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SO check this out. I was at one of my spots that has been neglected. Not using tea past month here, barely just checking on them. Everything seemed ok, so I didnt sweat it. You know, sometimes plants thrive on neglect.
So I decide last night I need to do more than just look at them, and what do i find, fungus gnat larvae all up in my algae infested cubes. I was pissed, because I had wiped them all out and now they are back and it seems with a vengeance. I got online and started reading. i was ready to go ballistic, because I HATE these larvae.
I found a thread on gardenscure where they were talking about wiping them out, using permethrin, pyrethrin, BTi, etc etc.. And one lady comes in to the thread, all stoked talking about hot water. Hot water from the tap, instantly killing her gnats.
Well, I figured since I could see them all over, might as well try an experiment. Went and filled a cup full of 130 degree water and dumped it on one small plant. Those larvae got FUUUUUUCKED UP!!!! They all instantly stretched out as soon as the water hit them and they were dead. I mean completely boiled. That's when I got excited, and I started trying to find more.
In the process of trying to find more, I thought I would check the underside of the cubes (somethign I rarely do before transplant). To my dismay, I found the beginnings of a red-assed root aphid colony going to town on my nice roots. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK.
Well, I figured these little cunts are about as soft bodied as the larvae, so I go and fill me a bucket of 130 degree water and I dunk the cube in for 30 seconds. They did not like it. In fact, it boiled the shit out of those aphids!!! INSTANT HOT LIQUID DEATH.
I was so happy. I proceeded to do half my room before realizing I may be fucking my plants up. I thought it would be best go to bed, and see if they were ok in the morning.
This morning I reluctantly checked them. Nothin'. Girls totally good A+. No damage to the roots, or the root hairs.
I dunked the rest of the plants, put on my hazmat suit and went to town bleaching everything (walls, fixtures, floors, trays, under the tables etc). Then the same process with physan, then Exciter.
Tomorrow I'm hitting them with Merit, and then going back to 1x per week benny tea concentrate.
No more lazy farmer.
I'll keep this updated on progress.
EDIT: BE CAREFUL AND TEST A PLANT FIRST BEFORE USING THIS METHOD!!!! WEAK PLANTS MAY DIE. TRY LOWER TEMPS FIRST (110-120), and see what that does.
So I decide last night I need to do more than just look at them, and what do i find, fungus gnat larvae all up in my algae infested cubes. I was pissed, because I had wiped them all out and now they are back and it seems with a vengeance. I got online and started reading. i was ready to go ballistic, because I HATE these larvae.
I found a thread on gardenscure where they were talking about wiping them out, using permethrin, pyrethrin, BTi, etc etc.. And one lady comes in to the thread, all stoked talking about hot water. Hot water from the tap, instantly killing her gnats.
Well, I figured since I could see them all over, might as well try an experiment. Went and filled a cup full of 130 degree water and dumped it on one small plant. Those larvae got FUUUUUUCKED UP!!!! They all instantly stretched out as soon as the water hit them and they were dead. I mean completely boiled. That's when I got excited, and I started trying to find more.
In the process of trying to find more, I thought I would check the underside of the cubes (somethign I rarely do before transplant). To my dismay, I found the beginnings of a red-assed root aphid colony going to town on my nice roots. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK.
Well, I figured these little cunts are about as soft bodied as the larvae, so I go and fill me a bucket of 130 degree water and I dunk the cube in for 30 seconds. They did not like it. In fact, it boiled the shit out of those aphids!!! INSTANT HOT LIQUID DEATH.
I was so happy. I proceeded to do half my room before realizing I may be fucking my plants up. I thought it would be best go to bed, and see if they were ok in the morning.
This morning I reluctantly checked them. Nothin'. Girls totally good A+. No damage to the roots, or the root hairs.
I dunked the rest of the plants, put on my hazmat suit and went to town bleaching everything (walls, fixtures, floors, trays, under the tables etc). Then the same process with physan, then Exciter.
Tomorrow I'm hitting them with Merit, and then going back to 1x per week benny tea concentrate.
No more lazy farmer.
I'll keep this updated on progress.
EDIT: BE CAREFUL AND TEST A PLANT FIRST BEFORE USING THIS METHOD!!!! WEAK PLANTS MAY DIE. TRY LOWER TEMPS FIRST (110-120), and see what that does.
