my dirty secret is I always have some gnat infestation

I would say they count more as pets 🥸 They aren’t really that damaging for plants. They are more of a side effect of fungal decomposition, mostly anaerobic conditions due to overwatering, root rot or the wrong substrate.

What substrate do you use? Soil? If so, maybe try another substrate (coco coir, LECA, pon, etc.) and synthetic fertiliser. They are inert and don’t compose, so they don’t attract gnats.

im guessing the boiling water did the trick?

It was mostly out of hate 😤

sucks you lost all your plants, I would have been devistated, im so sorry :(

I’m glad it were just a few, and not much of worth for me.

But I learnt something.

1. Don’t put houseplants outside, especially not onto the ground or when it rains
2. LECA (expanded clay balls) are perfect homes for slugs. It’s constantly moist, and the gaps between the balls are a perfect shelter 🥴