How dry can I let my plants in veg for gnats?

I noticed a tiny gnat buzzing around the soil and did a neem oil spray about 10 days ago directly on the soil (promix) and I saw nothing until today

Today I noticed another 1 buzzing around the bottom of the pot near the ground.
I’ve been letting the soil dry out but I’m wondering how dry can I let it get before damage starts.

I have some extra coco with perlite I can throw on top if that helps
also I’m gonna go get a moisture meter after I dig my driveway out of the snow lol

Yeah I learned about overwatering the hard way

What’s worked best for me is a fan blowing at soil level. You still have to be careful to not over water but a fan and sticky traps help.

Wattzzup said:

What’s worked best for me is a fan blowing at soil level. You still have to be careful to not over water but a fan and sticky traps help.

Click to expand...

A floor fan is a good idea, I have plenty of fans but they’re all on the wall above

It dries the top out quickly so they don’t have a cozy place to live. That plus it keeps them from being able to fly around when they are young.

If you want to completely wipe them out without having to dry out your soil I would highly recommend this product.

DE works as well.

Wattzzup said:

DE works as well.

Click to expand...

I found DE worked to an extent. It ends up being useless when it clumps up when you water.

Wattzzup said:

It dries the top out quickly so they don’t have a cozy place to live. That plus it keeps them from being able to fly around when they are young.

Click to expand...

i was typing but forget me, listen to this info. Its the best you can do.

As for the rest of the home or whatever its in , make sure EVERYTHING is dry , then throw some carpet fresh powder in ALL drains for 12 hours or more... That should clear them up till next time...



soil

Lol nematodes always remind me of that cartoon

Frost Spectre said:

I found DE worked to an extent. It ends up being useless when it clumps up when you water.

Click to expand...

I put it on directly after watering.

I let them get really light and wilt just a tad before I water. OG Biowar soil drench will take the gnats out. Hypoaspis Miles and Rove Beatles will guard your soil and eat the larvae.

getogrow said:

i was typing but forget me, listen to this info. Its the best you can do.

As for the rest of the home or whatever its in , make sure EVERYTHING is dry , then throw some carpet fresh powder in ALL drains for 12 hours or more... That should clear them up till next time...



soil

Click to expand...

Hmmm I never considered my drains are probably full of moisture

2 inches or topdress like sand, gravel, I use hydracorn and what Wattz said de can sprinkle or mix w water and spray, they hate it.

NeroBlackstone said:

Lol nematodes always remind me of that cartoon

Click to expand...

Hahahahahahahah, that's awesome.

I finished plants ages ago and when I'm sitting quietly at night, one single gnat walks across the monitor screen so don't underestimate them

getogrow said:

i was typing but forget me, listen to this info. Its the best you can do.

As for the rest of the home or whatever its in , make sure EVERYTHING is dry , then throw some carpet fresh powder in ALL drains for 12 hours or more... That should clear them up till next time...



soil

Click to expand...

I always end up with too green of plants imo. Not sure why.

Southernontariogrower said:

I always end up with too green of plants imo. Not sure why.

Click to expand...

From gnats ?

Gnats are not that big of a deal. No need to buy some fancy product. Just keep spraying neem now and then. A few gnats isn't going to do anything. I see a few here and there occasionally. I just ignore them.

xtsho said:

Gnats are not that big of a deal. No need to buy some fancy product. Just keep spraying neem now and then. A few gnats isn't going to do anything. I see a few here and there occasionally. I just ignore them.

Click to expand...

Love little flys in my bud cause I'm Canadian. Sticky buds get rid or them, and quick. Ask me how I know this, lol.

A few gnats is not an issue but when u get a lot they can cause some issues with seedlings and clones mostly. Gnatrol was the only thing I found worked for me when I got infested a time or two. Strategic places sticky pads is usually good enough to keep them to where they're just a pita and not causing problems

From my experience letting things dry out may help a little but once you water they will figure a way to complete their life cycle

xtsho said:

Gnats are not that big of a deal. No need to buy some fancy product. Just keep spraying neem now and then. A few gnats isn't going to do anything. I see a few here and there occasionally. I just ignore them.

Click to expand...

Hmmm, I see what you're saying. They do little damage on healthy root systems but...

Gnats can be vectors for all types of cannabis viruses and diseases. I mitigate that risk by treating them.