Killing root aphids with vacuum pressure??

[OhighO]

I had an idea today as I was pulling vacuum on an AC lineset and coil. If you I build a chamber that you could put a bag of soil, a plant or any other infested object in and seal it. Then hook up a vacuum pump and pull X inches of mercury on said object IMO it would kill and pest and eggs.

I invision a steel chamber like a huge pressure cooker....

I'm just kicking around ideas and want to hear others opinions....!!

Do you guys think it would rupture plant cells and tissue?

 

[señorsloth]

there is no such thing as root aphids...they are called fungus gnat larva and they are next to harmless, sprinkle a dusting of diatomacious earth on the soil and they all die within a few days anyway, no harm done, or just don't water so much and they will never get larger numbers... there is no need for you to pressure cook your soil or microwave it or mark it with a b...just add DE

diatomacious earth is very cheep, sold at most food stores, and is even safe to eat, it's crushed coral with super tiny sharp edges, that scratch up bugs shells and dehydrate them...totally organic and regular applications will keep almost all pests from reproducing to infestation level. i HIGHLY recommend EVERY soil grower use it regularly as a preventative measure. it waters into the soil, and i believe it also makes the soil much less water phobic when it dries out on top...the de seems to make the driest soil soak up water instantly...

 

[vukman]

ummm. let's just look at what you're proposing.... evacuating the atmosphere to suffocate something.......yes?? Last time I checked, plants needed to breathe also.......let's not even get into the issue of cell wall rupturing or anything rupturing for that matter.

Stick any life...errr..higher life form which has evolved on Earth into a vacuum and nothing good can come of it......just my thoughts on the subject...

 

[OhighO]

there is no such thing as root aphids...they are called fungus gnat larva and they are next to harmless, sprinkle a dusting of diatomacious earth on the soil and they all die within a few days anyway, no harm done, or just don't water so much and they will never get larger numbers... there is no need for you to pressure cook your soil or microwave it or mark it with a b...just add DE

diatomacious earth is very cheep, sold at most food stores, and is even safe to eat, it's crushed coral with super tiny sharp edges, that scratch up bugs shells and dehydrate them...totally organic and regular applications will keep almost all pests from reproducing to infestation level. i HIGHLY recommend EVERY soil grower use it regularly as a preventative measure. it waters into the soil, and i believe it also makes the soil much less water phobic when it dries out on top...the de seems to make the driest soil soak up water instantly...

I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not?

BTW I grow in my own organic soil that is loaded with DE and I do have root aphids....

vukman.... I'm not talking about long term vacuum in order to suffocate. I'm talking about short term to cause internal damage to pests.... Will it damage plant tissue along with it, we shall see.

 

[Granger2]

> there is no such thing as root aphids...they are called fungus
> gnat larva and they are next to harmless

señorsloth,
No offense, but on both points, you simply don't know what you're talking about. Granted, dusting the surface of the medium with DE may control fungus gnats. -granger

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

 

[amannamedtruth]

If you see something else living with your fungus gnats, you probably have some root mites. They're a predatory arachnid.

http://greenmethods.com/site/biocontrols/hypoaspis/

I wouldn't say gnat larvae are harmless. They cut and scar your roots, making them vulnerable to in infection and stressing your plant, making them divert bio-resources to root repair.

Peace.

 

[SeaMaiden]

So, wait... root aphids, are they like the tooth fairy?

I agree with vukman. It could work. Too well.

Where the hell is Ripley when you need her?

 

[JACKtheREFFER]

Wow señorsloth is misinformed !!!

As the others have said the vacuum may work to well. there are many root dips that work well to control root bound pests . sns products do a good job but early in plant life use only

 

[OhighO]

Thanks for the replays...

JTR..... I am just looking for an alternative that could be used any time. I have used Imid pre flower and had them pop back up a month later.

 

[BluEyeDevil]

there is no such thing as root aphids...they are called fungus gnat larva and they are next to harmless, sprinkle a dusting of diatomacious earth on the soil and they all die within a few days anyway, no harm done, or just don't water so much and they will never get larger numbers... there is no need for you to pressure cook your soil or microwave it or mark it with a b...just add DE

diatomacious earth is very cheep, sold at most food stores, and is even safe to eat, it's crushed coral with super tiny sharp edges, that scratch up bugs shells and dehydrate them...totally organic and regular applications will keep almost all pests from reproducing to infestation level. i HIGHLY recommend EVERY soil grower use it regularly as a preventative measure. it waters into the soil, and i believe it also makes the soil much less water phobic when it dries out on top...the de seems to make the driest soil soak up water instantly...

I agree..DE is very effective against gnats.
Seemed I would always get gnats with each grow,somehow..
But since I've been sprinkling the soil with a little dust,no gnats.
I've also found a beetle,and two hotnets..dried up.

Sorry,can't help ya with gnat killing vacum chamber.
But,good luck..

 

[JACKtheREFFER]

The imid as a dip and spray azamax light spray over and around the tops of the pots to kill the flying and crawling ones. But you are right that's only for early in life fights.

DE will help stop them from laying eggs

But RA do exist !

 

[Greenheart]

I'm sure there are plent of folks out there that wish the RA's were a myth. I spent 6 months battling them once. I got rid of them when I tossed every plant in my house out in the front yard during sub zero temps.

The things that helped reduce or limit RA population for me. Keeping soil constantly on the dry side. Lots of air movement. Hydrogen peroxide root soaks. A heavy coat of DE on top of the soil. The DE was a mess though and the OCD in me couldn't cope. I never invested in the merit, bayer, or azmax as both limited funding and the systemic approach were problems for me.

 

[BluEyeDevil]

Yeah,DE is messy..I use an old salt shaker.works really well.
I also used an old fan and sprinkled DE into while it was on..dust went everywhere.
I use a dust mask and spray down with water a little afterwards.

 

[dalilguy]

there is no such thing as root aphids...they are called fungus gnat larva

Your joking right?

 

[SneakySneaky]

Sloth, not gonna beat the dead horse, do some research. It helps to know your stuff before u pass on misinformation to others.

The vacuum chamber in theory sounds good, provided you don't put your plants into it cause they would most certainly get messed up, think the cellular walls would implode before the aphids die. Instead, focus on putting your dirt in there before you use it. Good luck.