Pest control concerning gnats in soil

[trygrowup]

I have to use the whole gamut... BTI, Predator bugs, Nematodes, and yellow sticky traps. The struggle is real. Garage growing has its plus and minuses. We're managing.

Vacuum cleaner too??

 

[trygrowup]

Put a half inch layer of diatomaceous earth on top of your soil ad bottom water for a week or two instead of top watering. That usually solves my problem.

Thanks @chitownglass

First time reading your reply i kinda missed the bottom watering part.
Important info

 

[trygrowup]

I have to use the whole gamut... BTI, Predator bugs, Nematodes, and yellow sticky traps. The struggle is real. Garage growing has its plus and minuses. We're managing.

Ha ha but garage grow. Is it a real problem in a garage?
Ok i don't know your setup, i'm just figuring me open the garage door to let the wind blow most of them out

Thanks for input

 

[trygrowup]

Ohh @Coconutz Those are videos you made???
Looks very good.

Thanks man

 

[orggrwr]

Just want to add that a 3/4 to 1" mulch layer of rice hulls helps a lot. I use them to keep my living soil and top dresses moist with the extra benefit of rarely seeing fungus gnats after the rice hulls go on.

 

[messingup]

when i was in soil and had fungus gnats i used AQUABAC.
it's the same as mosquito bits but comes in a shake container. sprinkle some on the soil and every time you water some goes into the soil.
works great and very easy to use.

 

[Week4Bytch]

Ha ha but garage grow. Is it a real problem in a garage?
Ok i don't know your setup, i'm just figuring me open the garage door to let the wind blow most of them out

Thanks for input

I wish it was that easy, open the garage door and they fly away..

 

[trygrowup]

when i was in soil and had fungus gnats i used AQUABAC.
it's the same as mosquito bits but comes in a shake container. sprinkle some on the soil and every time you water some goes into the soil.
works great and very easy to use.

Thanks @messingup

I had to look that one up.

It's a bacteria and it is also meant for plants and harmless to beneficial insects, wildlife, humans, pets or livestock they say.

Looks really good. Thanks for input

 

[trygrowup]

Just want to add that a 3/4 to 1" mulch layer of rice hulls helps a lot. I use them to keep my living soil and top dresses moist with the extra benefit of rarely seeing fungus gnats after the rice hulls go on.

Thanks @orggrwr

Yeah for me and some others it's not about not having any gnats at all and i like your approach too.

I tried something similar'ish. 10 cm 4 inch of some lava like small stones as cover. THAT was not good. Can't recommend. They loved it LoL

Thanks for input

 

[Gmix]

When I researched nematodes just briefly it wasn't a deep dive or anything, i read they'd die out without food, that's obviously true but no food in medium is a bit of a stretch it's unlikely to happen there's a ton of life they're happy to eat.
View attachment 2608423
I'd need to check to be certain but I think it's about 6 months between applying them and checking the samples and finding them.

Eh I don’t understand
I’ve had heavy infections ( due to a ex neighbour dumping rotten meat in his garden with my grow window open in summer )

If there’s larva they will eat it fast
It’s not taken more than a week to ten days from a heavy infestation to zero used in conjunction with Sticky traps to kill the adults

These are the ones I’ve used ( brought from them directly, eBay & Amazon they sell on all 3 sites )

They do die out if you let the soil dry out to much.

I only ever had to buy one pot at a time, they have always died after there’s no gnats left never before bar once witch was my error as I let the soil dry to much

Fungus Fly Killer Nematodes

What are Fungus Flies? The Fungus Fly, also known as the Sciarid Fly, can cause severe damage to plants. These tiny flies will lay eggs in compost or soil, from which larvae will develop. The larvae feed on young plants and seedlings at propagation. Fungus Fly are also a common pest in...

dragonfli.co.uk

 

[Week4Bytch]

When I researched nematodes just briefly it wasn't a deep dive or anything, i read they'd die out without food, that's obviously true but no food in medium is a bit of a stretch it's unlikely to happen there's a ton of life they're happy to eat.
View attachment 2608423
I'd need to check to be certain but I think it's about 6 months between applying them and checking the samples and finding them.

They're there for sure, daughter brought her microscope last year and it was cool checking out the soil life under magnification.

 

[Week4Bytch]

Eh I don’t understand
I’ve had heavy infections ( due to a ex neighbour dumping rotten meat in his garden with my grow window open in summer )

If there’s larva they will eat it fast
It’s not taken more than a week to ten days from a heavy infestation to zero used in conjunction with Sticky traps to kill the adults

These are the ones I’ve used ( brought from them directly, eBay & Amazon they sell on all 3 sites )

They do die out if you let the soil dry out to much.

I only ever had to buy one pot at a time, they have always died after there’s no gnats left never before bar once witch was my error as I let the soil dry to much

Fungus Fly Killer Nematodes

What are Fungus Flies? The Fungus Fly, also known as the Sciarid Fly, can cause severe damage to plants. These tiny flies will lay eggs in compost or soil, from which larvae will develop. The larvae feed on young plants and seedlings at propagation. Fungus Fly are also a common pest in...

dragonfli.co.uk

Gmix are you in the States?

 

[MercDod]

Fungus nats

You can combat fungus nats by making a “tea” out of “Mosquito Bits”. Put 4 tablespoons of Mosquito Bits into the toe of old panty hose and tie off panty hose. Place panty hose into a gallon of water after ph and let set for an hour. Stir well and remove the bits and discard. Water the plant by soaking as much of the surface area as possible. Repeat as needed every three days as needed. This combined with yellow fungus sticky traps should work but is still difficult. Remember to ph.

 

[Gmix]

Gmix are you in the States?

No bud I am on the other side of the pond.

 

[Week4Bytch]

No bud I am on the other side of the pond.

Sorry, probably asked you three times already , dam Alzheimer's.. Nice. (About to jack this thread warning) Do you have access to Somas Seeds out there? Some of his is stuff isn't available here, like NYC Diesel. (Especially the regs)

 

[amneziaHaze]

I use bti and nutmeg and sticky.
THere is still one or 2 flying allways somewhere but it went down from 1000.

 

[trygrowup]

Fungus nats

You can combat fungus nats by making a “tea” out of “Mosquito Bits”. Put 4 tablespoons of Mosquito Bits into the toe of old panty hose and tie off panty hose. Place panty hose into a gallon of water after ph and let set for an hour. Stir well and remove the bits and discard. Water the plant by soaking as much of the surface area as possible. Repeat as needed every three days as needed. This combined with yellow fungus sticky traps should work but is still difficult. Remember to ph.

Thank you @MercDod

This metode also sounds easy.

Just wanna clarify.
You are sure you mean PH water before you making the mixture, right?

Thanks again for input

 

[trygrowup]

You can sprinkle a little bit of DE over the top of the soil. It dries them up from the inside out. Or get some mosquito dunk (BTi) and add a little to your water. It's a natural soil bacteria that wipes them out.

For IPM, the natural bacteria I use:

BT on top for preventing moth and butterfly damage and bud worms

Spinosad on all plant tissue for broad spectrum defense

BTi in the soil for fungus gnats and other soil pests

I use the spinosad weekly, religiously. Mid week and when bugs are observed on the plant, I spot treat with Neem (or insect soap in flower). The BT is saved for flower to prevent bud worms. The BTi is as needed when soil bugs are present.

I have my plants outside in the day and in a shed at night. IPM like this is a must for me. Indoors, your mileage will vary and might be overkill, but none of what I use hurts people or the plant.

Sorry @Ninjadogma I forgot to ask what BT is.

And agree on the must part, after been removing gnats with a pincet and a loop, from buds 8 hours extra when trimming.
I never forget that.

Thanks again

 

[Coconutz]

I’ve had heavy infections ( due to a ex neighbour dumping rotten meat in his garden with my grow window open in summer )

Eh? Which part don't you understand, I'm missing the relevance to what I said?

My point was nematodes live on?

 

[BeefyBully]

Gnats, a very common problem, the quality of worm castings and compost is a direct reflection.
Boil the soil first for the larve, while moist add in the BTI, continue with sticky traps for the adults flying around.
Then as additive maintenance, plant tharapy lost coast works good.

But if you ask me bavaria bassaianna at germ works good and goes long way.
No issues

Goodluck