Fungus Gnats - Your suggestions please

[Alaska]

Hello all, the other day, I noticed some gnats, and afer further inspection, have come to the conclusion they are fungus gnats. I have neem oiled about 1/2 the plants (just the soil, not the plants as they are budding) soil to kill the larva, but I want to know if it will work, and what your alls recommentations are. I want to set off a pyrethrium bomb, but I have birds upstairs I have to figure out what to do with first, as my GF will kill me if i Kill her birds :) Whoops, sorry honey

Thanks all, and be safe and enjoy life

A

[hydrorascal]

a dishwashing liquid mixed about 1/4 soap in a spray bottle works good. Spray the base of the plants good. Cover the media with some black plastic. They love nice moist areas so ya might want to make sure your media isnt too wet.

[Alaska]

Thanks hydro

Does anyone know if they prefer yellow or blue sticky traps most...gotta keep em happy, right, or they might wantto go somewhere else

[hydrorascal]

I know whiteflys prefer yellow. and just a light film of petroleum jelly does just fine. One sheet of construction paper from the dollar store is enough for several years. Or a plastic plate.... Just make sure when you hang them that they are well out of the way.

[Deltanugz]

..

[latingirlgrower]

Put about 1/2" of sand on top of your soil, they won't be able to go in or out the soil any more and you should be able to eliminate them like that.

[meloyelo]

Just in case you didn't know, fungus gnats are a sign your soil is staying too moist too long. Back off on the watering a bit and that should help eliminate them. Haven't had ANY gnats in the last 2 years since I started more controlled waterings.
-melo

[Dman]

Hi Alaska,

A slightly diluted dose of 35% H202 watered into the soil will kill off any remaining gnats. I say diluted, becuase the H202 will also kill off some beneficial bacteria in the soil, but THEY will recover in no time. :)

[Joe King Park]

Diamatious earth or sharp sand ( also known as silver sand ) will prevent future infestations
i picked this up in an excellent article by breeder Steve titled " Mites Bite" , which also explained that fungus gnats pupae will digest the sharp sand and get sliced like razor blades internally , killing them dead
over here we have a product called Gnat Stop
you can read up on it here www.growell.co.uk

i'll dig up that article for you
JKP

P.S you can grow in a medium called Dia Hydro, and you'll never have a bug problem again ! www.elementshydroponics.com

[Joe King Park]

Diatomaceous Earth , sorry
JKP

heres a little image of product

[Alaska]

Hydrorascal and deltanugz, thanks for stopping in.

Made traps as described with yellow blue, and red paper. Not any gnats caught after 24 hours. But, they were also hanging above the plants, not on the soil. I also did the potatoe test, and did not see any larve after 24 hours. I have neemed all the soil twice in two weeks now. I also set off pyrethrium when I noticed the adults getting out of hand

[Alaska]

latingirlgrower - I appreciate the tip, but I live in a house with a dirt floor so the gnats can burrow anywhere, but the sand will keep them from the roots, and thats whats important, so thanks :)

meloyelo - I appreciate the suggestion and will take it into consideration. I usaully let it get pretty dry, and I water from the bottom, so the top couple inches of soil never really gets wet, just moist. see above comment about dirt floor basemnet, which floods, making it a mud floor basement, which is beyond my control.

I am also gonna get some Gnatrol, but am gonna buy it locally for $80 for 2.5g, instead of 20 online for a quart.....anyone need any, just let me know

[Alaska]

Dman, nice to see you amigo! Thanks for the tip, I might finally put that 35% h202 to work then, all its been doing so far is burning the shit out of my hands. I have been hypersensitive to all peroxide since I experimented in mushroom culture several years ago


Hey JKP - Thanks for dropping in, and for the idears. I would love to read that artilce if you find it, and I will consider mixing some diatomacous earth with the sand the LGG recommended.

Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!!
Be safe and enjoy life

A

[Joe King Park]

Gnatrol
Alaska; Gnat Off www.growell.co.uk

dealers; www.hydrogarden.com or www.hydroleaf.com

since Cannabis is sucjh a short season plant , gnats are more of a pest than a terminator
test your infestation with a wedge of fresh potato, which you half submerge under the soil
pull out after 5-7 days
it will act as an accurate guide in the future
reason; a friend bought Gnatrol, and was not a happy camper
i'll dig up that link today
Joe

[Alaska]

Thanks JKP, I just set my potato on top for 24 hours. I will bury some like you said and give them a few days. Most people that I have read about have been happy with Gnatrol, I would be interested in seeing your friends thread.

A

[Joe King Park]

gee , what a long dig, lol
here you go Alaska
http://www.cannabisculture.com/backissues/cc09/growers/mitesbite/index.html

Joe

[Joe King Park]

Silicon Dioxide, thats what you're after

all the best
Joe

[Old Toby]

Dissolve a mosquito dunk into 5 gallons of water and top water with that solution. The bacteria (Bactillus T. israeli*) in the dunk chunk will quickly stop the life cycle of the fungus gnats. Once those beneficial bacteria have colonized in the pot, you'll never have gnats again.

Tobold Hornblower

[Green Supreme]

Like JKP I believe in diatomecious[or whatever]earth.Kills larvae to prevent adults.Peace GS

[trichomefarmer]

neem oil has always done the trick for me.

[Joe King Park]

we have just got Neem Oil over here in the UK
i have been reading up on the many beneficial properties of the neem tree
and am looking forward to completly eradicating my spidermite problem
using silicon dioxide as well, in a two pronged attack
Joe