Be warned: Eggshell hack for plant pests does not work
By The Guardian, April 8, 2026Fungus gnats are among the most annoying houseplant pests, appearing out of nowhere and hovering around the soil and your face with equal enthusiasm. One internet fix suggests crushing eggshells and adding them to the compost to keep the gnats away. It sounds thrifty and natural.
The theory is that a layer of crushed shell will stop adult gnats from laying eggs and maybe even add a little natural fertiliser to the soil. It’s also the kind of hack people love because it recycles kitchen waste.
The method
Crush clean, dry eggshells and scatter them over the soil in the pot.
The eggshells sit on the surface, looking rustic but doing little more than collecting dust. The gnats remain because gnats are attracted to damp compost, and eggshells do nothing to change that. The problem is that the pieces are too uneven to form a proper barrier, so adults can still get into the compost.
The verdict
Eggshells belong in the compost bin; they are no deterrent to fungus gnats. If you want fewer gnats, dry the surface, trap the adults and tackle the real cause, rather than decorating your soil.
Should I swap moss poles for plant stakes?
Somewhere along the way, moss poles became mandatory for any climbing plant. In reality, most are plastic tubes wrapped in fibres that shed, go bald and drop bits all over the soil. The “living totem” promise is rarely fulfilled, especially if you aren’t misting it daily.
Swap the fake tree trunk for a proper plant stake. A simple metal or recycled plastic stake gives your climber something solid to lean on without pretending to be bark. The new sculptural stakes, such as the wavy pieces from Secateur Me Baby, transform a floppy vine into a line of living green wrapped around a piece of design.
Choose a stake taller than the current plant to allow room for growth. Push it into the soil close to the main stem, taking care not to stab the roots. Weave the vines through the curves. As new growth appears, keep guiding it along the stake’s shape.
Replace a patchy moss pole on a Monstera adansonii with a bold blue stake.
The verdict
It was like giving my plant a makeover! And training the vines felt more like styling than plant care. A good stake supports the plant and draws more attention to it. It will cost more than a basic moss pole, but if you are tired of looking at a shedding brown tube, a sculptural stake is a very satisfying upgrade.