Fungus Gnats!

[Chronic777]

I left some soil in my bedroom for a good 3/4 months, then recently i used the soil to pot some seedlings, the seedlings seem to be doing well, but i got some seirous gnat invasion whenever i water!

Whats the best way to get rid of these lil buggers?

I can't buy mosquito dunks in the uk

 

[early420]

When I get tired of them I will cover the surface of the medium with something, usually use 1/8" thick foam sheets. Then I'll toss some yellow fly paper in a few locations and it seems to cull the numbers significantly. I've noticed that when I water too much they tend to stay around. If i let the perlite get nice and dry, of course not so dry the plants wilt, they tend to be a non issue. I haven't actually looked into further methods as this seems to keep them down. Good luck!

 

[FlaDankster]

I was a bit iffy on this but it has seemed to help alot.I had a older grower tell me to just fill a bucket with plain water and then set my bucket that the plant is in inside of the bucket of water and let it sit for a few hours.I only let mine sit for about 3-4 hours(he said almost a full day but that was a bit scary for me)I've done this twice within 11 days.It has been 6 days since the last drowning and i have not seen any yet.

If this is not a recommended way of killin FG someone please chime in(even though i'm sure someone will)

But i can say it has had no visual effects on my plants.

FD

 

[Chronic777]

I thought water helped them survive, anyway im just gonna buy some 'gnat off' its an organic larvicide
The same company makes 'pest off' and on my last grow i had thrips & leaf miner, two applications of pest off & they never returned so im presuming the 'gnat off' will be just as effective...

 

[fishwater]

Chronic,
Look on ebay for mosquito dunks. I am pretty sure they will ship to UK.
I had the same thing happen, some stored soil was infested with them. When I ammended the soil, I mixed about a teaspoon into every gallon of soil, after about 10 days I have no more gnats.

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

Dichotomous earth can help, along with letting the medium get a bit more dry between waterings.

You should be able to get some in the UK.

Nice thread on the DE over here -

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=70408

Also, this product has the same active ingredient as Mosquito Dunks, which definitely work great, so perhaps you can order or find this instead:

http://www.ecossecruise.co.uk/prod358.html

 

[Chronic777]

Cool, thanks guys!
Think im still gonna go for the 'gnat off' it probly uses the same stuff, larvicide, but its actually made by people for growing cannabis...

 

[Kaneh]

I thought water helped them survive,

I think they like moist soil. They will drown in water. Someone correct me if Im wrong.

 

[FlaDankster]

Yes the moist soil helps with the survival but as you said,they will drown which is the purpose of this method.The fella that told me of this has a very "old school" way of doin things.When he showed me his girls after doin this and they looked fine i jumped out in the water and tried it also.I'm sure it would be safe to say that there are more convenient methods but i can actually now say that it does work.