Root Aphids and Fungus Gnats in organic soil

[EclipseFour20]

Le'ts not be so hasty to eliminate DE (or preferably fresh water variety "Fossil Shell Flour") from the arsenal. I agree, DE will not repel Root Aphids--so lets set aside the pesticide qualities of DE and examine the mineral qualities; it is mostly amorphous silica.

Silicon is deposited into plants as hydrated amorphous silica--which plants need to rebuild cells and defend against pathogens. If a plant has suffered from RAs...then to help the plant regain its health--it needs goodly amounts of silica.

How much is goodly? I add Fossil Shell Flour to my custom blend growing mix around 6% by volume. Think that is too much?...earth's crust contains over 27% silica.

Cheers!

 

[DabSnob]

Eclipse, not arguing the benefit of DE in the soil for its silica properties just pesticide usage. I do agree heavily with the benefits of silica for cell structure against pests and pathogens. its much harder for the little fuckers to bite into a much thicker cell wall. not to mention plants seem to be less affected under heavy infestation when your soil is loaded with silica. no doubt.

 

[EclipseFour20]

Exactly DS...hence I would add DE via top dressing to infected plants--and/or as a soil amendment when transplanting "affected plants". That said...DE also has great absorption capabilities capable of holding good pesticides--like neem, pyrethrins, etc.

Hence a simple "Fungas Gnat" spray I use at "infestation time" that works like a charm--but caution with overspraying--think fresh snow on Christmas morning.

1 gallon water
8 oz Fossil Shell Flour
30ml Riptide
30ml Neem Oil

Add water+Fossil Shell Flour+Riptide+Neem to mason jar, add additional water to 2/3 mark, seal and shake like a mutha (emulsification)....then pour in 1 gallon container and add water to 1 gallon mark. Stir, pour into spray bottle and spray on soil surface NOT ON LEAVES.

Sorry for getting off topic...Cheers!

 

[ozzieAI]

when using neem oil make sure you are using the PURE oil not that hydrophobic crap...

pure neem oil worked for me....and neem cake keeps them away...simple...

good luck

 

[TanzanianMagic]

I recycle my organic soil and have a new batch of ten gallons "cooking" right now. I was planning on re-amending the "old" soil and mixing it with the new a few weeks before re-use. I am using Neem meal, Crab meal, Alfalfa meal and Diatomaceous Earth (among other things) in the new soil and re-amending the old with the same.

I will have about 30 gallons of used soil and if possible would like to re-use it. Is there anything I can do to get rid of these little bastards while my new soil is "cooking"? I have Bayer Complete Insect Killer (Imid). I am currently letting my old soil completely dry out in the sun. I have about 6-8 weeks before I start again.

Thanks for any help.

1 ) You can put new bags of soil (or recycled soil) in black bin liners or under and on black tarp, and put them out in the sun. That will kill all insects and their larvae.

2) A preventative is to regularly spray worm tea over the foliage/on the soil. This puts a protective layer of biofilm on the leaves. It also exposes eggs and larvae to all kinds of bacteria and fungi.

3) Top your container up with fresh soil. This interrupts the leaf-soil-leaf cycle of a lot of insects.

4) Let the top soil dry out between waterings, when you spot new fungus gnats.

That should either eliminate or make completely irrelevant any returning fungus gnats.

Personally I have found that moderate presence is not that bad, and they are only lethal to sprouting seeds.

 

[Gelado`]

Gnatrol for fungus gnats and pyrethrin for RAs, although heat a la black bin liner will knock both out quickly and easily. EWC will help get the bennies back up after the heat destroys that lovely microflora along with your bugs!

I currently have RAs and use the German version of Azamax with Gnatrol and pure neem oil. It seems to be doing the trick!

 

[DabSnob]

hows the battle goin midnight?

 

[Midnight Tokar]

hows the battle goin midnight?

I've got one plant left, I'll chop in a few days. I've got the new soil going and I'm thinking of doing an Imid (Bayer Complete Insect Killer) watering of the new soil about 2 weeks before using it. Hopefully that will kill any RA's that may have found their way into the new soil.

In the mean time while that soil is "cooking" and after the tear down, I'll clean the whole room with bleach and the bug bomb the entire house.