Houseplant hacks: do eggshells deter fungus gnats from laying eggs?

"Crushed clean, dry eggshells, when scattered over the soil, are intended to stop adult gnats from laying eggs and potentially add natural fertilizer. However, they merely sit on the surface, collecting dust, while the gnats remain attracted to the damp compost."

"The pieces of eggshell are too uneven to form a proper barrier, allowing adult gnats to access the compost. Therefore, eggshells do not serve as a deterrent to fungus gnats."

Fungus gnats are a common pest for houseplants, often appearing unexpectedly. A popular method suggests using crushed eggshells to deter them by preventing egg-laying and adding fertilizer. However, this method fails as the eggshells do not create a proper barrier due to their uneven size, allowing gnats access to damp compost. The real solution involves drying the soil surface and addressing the underlying causes of the gnat problem instead of relying on eggshells.

Read at www.theguardian.com