How do you deal with fungus gnats?

SnidleyBluntash said:

I put an inch of beach sand on top the dirt and they were gone. When I wanted the sand gone I vaccummed it up!

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I used Perlite, it worked too.

beercan said:

Are they considerably larger than a spider mite and redish in color?

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Yes.

A combination of those sticky pads under the canopy and T-Drops (Tanlin) from CX Horticulture in the feed

PadawanWarrior said:

Yes.

Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Hypoaspis miles)

Overnight shipping required. Ships on Tuesdays only. Not available in store. See shipping info for details. Knockdown and Preventive Control of Soil Dwelling Fungus Gnats , Root Aphids, Thrips and Springtails. This tiny, translucent brown to tan predatory mite naturally inhabits the...

www.arbico-organics.com

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Yup pretty sure thats them, i will look hard to try and find one for a pic

I experienced an infestation when switching from bottled nutes to organic soil. Overwatered trying to keep my microbes alive...... go me, I kept larva alive instead.

I was able to get rid of mine using Mosquito Bits. I just dump about a shot glass full of bits into a gallon of water, shake it up, strain out the bits, and water my plants.

Gnat infestation was 100% gone within 3 weeks, and now I water once a week or so with the bits, and havent seen a single gnat in months.

Microbe lift is my go to

spliffendz said:

Sticky traps and shaking the plants and clapping what flies out, actually caught one like karate kid between finger and thumb the other day felt like I was Neo from the Matrix

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FAS! I just did the same thing just now not even trying and thought exactly the same thing...Mr.Myagi chopsticks fly bam! Got that da** MF!
Anyways, my problem is a rhubarb plant my wife insisted on using MG MC and overwintering in my tent! The pot has so many different types of nematodes!!!! Ive seen black fungus gnat thrips, white root mites, and the flies....
Sand doesn't work. 40% humidity and plenty airflow with traps, vinegar, you name it, doesn't work. Neem oil? Nope! Letting soil completely dry after weeks? Nope! Dang ol' girl watered dang seedling every day and let it football all up in that sh*t soil...so many things went wrong and now I'm paying for it..
Anyways, popped in bcuz i was like "hiya" to that fly and was like ditto

I use 5 gal fabric pots. I then bought aluminum serving trays from dollar store that are slightly larger. I only bottom water. No holes. The top soil dried. Not a single gnat to be found.... you can see the red tray under the pot. The water gets sucked right up. I'm doing 8 cups per watering, last 1-2 days for the one in pic.

Fucking Thrips though.... still working on.

When I grow, I really want to have all my other plants in the tent getting all the good light, but I tell myself not to ruin everything and also make Mary Jane #1 priority, don’t jeopardize the grow for rhubarb! Think of another way, the rhubarb in the other room at the opposite side of the house.

I learned this after using a vaccum cleaner to suck up thousands of aphids from every stem, the plants didn’t live.

Severed Tongue said:

I use 5 gal fabric pots. I then bought aluminum serving trays from dollar store that are slightly larger. I only bottom water. No holes. The top soil dried. Not a single gnat to be found.... you can see the red tray under the pot. The water gets sucked right up. I'm doing 8 cups per watering, last 1-2 days for the one in pic.

Fucking Thrips though.... still working on.View attachment 4786851

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Thrip Annihilator:
2 oz Bonide Captain Jacks Dead Bug Brew Concentrate per/gal of water +
1 oz Plant Therapy by Lost Coast

Spray your plants starting from the bottoms of leaves (bottom to top to prevent them drooping) and then spray the tops of the leaves, spray really good ALL AROUND those fabric pots (they legit have millions of openings around the pots that those little fuckers can crawl into and lay eggs or chill.

If that blend above doesn't work you may want to look into Biological control like Venerate CG or perhaps even Nematodes.

Personally a good way to catch flying pests before they make it to the tent is legit get one of those little bug zappers with the purple type light and put it/them near entryways of the room the tent is in. The bugs will usually not be able to resist and get zapped before they can even go lay eggs. Sticky traps are another good form of attack too to catch fliers and prevent more and more breeding.

I've started using the Marine Bio Regalia CG & Venerate Integrated Pest Management (fancy way of saying I spray my plants every Monday with 1oz/gal Regalia CG & Venerate CG).

I use 3% peroxide. Douse the medium. That kills the larvae and gets em moving. Put down yellow sticky traps and dry the medium out. Should take care of them

Cvntcrusher said:

I use 3% peroxide. Douse the medium. That kills the larvae and gets em moving. Put down yellow sticky traps and dry the medium out. Should take care of them

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Keep in mind this is likely to kill most beneficial bacteria (microbes). You can easily replenish them with teas or additives like Real Growers Recharge.

I tried peroxide, as if you search google/YouTube its highly recommended. Gnats just laughed at it.

I also tried bottom watering in plastic pots with holes, the gnats would just go in the bottom and lay eggs in the holes... even worse this way cause they have almost direct access to the roots.

Transfer to fabric pots, bottom water and let the top soil dry out. 100% guaranteed works for gnats.

Severed Tongue said:

I tried peroxide, as if you search google/YouTube its highly recommended. Gnats just laughed at it.

I also tried bottom watering in plastic pots with holes, the gnats would just go in the bottom and lay eggs in the holes... even worse this way cause they have almost direct access to the roots.

Transfer to fabric pots, bottom water and let the top soil dry out. 100% guaranteed works for gnats.

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I have taken to putting a few MM of perlite at the bottom of the pot.

calicko said:

FAS! I just did the same thing just now not even trying and thought exactly the same thing...Mr.Myagi chopsticks fly bam! Got that da** MF!
Anyways, my problem is a rhubarb plant my wife insisted on using MG MC and overwintering in my tent! The pot has so many different types of nematodes!!!! Ive seen black fungus gnat thrips, white root mites, and the flies....
Sand doesn't work. 40% humidity and plenty airflow with traps, vinegar, you name it, doesn't work. Neem oil? Nope! Letting soil completely dry after weeks? Nope! Dang ol' girl watered dang seedling every day and let it football all up in that sh*t soil...so many things went wrong and now I'm paying for it..
Anyways, popped in bcuz i was like "hiya" to that fly and was like ditto

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It's been what, a week, since my last post about these dang gnats and just a couple hours ago recieved these two beats...had to post how effective the Southern Ag neem oil is! Seriously within minutes had a dramatic change in amounts of flies in my 8x8 tent!! I could watch my Rhubarb pots where the bugs originated, the chaos and destruction this naturally occurring pesticide instills on these bugs is...fascinating! They try to react and even the larvae and thrips just....discintingrate? Idk know how to explain this but for the first time in months, my tent has no gnats!
Just had to show you guys an organic and cheap alternative if all else fails. Ps I had to caption the Dr. Earth Final Stop because its had an effect as well on soil borne mites and aphids I've had before. Also very much like their organic ferts...tree and nut fert 5-5-2 with all the mycorrhizae and other good bacillus microbes! I swear by companies I've listed. (Thanks Fox Farm and poo on you MG & Promix!)

calicko said:

It's been what, a week, since my last post about these dang gnats and just a couple hours ago recieved these two beats...had to post how effective the Southern Ag neem oil is! Seriously within minutes had a dramatic change in amounts of flies in my 8x8 tent!! I could watch my Rhubarb pots where the bugs originated, the chaos and destruction this naturally occurring pesticide instills on these bugs is...fascinating! They try to react and even the larvae and thrips just....discintingrate? Idk know how to explain this but for the first time in months, my tent has no gnats!
Just had to show you guys an organic and cheap alternative if all else fails. Ps I had to caption the Dr. Earth Final Stop because its had an effect as well on soil borne mites and aphids I've had before. Also very much like their organic ferts...tree and nut fert 5-5-2 with all the mycorrhizae and other good bacillus microbes! I swear by companies I've listed. (Thanks Fox Farm and poo on you MG & Promix!)View attachment 4791622

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Let medium get a bit drier than normal. Dust with diatomaceous earth. Stop over watering. Or spray soil with 1/4 tsp. soybean oil, 1/4 Tsp sesame oil(TY @xtsho), 1/2 Tsp dishsoap to 2 quarts water. Spray plant with this as well.

Organics for life of all.

Peace.

I used Gnat fly nematodes, took about 2 weeks but they have completely gone now. Its organic and protects those plants for the rest of there life's.

I usually blame fungus gnats to medium moisture infrequency ~~ me improperly watering for the stage of growth and other things with the medium and pot its in. Thinking about it if under watered, roots will dry and die, then over watering will then rot the roots, inviting the fungus gnats. The full solution is always being on top of moisture frequency in the medium but when it happens there are some ways to eradicate the real problem deep down is they have something to eat. The roots dying is usually the "root" of the problem

I just tried nematodes ill follow up on it. I'm in canna coco in air pots

MICHI-CAN said:

Let medium get a bit drier than normal. Dust with diatomaceous earth. Stop over watering. Or spray soil with 1/4 tsp. soybean oil, 1/4 Tsp sesame oil(TY @xtsho), 1/2 Tsp dishsoap to 2 quarts water. Spray plant with this as well.

Organics for life of all.

Peace.

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Sesame oil is a great insecticide and fungicide. It's in numerous organic products and is effective. I use it now instead of neem oil. It's cheaper and I use it for cooking so I always have it on hand. I like reducing the products I need to purchase.

xtsho said:

Sesame oil is a great insecticide and fungicide. It's in numerous organic products and is effective. I use it now instead of neem oil. It's cheaper and I use it for cooking so I always have it on hand. I like reducing the products I need to purchase.

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TY. I'm sold and you informed me.