Having Gnat issues(not fleas lol), any advice?

[Rabbi]

Hey gang, been having Gnat issues for quite some time now and can't seem to shake them.

I've used pyrethrum bombs, spinosad(because I had thrips), Avid and Forbid 4F(for mites) before in the past, thinking they would eliminate the Gnat issue too but seems like as soon as a month after using these products I already see the occasional Gnat flying around.

Thrips and mites are gone for months - years but I can't seem to shake those damn Gnats lol.

Could it be possible i get them from having open water/nutrients reservoirs or something else?

 

[marinemansf]

Hey man, my first question to you would be hydro or soil. Second, do you have any dead or decaying material in or near your setup? I had a few when I first started, during the summer. Two things I found helped are hotshot no pest strip from Lowe's or home depot and yellow white fly traps from any hydro store. Make sure there is no moldy or dead material anywhere near your setup. Also think hard about getting a tent, great for keeping stuff away from y o ur garden. Hope this helps

 

[vapor]

yellow stickies{not hot shots!. just little sticky yellow cards on a stick} even when you don't see them, so they never explode{they catch the adults}. watering-keep on the dryer side.

 

[marinemansf]

^^^ I agree, haven't seen one near my tent for weeks, but I still run one inside and outside my tent.

 

[blooper]

keep the area clean. i had gnats in a veg tent and sprayed twice, once with a pyrethrin 'take-down' spray and once with azamax. been clean since.

 

[Rabbi]

thx for your suggestions guys.

Are they attracted to algae or dried up plant nutrients? I only ask because when my drainage flows back to the res it sometimes splashes a bit on my wood benches and can create minor amounts of either or both.


PS: This a hydro/areo set up

 

[DarthFader1]

Fungas Gnats aka sciarid fly are a breeze to deal with once you know how.

You gotta attack them on a few fronts.

Firstly yellow sticky cards everywhere will catch the adults and is extremely effective.

Secondly you need to get a product with the active ingredient BTI in it. Spinosad and other products whilst extremely effective against other pests is no good for fungas gnats.

Lastly, if your in soil let your soil dry out more between waterings. Gnats are a common symptom of overwatering. Not sure about hydro though but overwatering can that even apply?

Btw there is like a million threads on this already with this answer been repeated a bunch of times. Just sayin. The search function is very helpful

 

[DarthFader1]

Hmm maybe scratch my advice as it is intended purely for soil. Maybe the same rules still apply but i do not know, try and do a search bro

 

[Rabbi]

Thx man, will do.

 

[br26]

If you keep the water level below pot container, gnats will have a more tough time eating dry roots. If they manage to hit the misters, they will drowned.

Keep external ventilation filtered.
Look at your windows in the day. Check for cracks and gnats.
In soil, all u need is sand to smother them.

U want none in, and none out. These are the easiest pests to manage. Managing your stress from pathogens may be another thread.

 

[BudToker]

Yes Darth has it right. You want to run BTI with every feed to prevent and eradicate fungus gnats. I recommend MicrobeLift BMC at 1mL for every 20L of water. I have been using it regularly for several years and haven't seen more than a few gnats in that time! The BMC works.

Good Luck,

- BT

 

[Rabbi]

Thx alot Bud Toker, I'm going to order some now.

 

[Rabbi]

Just out of curiousity, what does BTI stand for?

 

[Rabbi]

Any suggestions on where to order this stuff online? I live in Canada and tried to find some on ebay but wasn't successful.

 

[Rabbi]

Actually nevermind. Found some stuff with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis that will ship to Canada.

Thanks again everybody

 

[DarthFader1]

Actually nevermind. Found some stuff with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis that will ship to Canada.

Thanks again everybody

Yup that's the stuff bro. Get some yellow sticky cards too if you can for the adult flyers. It will get rid of them real fast!

darth

 

[Rabbi]

Yup that's the stuff bro. Get some yellow sticky cards too if you can for the adult flyers. It will get rid of them real fast!

darth

Big thx darth, shall do.

So should a guy be using this regularly, like mixing it in with my new res and nutrients every week or is it ok just to use once in a while when a guy actually sees Gnats?

 

[DarthFader1]

^^^ I can only say how i use BTI.

Firstly, every week is definitely too much IMO. Once you hit them once or twice it will pretty much get rid of them that's why i recommended using the yellow sticky traps in combination with BTI so you will really clean them up. After the main infestation is cleared up i would just keep an eye on things and use it maybe every few weeks if you need to.

It's important for a few different reasons you don't overuse products such as these. In summary i would hit them twice say about a week apart and then reassess after then and maybe hit them a 3rd time. After that just once in a while if and when you need too. It's really effective to use at the start of a cycle so you knock the larvae out right at the start and never give them a chance to multiply and do damage.

hope that helps
darth

 

[vapor]

I just use the yellow stickies. After i cook soil i always get a few gnats and if i don't use stickies they can get bad. I use the yellow stickies i catch a few at the start and that's it they never get going... preventative and cannabis go hand in hand.....

 

[Rabbi]

thx boys, pretty confident about tackling them now.