Tons of tiny white insects in water after dunk...

420ReBeLGrower · Jul 19, 2020

First off.. I had/have a mold gnat problem for the last month or so. I was not getting enough draining when watering from above so I switch to dunking the plants into a bucket of water; not fully submerging, just up to the last inch of soil.

My gnats problem has decreased GREATLY since doing that, but I just today noticed a ton of tiny little white bugs/insects in the water after dunking my plants. I'm GUESSING these are the larva of the gnats?

I'm at 26 days into flower and want to know if I should do anything to get rid of them? I read hydrogen peroxide 1:4 solution and soaking the whole root system in that would work but am worried about the flowers...

Thoughts?

BurnzYzBudZz · Jul 19, 2020

420ReBeLGrower said:
First off.. I had/have a mold gnat problem for the last month or so. I was not getting enough draining when watering from above so I switch to dunking the plants into a bucket of water; not fully submerging, just up to the last inch of soil.

My gnats problem has decreased GREATLY since doing that, but I just today noticed a ton of tiny little white bugs/insects in the water after dunking my plants. I'm GUESSING these are the larva of the gnats?

I'm at 26 days into flower and want to know if I should do anything to get rid of them? I read hydrogen peroxide 1:4 solution and soaking the whole root system in that would work but am worried about the flowers...

Thoughts?

Where did you learn to water like that? You need to find out what the pests are before you try to eradicate the issue. What if they are beneficial soil mites?

Beachwalker · Jul 19, 2020

BurnzYzBudZz said:
Where did you learn to water like that? You need to find out what the pests are before you try to eradicate the issue. What if they are beneficial soil mites?

That's a new one on me too LOL quick way to get a salt build-up? :/

OP, they could be springtails? are they moving around quite a bit or are they just kind of laying there?

BurnzYzBudZz · Jul 19, 2020

Beachwalker said:
That's a new one on me too LOL quick way to get a salt build-up? :/

OP, they could be springtails? are they moving around quite a bit or are they just kind of laying there?

Assuming. I mean your not really getting any run off. Springtails are beneficial, no need to kill those. They are pretty quick if I remember correctly.

420ReBeLGrower · Jul 19, 2020

BurnzYzBudZz said:
Where did you learn to water like that? You need to find out what the pests are before you try to eradicate the issue. What if they are beneficial soil mites?

Was just trying to fix the gnat problem really. Figured it might work. But, I'm switching back to top watering again moving forward.

I didn't get a picture but I can look tomorrow to see if I can get a pic.

They were wiggling around from what I saw. The plants look fine and the leaves are all doing good from what I can tell. Bottom leaves have started to turn and fall off, but just a few nothing crazy.

BurnzYzBudZz · Jul 19, 2020

420ReBeLGrower said:
Was just trying to fix the gnat problem really. Figured it might work. But, I'm switching back to top watering again moving forward.

I didn't get a picture but I can look tomorrow to see if I can get a pic.

They were wiggling around from what I saw. The plants look fine and the leaves are all doing good from what I can tell. Bottom leaves have started to turn and fall off, but just a few nothing crazy.

That may be from lack of light. Nothing serious. Yeah get us a picture when you can.

Beachwalker · Jul 19, 2020

420ReBeLGrower said:
Was just trying to fix the gnat problem really. Figured it might work. But, I'm switching back to top watering again moving forward.

I didn't get a picture but I can look tomorrow to see if I can get a pic.

They were wiggling around from what I saw. The plants look fine and the leaves are all doing good from what I can tell. Bottom leaves have started to turn and fall off, but just a few nothing crazy.

To control fungus gnats search a product called mosquito bits (or dunks) or BTI, also use yellow sticky cards and fans

Also what you're describing sounds like springtails, if you want to know how to deal with them you can search that too, they're not destructive but you might want to get rid of them, I would

420ReBeLGrower · Jul 20, 2020

I will be watering in a couple days and when I do I will get pictures of them with a microscope.

Got one of those cheap eBay microscopea and should be able to get a close up of I find any in the run off.

I've also started to give them 1/4 dose of GH FloraBloom at watering with 1/4 dose of floramicro as well. Figured they have been in the same soil now for almost 1.5 months, it's time to give them a little nutes. (No tip burn I can see yet)

Anthem · Jul 20, 2020

Fungal gnats can be a challenge. I have found a three part cure works well.
#1. Yellow Sticky traps to keep the adult population down.
#2. Nematodes to eat the larvae
#3. Microbo lift, it has a bacterial called BTI. This product has a higher bacteria content than the dunks and works well.

420ReBeLGrower · Jul 20, 2020

Anthem said:
Fungal gnats can be a challenge. I have found a three part cure works well.
#1. Yellow Sticky traps to keep the adult population down.
#2. Nematodes to eat the larvae
#3. Microbo lift, it has a bacterial called BTI. This product has a higher bacteria content than the dunks and works well.

TY for the info, they are not fun to deal with, but also, it isn't so bad that they are causing a problem in the grow. I had put up about 3 sticky pads and those filled up in about a week, and now another 3 look almost new with a few showing up every so often. Keeping that top layer dry really helped I think.

With only maybe another 2 or 3 weeks left of flower, I'm hoping Neem Oil on top soil before a watering and constant air flow with sticky pads will be enough to keep them out of the resin/buds until harvest.

Side Note: Would something like these work . . ?
Nematodes - Home Depot

Anthem · Jul 20, 2020

nematodes are a small worm like creature. They have to be kept cool and used quickly after purchasing. They are basically the worst nightmare for the fungal gnats. They work in the soil, you mix them up per the directions and water them in. They basically go up the anal cavity of the fugal gnat larvae and they secrete an enzyme that kills the larvae and creates a host for the nematodes to breed. Wonderful little guys and they do work well.

420ReBeLGrower · Jul 20, 2020

Dude... That's... Messed up haha

For 12 bucks I got nothing to lose. I only need need to keep them at Bay for another 2-3 weeks so this is worth a shot for sure. Thanks for the heads up. Wish I would have used them from the start.

Anthem · Jul 20, 2020

420ReBeLGrower said:
Dude... That's... Messed up haha

For 12 bucks I got nothing to lose. I only need need to keep them at Bay for another 2-3 weeks so this is worth a shot for sure. Thanks for the heads up. Wish I would have used them from the start.

To be honest, I am dealing with them right now. I just finished a grow and I just could not get rid of them. I did not use the nematodes. I am using them all the time moving forward. I thought the BTI was what smoked them, but it had to be the nematodes because I did not use them last grow and I just could not get rid of them.

420ReBeLGrower · Jul 21, 2020

I was going to head in to home depot or something and grab some sand to fill the tops of my pots with. But will prob just do this instead.

They are sold out everywhere of these things, but will hopefully find them somewhere close. These sound very promising.

420ReBeLGrower · Jul 21, 2020

Just ordered. Fingers crossed these guys are hungry!

420ReBeLGrower · Jul 28, 2020

As promised, here's what I'm seeing in the run off. Don't know if those little guys are good or bad tho...

Tons of tiny white insects in water after dunk...

Tons of tiny white insects in water after dunk...

420ReBeLGrower

BurnzYzBudZz

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Beachwalker

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420ReBeLGrower

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Anthem

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Tons of tiny white insects in water after dunk...

Tons of tiny white insects in water after dunk...

420ReBeLGrower

BurnzYzBudZz

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Beachwalker

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420ReBeLGrower

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Beachwalker

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Anthem

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Anthem

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