How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in Plants: Amazing Ideas

How to get rid of fruit flies in plants is a task that has many ways to so, such as a simple clean-up, using homemade remedies, and even making DIY insect traps. If these pesky little buggers have bothered you for some time, then we got the safe and natural solutions just for you.

Read on to learn all about the different ways that you can use to get rid of them and to have your plant thriving in a healthy way.

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in Plants In Natural Ways?

To get rid of fruit flies in plants in natural ways, remove any rotting plant parts, place a bowl of apple cider vinegar, use yellow sticky tapes as traps, place insect traps in bottles, and allow the soil to dry. You may also use neem oil solution or hydrogen peroxide.

The common fruit fly is among the most annoying garden insects, and we don’t blame you if its presence has been bugging you. These solutions are applicable to any outdoor or indoor plant since they are all safe and natural.

In addition to this, if you see fruit flies on plants indoors, they are often fungus gnats, and you can get rid of them by letting the soil dry out, removing affected indoor plants, and using sticky paper traps. Additionally, you can eliminate them by applying insecticides, layering the soil with sand, and improving air circulation.

– Remove Any Rotting Plant Parts

Fruit flies are often attracted to decaying organic matter, including fruits and vegetables. If you have any rotting produce or food scraps lying around near your houseplants, it’s likely that these insects will be drawn to them and start to lay eggs. Once their eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the organic matter, which can cause damage to the plant’s roots and attract even more flies.

To prevent these pests from infesting your plants, removing any rotting fruit or vegetables from the area surrounding the plant is important. You may also try to wipe down surfaces with a solution of equal water and white vinegar, which will help eliminate any remaining fruit fly eggs or larvae.

– Place a Bowl of Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar made from apple cider has been known to attract flies due to its organic nature. To set up a trap, you need to choose a small bowl or container. A shallow dish, jar lid, or even a plastic cup can work. Pour the vinegar into the bowl, filling it about a quarter to half full.

Add some dish soap, a couple of drops, to the vinegar, and now you will see how the soap will aid to break the tension that is found in the vinegar and then make it more challenging for the flies to escape. Place the bowl near the infested plant. after this, the flies will be attracted to the scent of the vinegar and will fly toward it.

When the flies land on the surface of the vinegar, they will get stuck and drown. Then you can clear out the bowl and refill it with fresh vinegar and dish soap regularly, as the solution can become diluted or too full of dead flies.

Remembr that that this method may take a bit of time to be effective, as it relies on the flies being attracted to the vinegar and flying into the bowl. It’s also important to tidy the area around the plant and keep it clean and free of any decaying organic matter, as this can continue to attract flies even if you’re using traps.

– Use Yellow Sticky Types of Traps

Yellow sticky traps are an effective and simple way to control fruit flies in your houseplants. These traps are readily available at most garden centers, or you can easily make them yourself. If you prefer to make one yourself instead of buying commercial ones, you’ll need some yellow pieces of paper or cardboard, string, and non-toxic adhesives.

First, cut a piece of yellow cardstock or cardboard into a shape that’s about four to six inches long and two to six inches wide. You can make the shape whatever you like, but a long, thin rectangle works well.

Next, you should punch a hole on one end of the card stock and thread a piece of string or yarn through it. Tie the string that you are using so that you can hang the trap. Apply a thin layer of non-toxic adhesive to one side of the card stock. You can use a variety of adhesives, such as petroleum jelly or sticky tape.

Hang the trap near the infested plant, and this way, the bright yellow color of the card stock will be attracting the fruit flies, and they will become stuck in the adhesive. Try to examine the trap regularly and replace it when it becomes too full of insects or the adhesive dries.

It’s important to note that these sticky traps can also catch beneficial insects, so it’s ideal that you make use of them sparingly and only when necessary. You should also consider other methods of controlling flies, such as removing overripe fruit and keeping your plant’s soil dry.

– Place Insect Trap Bottles

There are some manufactured insect traps that are sold at hardware stores and gardening centers. However, they can be loaded with unknown chemicals that are not the best for you or your garden. If you wish to make one using common household items, then we have your back.

First, you will need a large two-liter soda bottle, vinegar from apple cider, dish soap, sharp scissors or knife, and maybe some tape. Using a sharp knife or scissors, you must cut off the upper part of the plastic bottle, just below where the bottle begins to taper towards the neck. Now, the top part should be wide enough to fit back into the bottom of the bottle, upside down.

Take the cut top of the bottle, and now you must flip it upside down so that the spout is pointing downward. Place it into the bottom of the bottle, in a way that the neck of the bottle is pointing into the main compartment of the bottle.

Pour vinegar into the bottom of the bottle until it’s about a quarter to half an inch deep, and for this, you should also add a couple of drops of any dish soap to the vinegar and gently swirl the bottle to mix. Place the trap near the infested plant. The flies will be allured by the scent of the vinegar and will crawl into the spout to investigate.

Once they touch the liquid, the dish soap will break the tension that is found at the surfacee and this matter will cause the flies to sink, trapping them inside the bottle. To make the trap more attractive to the flies, you can wrap the bottle with tape with the sticky side facing outwards. In this case, you may need to do this process several times until all the flies have been trapped, and once full, dispose of the trap and repeat.

– Allow the Soil Around the Plant to Slightly Dry Out

Allowing the soil of the plant to dry out a bit between watering is an effective way to control the flies in your plants. Fruit flies are attracted to moist soil because this place is the perfect breeding ground for them. If you consistently overwater your plants, the soil can remain moist, making it a perfect environment for flies to lay their eggs so that they multiply.

Therefore, allowing the soil to dry out between watering can make the environment less favorable for flies to breed. To do this, you should water your plants less frequently and in smaller amounts. Depending on the species of the plant found and its water requirements, you may need to adjust your watering schedule.

You have to be especially watchful if you have potted plants, as they tend to dry much faster than those in the ground. Generally, your indoor plant may dry out faster than potted ones outdoors.

– Use Neem Oil Solutions

This oil, extracted from parts of the neem tree, is a natural and safe pesticide that can be effective in controlling flies and other pests like Japanese beetles. To create your own solution, mix a solution of the neem tree oil and water in a spray bottle. The ratio of neem oil to water should be 1:10, so one part oil to ten parts water.

Shake the bottle to ensure that the neem oil is well mixed with the water. You can add a few drops of dish soap to make the solution mix better. Spray the solution on the plant, ensuring you have covered both the leaves’ top and bottom.

Repeat the application every week, or as needed until the flies are gone. Aside from disrupting the life cycle of pests, this oil has different antifungal and antibacterial properties that can protect plants from many diseases.

However, you must remember that oil may also harm beneficial insects, such as bees, so it is ideal to use it during the early morning and the late evening when bees are less active. In addition, ensure that you follow the instructions placed on the product label and avoid spraying the neem oil solution directly on the flowers or fruits of the plant, as it may affect the taste or cause other issues.

– Use Hydrogen Peroxide

The common name for this household item is simply “peroxide.” This compound can help get rid of flies by killing the eggs together with the larvae in your plants’ soil. To make your homemade spray to kill fruit flies on plants, mix one part of three-percent hydrogen peroxide with four parts water. Pour the mixture directly into a spray bottle and shake well.

Spray the soil of your plants with the mixture, making sure to saturate the soil thoroughly. Give the soil some time to dry before watering your plants again. Repeat this process every couple of days just as you no longer see any fruit flies in or around your plants.

It’s important to note that while peroxide can be effective at killing insect eggs and larvae, it can also harm beneficial microbes in the soil if overused. To avoid this, only use the peroxide solution as needed, and do not apply it more frequently than once a week.

Conclusion

Fruit flies will no longer be annoying to you now that you know how to get rid of them Let’s recap on how we can eliminate and kill fruit flies:

• Remove rotting plant parts and place vinegar from apple cider near infected plants.
• The fastest way to get rid of fruit flies from plants is to use a combination of techniques that target both adult flies and their larvae.
• Using vinegar traps, using natural spray solutions, letting the soil dry out, and removing infested plant parts
• Use commercial or DIY sticky paper traps and insect trap bottles.
• Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering, or use neem tree oil and peroxide solution sprays.

With these effective methods of pest control, you don’t have to worry about any unwanted insects in your home or garden again!