. The common causes of pest infestation are overwatering, excess humidity, and lack of air circulation.
How to make miticides with tea?
Herbal tea miticide is a DIY, and for this, you need to take 1 tbsp of cinnamon and 1 tbsp cloves and add it to a quarter of water. Boil this mixture and let it cool down. Add garlic after it has cooled down.
What happens if a fiddle leaf fig is not getting enough light?
If your fiddle leaf fig is not getting enough light, the leaves will remain wet for far too long and attract pests. You can use other methods such as using a humidifier or a pebble tray to increase the humidity for your plant.
Why are my fiddle leaf figs turning red?
Edema occurs when a fiddle leaf fig is slightly overwatered or receives very inconsistent watering. This may cause cells in the leaves to burst, which shows up as tiny red or brown dots all over your new growth. While mild cases of edema are harmless, severe cases can indicate a major issue with your watering routine.
How to treat fungus on leaves?
The next step is to protect the remaining leaves. Use our Leaf Armor to treat the leaves, or mix 1 teaspoon baking soda into 1 quart of water and spray both sides of your leaves generously.
Why do my fiddle trees have white spots on the stems?
This is a fungal disease caused by poor air circulation between the leaves. If your tree is affected, you’ll notice chalky white or gray spots on your stems and leaves that come off when you rub them. Powdery mildew can make your fiddle more vulnerable to insects and eventually kill your tree.
How to treat brown spots on a tree?
How to Treat: If you notice a lot of brown spots on your tree, carefully remove those leaves with clean hands and tools, and repot the tree into fresh soil and a clean pot with drainage. Provide plenty of light and give your tree a little less water than usual, and use our Root Supplement to help your tree recover.
How to get air flow between leaves?
To increase airflow between the leaves, open some windows or doors and turn on a fan to create air movement in the room (but don’t point it directly at your fiddle). If you only see spots on a few leaves, use sharp, clean shears to remove those leaves.
Can fiddle leaf figs get sick?
Like all organisms, fiddle leaf figs can get sick! Despite your careful and consistent care routine, you might run into one or more of these common fiddle leaf fig diseases and conditions at some point. It’s important to recognize them and know how to treat them! Some of these diseases are more common than others, ...
Fiddle Leaf Figs Are Resilient
While it may take lots of time and care for your fiddle to make a full recovery, it can be done! You don’t have to say goodbye to your fiddley friend just yet.
To learn more
To learn more, sign up for our free Fiddle Leaf Fig Care 101 Webinar or enroll in our free Fiddle Leaf Fig Course for advanced fiddle leaf fig care.
How can you tell if a fiddle leaf fig has a bacterial infection?
Signs that your fiddle leaf fig has a bacterial infection include yellow or brown spots on the leaves, cracked or strangely shaped leaves or your plant dropping its leaves.
How do I get rid of bacteria in my fiddle leaf fig?
The treatment for a fiddle leaf fig bacterial infection varies slightly based on the type of infection your plant has. However, preventing and stopping the spread tends to include removing affected leaves and repotting the plant. Proper care is also necessary.
How to prevent fiddle leaf fig bacterial infections
Ideally, you want to prevent bacterial infections in your fiddle leaf fig before they happen. The process to treat them can be time consuming. In some cases, you may not be able to treat the infection.
How do you treat bacterial root rot in fiddle leaf figs?
Root rot is an infection caused by over-watering your plant. Since bacteria thrive in moisture, your first step is to eliminate the moisture and so allow the soil to dry out completely, which may take up to two weeks. You should also consider repotting your plant in fresh soil that easily drains.
What to do with shiny fiddle leaf fig leaves?
For shiny fiddle leaf fig leaves, the best thing you can do is care for your plant’s health and keep the leaves clean. Like humans, plants look best when they’re healthy, so I prefer a health-first approach to shiny leaves!
Why do houseplants need leaf shine?
I love our new Houseplant Leaf Shine because not only does it protect your leaves from dust and give them a healthy shine, it also wards off pests! It’s perfect for cleaning and protecting. Over time, it even helps your plant retain more of its own moisture!
Do fiddle leaf figs shine?
Fiddle leaf figs are beautiful plants and we all want those shiny fiddle leaf fig leaves! But sometimes our fiddles need a little help to shine! Our plant’s leaves might get dusty or just grow out dull instead of gleaming and beautiful. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of advice out there about getting that coveted shine, and not all of it is good.