How to Get Rid of Flies in Potted Plants

by PCH-USA | Last updated Mar 21, 2023 | Flies

Whether it’s for your sense of well-being, for interior aesthetics, research, or you recently received it as a gift – potted plants require lots of care.

They can be prone to the most mundane of issues, such as the presence of flies. This can mean that flies feed on the leaves or fruit of your potted plant, which can compromise their growth.

The best answer is to consider using natural techniques such as plant traps and staying savvy about plant care. The guide below should be helpful.

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Why Do Flies Hang Around Potted Plants

You may have noticed different types of flies around your potted plants. They tend to hang around plants, especially leafy, bushy, or those that produce fruit. Among some of the few significant reasons for their presence around potted plants includes:

For food – insects such as fruit flies feed on rotting fruit and leaves. So be on the lookout for the presence of rotten fruit or leaves.
For a habitat – they may also prefer getting into the bushy areas or moist soil, where their larvae can thrive.

How to Get Rid of Flies in Potted Plants?

Solutions you Can Consider

Why Are Flies Attracted to Me?

1. Use Some Vinegar

You have two options when it comes to using vinegar to help eliminate the presence of flies around your potted plants. They include:

Part 1 – Make a DIY Gnat Trap Using Vinegar

Place a tablespoon of any sugary product on a bowl or open dish.
Then, add some pleasant-smelling dish soap and some white vinegar to the mixture. Cover it using a cling wrap.
Get a sharp object, and poke a few small holes on the cling wrap. Put it close to your house plant, and let it sit, so it captures flies throughout the night.

Use Vinegar and Soap

Place a little vinegar and a chunk of ripe fruit in a container.
Then, get a piece of dense writing paper, and roll it up into a con structure. Proceed to place the narrow opening down inside the jar.
The smell of the rotten fruit should be sufficient to attract the flies into the fruit jar. However, the cone structure on top of the jar will stop them from getting back out.

2. Use Sticky Fly Traps

If the smell of vinegar is not appealing to you, consider using a DIY fly trap.

The best option would be the stick traps. You can hang these on the branch of your plant or to a window that is close by. It’s an excellent measure for reducing the adult population of flies, and you can reuse it several times.

However, you have to replace it after the adhesive is no longer potent. So, keep a lookout for the trap’s efficiency. It can also serve as an excellent measure for getting rid of flies in outdoor potted plants.

3. Get an Indoor Fly Catcher

If it’s not your first-time experiencing flies, consider using a fly-catching device.

Usually, these are small USB-powered devices that use a unique set of lights to attract and suck flies into a trap. You can even make this measure that much more effective by placing rotten fruit close to the flycatcher.

A good example would be the KATCHY Indoor Insect catcher. The insect catcher leverages UV’s immense power to attract bags into a vacuum, which directs them to a sticky glue board. The good thing is that it does not take up lots of space and won’t add extra costs to your energy bills.

Potted Plant Care Tips

While using direct measures to get rid of flies around potted plants is excellent, it’s only a short-term measure.

Consider various other secondary measures, such as practicing suitable potted plant care measures. For instance, a few helpful tips include:

Avoid overwatering – try and find a suitable watering schedule. Consider letting the soil dry between regular watering. Ensure you do it properly using a program to avoid starving your plants.
Choose a suitable pot drainage – a pot with optimal drainage will help prevent insects from laying eggs. Plus, it is also useful for protecting your plants from issues such as root rot.

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Wipe Down Surfaces that Can Be Breeding Surfaces

Clean all the surfaces and cabinets that are close to your plant thoroughly
Ensure you also clean trash cans using products such as bleach. The most crucial aspect would be to ensure that food residue does not stick to trash cans. Plus, the scent of rotting food can also be attractive for flies.
Clean and store your fruits using the proper measures. Once you are done cleaning the fruits with some water, clean them using a cloth containing some vinegar.

Ziplock bag of water to keep flies away

FAQ

How Do I Get Rid of Flies in Potted Plants Naturally?

There are various natural and DIY techniques you can use to get rid of the plants. You can use the vinegar method mention above, or perhaps consider investing in a flycatcher. When it comes to how to get rid of flies in potted plants spray, consider making one using vinegar.

How Do You Get Rid of Fungus Gnats?

Fungus gnats seek soil, so consider letting your soil dry a bit in between watering sessions. Plus, allow the soil’s top sections to dry before applying any more water to the setup.

How Do You Get Rid of Little Black Flies Around Plants?

Avoid using chemical products because these can have adverse effects on plants. Consider using products such as neem oil spray, garlic, beer, herbal water, and spray. These are all-natural solutions and suitable for plant care purposes.

Finally

The presence of flies around the plant is not often a good thing, especially if it’s your delicate potted plants. You have to ensure your plants are well cared for, including learning how to get rid of flies in potted plants.

There are many options for you in this category include natural and artificial methods. Plus, you can also invest in technologies such as flycatcher and use the right gardening techniques.

Avoid using chemicals because they pose a health risk to you and the plant.

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