The fungus gnat is a pest that you should tackle quickly. But as a conscientious gardener, chemical fungicides are of course out of the question for you. The solution to the problem is waiting in the kitchen cupboard. While you may find the scent of cinnamon pleasant, it will repel the fungus gnat.
Cinnamon should be used grated
application
Use simple cinnamon powder from the supermarket. You have to grate a whole cinnamon stick beforehand, as you apply the powder in a thin layer to the substrate.
tips
If the tasty spice is too good for you or is not available in the kitchen cupboard, you can achieve the same effect with baking soda, collected coffee grounds or baking powder.
What else to watch out for?
After pouring out the spice, the fungus gnats do not disappear immediately (see effect). You have to be patient for a few days. During this time it is advisable to isolate the plant from the other plants unless it is buried. Since cinnamon powder does not kill the fungus gnat, but only drives it away, it could happen that the pests settle down again in the vicinity.
How does cinnamon work?
Fungus gnats can't stand the intense cinnamon scent. The females instinctively choose an ideal location to lay their eggs. Under these conditions, therefore, avoid hatching on your plant. The cinnamon method is so effective because it is mainly the hatched larvae that gnaw on parts of the plant. Adult fungus gnats, on the other hand, only feed on plant remains and are therefore hardly dangerous.
Additional advantages
- Cinnamon powder is purely organic and does not harm the plant.
- Inexpensive control
- Cinnamon also repels ants.
- Cinnamon supposedly stimulates rooting of cuttings.
- Cinnamon prevents mold growth on plants.
Attention: Cinnamon powder is said to have a growth-inhibiting property in crops such as cress or tomatoes.