How to Use Instructions

Simple Instructions

 

Detailed Instructions

STEP 1: BTI “Gnat Tea” Soak 

  1. Steep one Tea Bag of BTI per gallon ratio into water, or about 2 Table spoons. Make sure if you use tapwater that you allow the water to sit over night so that the chlorine evaporates or use our Aqua Earth water conditioner before adding BTI pellets.
  2. Let it soak for one hour minimum to activate the bacterial solution, can steep overnight for stronger tea or use multiple tea bags.
  3. Ensure your soil has not been recently watered and is ready to absorb the BTI tea to also avoid overwatering and causing root rot.
  4. Thoroughly water your plant soil using the BTI tea mixture. Water is good for 2-3 days. Remove BTI pellets from soil or water to avoid molding.

👉 This targets fungus gnat larvae and eggs living in the soil.


STEP 2: Diatomaceous Earth Layer (DE settles in bottle, shake before use)

  1. Wait until the topsoil is no longer drenched from the BTI tea. DE must be applied to fairly dry soil for full effectiveness.(wait until the next day if needed.)
  2. Dust a thin, even barrier layer of DE across the soil surface, if bottle gets clogged use toothpick to unclog. Humid regions might make the DE more compact and harder to sprinkle, just keep shaking bottle in-between bottle squeezes.
  3. Reapply after each watering only when the soil is dry again if necessary.

👉 DE kills and dehydrates crawling pupae and adult gnats landing on the soil.


STEP 3: Sticky Traps

  1. Place sticky pads around your plant bases or pots.
  2. Replace once full of gnats or as needed.

👉 These catch flying adults and help stop reproduction.

🛠️ After the gnats are gone, use a spoon to gently stir the DE into the top layer of soil to restore the appearance. Or leave it visible if you prefer the extra protection.

⚠️ SAFETY & STORAGE WARNINGS

  • Both BTI and our food grade DE are organic and non-toxic, but handle all powders carefully. Not packaged for human consumption.
  • Avoid breathing in any dust — like flour, these are safe but not meant for lungs.
  • Use in well-ventilated areas, and wear a mask if you're sensitive.
  • Keep sealed and store away from kids and pets.
  • BTI is a naturally occurring soil bacteria that affects only fungus gnat larvae and is safe for humans, pets, and plants.
  • DE is made from crushed fossilized sea shells and works by damaging insects physically (not chemically).

✅ Results to Expect:

Most users notice a dramatic decrease in gnats within 1-3 days when instructions are followed properly. Maintain your routine and avoid bringing in new sources of infestation (e.g. new soil, overwatered plants), or open window for new gnats to come in.

Who We Are

Plant Daddy Essentials is a small business born out of frustration and love for healthy houseplants. After wasting money on sprays that didn’t work, we turned to proven, natural methods our grandparents used. That led to our 3-step gnat kit — a simple, effective solution built from real ingredients and real results. Every order is hand-packed with care and made for plant lovers, by plant lovers.