I have two indoor hydroponic garden towers, and gnats have always been a problem, until now! I’ve found a great way to keep gnats away from my hydroponic garden naturally, by using a Sundew. I also have another solution that works using stickers. Read on to learn more.

Natural Gnat Control for Hydroponics

I have both a Lettuce Grow farmstand and a Gardyn hydroponic tower that I keep inside. No matter what I do, gnats have always been an issue. If you are curious which grow tower I like best, check out this post: Gardyn vs. Lettuce Grow.

For a while I’ve been using fruit fly stickers. You can get them in bulk from Amazon. The are usually bright yellow, which attracts the bugs, and sticky on both sides. They work best in the Lettuce Grow tower where they are easy to stick to the grow light rings. Click here to get these stickers for $6.

However, after discovering how effective (and fun!) carnivorous plants can be, I haven’t had to use my stickers at all anymore. I now just use my Sundews, specifically the Drosera Capensis or Cape Sundew plant.

What is a Sundew?

A Sundew plant, belonging to the genus Drosera, is a type of carnivorous plant known for its distinctive sticky, glandular leaves that trap and digest insects. Found in a variety of habitats around the world, including bogs, wetlands, and sandy soils, sundews have adapted to nutrient-poor environments by obtaining nutrients from their prey.

I have a very small sundew, and it has done an amazing job of keeping the gnats away. Gnats just love these things! I just sit it on a window ledge next to my garden and the gnats are attracted to its sticky leaves. I even got a surprise free Sundew when a new little sprout popped up and I transplanted it to its own pot.

Plus, my Sundew is so well fed that it sprouted flowers, which will produce seeds for more plants.

Key Characteristics of Sundew Plants:

1. Sticky Trichomes: Sundews have leaves covered with hair-like structures called trichomes, which secrete a sticky mucilage. This mucilage acts as a glue, trapping insects that land on the leaves.
2. Carnivorous Mechanism: Once an insect is trapped, the sundew’s leaves slowly curl around the prey, increasing contact with digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the insect’s body, allowing the plant to absorb essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
3. Variety of Species: There are over 90 species of sundews, each with unique adaptations to their environment. Some species, like the Cape Sundew (Drosera capensis), are popular among carnivorous plant enthusiasts for their ease of care and striking appearance. This is the kind that I have.
4. Habitats: Sundews are typically found in nutrient-poor, acidic soils. They thrive in sunny, moist conditions and are commonly found in bogs, marshes, and other wetland areas. I recommend purchasing special carnivorous plant soil when you get your plant.
5. Flowering: Sundews produce small, often colorful flowers that are borne on tall stems, keeping them away from the sticky traps. This helps prevent pollinators from being caught by the plant. Mine made pretty purple flowers!

Where to Get a Sundew Plant

I have gotten Sundews in two places- from Amazon and from CarnivorousPlantNursery.com. Both arrived in good condition. Use code GEEKMAMAS24 to save 10% at Carnivorous Plant Nursery! (good until 12/31/2024)

Make sure you have a pot and soil ready, because they usually come either bareroot, or in a tiny pot that will need replanting. And you’ll also need distilled water. I buy a jug of it and use it only to water the carnivorous plants. They do not like nutrients in their soil or water! So do not water them with tap water.

Click here for the Sundew plants on Amazon

Click here to check out Lettuce Grow on Amazon!

Don’t let these growing conditions scare you away, they may sound picky, but they are really easy once you get going! They like humid boggy conditions, so anytime I see the soil drying out, I just add more distilled water. They really don’t need much else, besides food of course. But if you have gnats, the gnats will be sure to find the Sundew.

If you happen to get a Sundew and find you are lacking in gnats and need to feed it, you can drop dead bugs onto the leaves. They don’t need live prey, so a dead ant here and there can keep it going if you are short on gnats. You can also use them in the kitchen to take care of fruit flies.