what do I do about fungus gnats!! HELP
- Thread starter reeperp
- Start date
Not homemade, but the mosquito dunks you can get at Lowes or Homedepot work pretty good. It's not instant but over 2 weeks you won't see any gnats flying around as it kills the larvae gnats which later turn into the flies. For hydro you can float a dunk in the tank. I grow soilless mix so I scrape about 1/4 tsp and sprinkle on the mix before I water. Also you can float some dunk in the plant water you use.
I'm assuming you're using soil cause this is soil subforum?
My solution that I've seen lots of others use is sharp sand. Simply fill the top of your pots/bins/etc. with 1-2inches of sharp sand on top of the soil medium. No more easy access to dirt = no more fungus gnats. It breaks the reproduction cycle and you should be completely gnat free within a few weeks.
My solution that I've seen lots of others use is sharp sand. Simply fill the top of your pots/bins/etc. with 1-2inches of sharp sand on top of the soil medium. No more easy access to dirt = no more fungus gnats. It breaks the reproduction cycle and you should be completely gnat free within a few weeks.
O
OrganicOzarks
Nematodes. Just do it, and don't fuck with all of the other shit. You can get them off of Amazon for $15. I use them preventatively now so that I don't have to worry about the fuckers. I fought them for almost a year. They will greatly reduce your yields, and mine got so bad that I almost lost some moms. I tried everything that I read about on here, and the only thing that worked were the nematodes. Mosquito dunks, neem oil, cedar oil, azatrol, and so on did not do shit. the nematodes get them in about a week. They also stay in the soil so you don't have to reapply. I use them on my yard as well. They are fantastic little fucks. I love them.
i use diatomacious earth with very transplant and dont have gnats i spread a little on top of soil and then water into soil to cover the surface erea. use a mask to spread because its very fine powder. this can be purchased at any pool supply shop i got a 10 lb box for like 8$ us
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=42773&highlight=diatomacious+earth
some where around here is a thread by night tiger i cant seem to find
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=42773&highlight=diatomacious+earth
some where around here is a thread by night tiger i cant seem to find
I use gnatrol granulaes bought on ebay and hypoapsis miles predator mites.
For the win
Smiley
For the win
Smiley
I had a bad fungus gnat infestation last year in soil and tried dunks, too late for these. Only after using BTI (gnatrol $20-6oz) were they gone forever with maint. doses and nematodes since. Hydro store told me to sprinkle lime on soil surface as the gnats would clean themselves and die, but I only needed BTI.I realize Dunks are BTI, but just dont seem strong /concentrated enough. It sure can get out of hand, good luck. Walleye
On the dunks, do not sprinkle them on top. Put a quarter of a dunk in a gallon of water, let it sit at least 24 hours, then water your plants.
You can keep adding water to the the piece of dunk and activate it for some time.
The top dressing soil with DE, sand etc. does not work if the gnats can get into the drainage holes(been there done that). Either close off the holes or treat the soil there with something.
You can keep adding water to the the piece of dunk and activate it for some time.
The top dressing soil with DE, sand etc. does not work if the gnats can get into the drainage holes(been there done that). Either close off the holes or treat the soil there with something.
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BlazingSaddles
All due respect but nematodes are not the only thing that works. I know for a 100% fact that a layer of perlite on top of the soil for about 2 weeks stops the little fuckers. Im assuming sand would do the same thing. I did the perlite on soil trick with a few yellow sticky traps to catch the flying adults and within 2 weeks a medium size infestation was completely gone. Its a bit of a hastle scooping the perlite off every few days to water but its only for 2 weeks max then u can remove it.
Neem oil definitely does not do shit neither does pyrethum u have to stop the breeding cycle by stopping them getting to the soil and laying their eggs. Ive never used it but i would imagine DE does work very well also.
Like i said im not hating on the nematodes lol.. but there are other methods that do also work
peace
BlazingSaddles
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BlazingSaddles
Maj.Pothead i take it your NOT using pool grade DE and rather food grade?
Alarm bells were ringing when i saw you purchase it from a pool supply shop..
BlazingSaddles
diatamatious earth is definitely the way to go, dust the surface of the soil and they will be gone soon after, DE is cheep too, you can probably find a small bag at most gardening stores for not much. it's just like a magic white dust that solves all your bug issues...
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BlazingSaddles
Just make sure you buy "Food Grade" diatomaceous earth.
Very important for health reasons
Blazing
Very important for health reasons
Blazing
^^^ it definitely does work... the larvae eventually die off from what appears to me as a form of gut rot... the translucent bodies fill with this whitish matter... that appears to outline their intestines. after a day or two... they lose the ability to hold onto the soil & wash out the bottom of the pots... still alive, just dieing. not very Buddhist of me but... ;-)
MasterKhufu
Member
I heard if you put aspirin in your water that will kill them.
