# Getting Rid of Pesky Tiny Flying Bugs in Houseplants **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-pesky-tiny-flying-bugs-in-houseplants/267302 "2004-10-03T07:54:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-pesky-tiny-flying-bugs-in-houseplants/267302/1 "2004-10-03T07:54:16Z")
So, I guess we’re infested. They are black, tiny, gnat-like insects. Someone told me to spray them with a mixture of water and dish-soap, and that will get rid of them for a day or so, then they come back. I’ve looked at some insecticides in the plant department, but none I’ve seen look right for houseplants. I’m really hoping the only solution is not repotting, that would be a major undertaking. Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-pesky-tiny-flying-bugs-in-houseplants/267302/2 "2004-10-03T11:16:32Z")
Shake your plant, spray the cloud of insects, then wipe them up and flush 'em down the drain. Eventually all the old eggs will have hatched, and you’ll have no more bugs. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-pesky-tiny-flying-bugs-in-houseplants/267302/3 "2004-10-03T11:30:58Z")
I’ve had good luck using [neem oil](http://www.ipmofalaska.com/files/neem.html). Watch out though, it smells dreadful! (Well, I think so anyway - no one else in the office seemed to have much of an issue with it.) I linked to a non-commercial site pending a question I’m about to ask the mods (if my search doesn’t tell me the answer), but if you google “neem oil”, you can find dozens of sites that sell it, or your local garden shop should carry it. ---
**Author:** ![Jdeforrest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@Jdeforrest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jdeforrest)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-pesky-tiny-flying-bugs-in-houseplants/267302/4 "2004-10-03T11:53:53Z")
You have fungus gnats and they are a POA. Places will mostly tell you neem oil or a light mixture of liquid detergent and water. I didn’t have luck with either. They eventually seemed to just die off. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-pesky-tiny-flying-bugs-in-houseplants/267302/5 "2004-10-03T13:40:05Z")
I had excellent luck using a dilute Malthion-water solution. I saw an immediate reduction the first week, and occasional touch-ups, esp. spraying the soil, eliminated them in short order. ---
**Author:** ![Sinusoidal\_Saurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71e660/32.png) [@Sinusoidal\_Saurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinusoidal_Saurus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-pesky-tiny-flying-bugs-in-houseplants/267302/6 "2004-10-03T17:51:55Z")
If your plant is a reasonable size, spray it lightly with a basic household flying insect killer (like Raid). Then cover the plant with a plastic bag - a grocery bag or garbage bag if it’s a large plant. Tuck the ends under the bottom of the plant. Leave it for a few hours, then remove the bag outside and shake the plant gently to get all the dead gnats out. Maisy