Fungus Gnats how to completely eradicate them organically!

[maryjohn]

Yeah, in mj gnats are easy because you can let the pot dry out. Combine that with neem meal like clack, or look up my neem oil secret, and you get 90% control.

Let your plants droop before you water and the problem is reduced.

Another option is to ignore them. You are more likely to get a plant disease from pruning with your fingernails, and be honest - when you are too lazy to clean the shears you use your hand (i so).

I have drosera that have to sit in water all the time. You want to talk fungus gnats? Not a bad deal, they live in the soil and get eaten by my plants when they land on a leaf.

 

[otherwhitemeat]

damn i guess i should have read the post a lil before getting so excited damn, im having a big prob with the nats too fuc

im willing to try any freaking thing

any body ever tried mosquito dunks to kill the eggs and larvae of the fungus nats??

A lot of have tried the dunks, experiences differ, as do application methods. IMHO, it works as a control but not a cure.

Many have reported success with the layer of sand; for me it just scatters when I water and mixes in with the soil, it also cuts down on air exchange at the soil layer and seemed to cause my roots to get waterlogged.

Others have reported success letting pots dry out. I've tried not watering for 7 days and the gnats just laughed at me.

Some have tried Neem products and they work well, also dependent on frshness, application rates, etc.

I am going to throw one more shameless plug out there for Azamax. I bought a bottle from the hydro store and in two treatments has pretty much eradicataed my year long gnat infestation.

Switching FROM FFOF also helped. No matter how much bti/neem, etc I threw at them they always came back after transplanting. Haven't had this problem since switching to LC.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

I am going to throw one more shameless plug out there for Azamax. I bought a bottle from the hydro store and in two treatments has pretty much eradicataed my year long gnat infestation.

Switching FROM FFOF also helped. No matter how much bti/neem, etc I threw at them they always came back after transplanting. Haven't had this problem since switching to LC.

The active ingredient in Azamax is Azadirachtin which is one of the active agents found in neem tree seed oil, neem tree seed meal/cake, neem tree coir, etc.

At a fraction of the cost.

CC

 

[maryjohn]

Others have reported success letting pots dry out. I've tried not watering for 7 days and the gnats just laughed at me.

If you want it to work you have to be patient. 7 days is maybe one cycle. Do it from the start you won't have gnats, use it as a cure and you must give it a month.

People also tend to misunderstand how neem oil works. It does not kill, it just keeps them from eating and moving to the next stage. The changes are gradual and you must be patient. If time is an issue add some boiled tobacco tea to your neem emulsion. And use the blender or hand blender to mix it or it will not do its job as well.

If you came over from chemical pesticides you must adjust your expectations.

 

[habeeb]

gnats can go to the bottom of pots, or the holes on the bottom side to lay eggs.

even if the soil is dry on top...if there is a will, there is a way. and they will find a way

this is what I have seen in the past before, top is dry, and you lift the pot and there chilling at the bottom hanging out saying " hey missed us? "

 

[maryjohn]

Pile of gravel under the pot habeeb.

It doubles as a little reservoir fir short trips. Water just wicks up.

But even so, how many gnats are you talking? Acceptable level? My mark is about 90% below annoying infestation level.

 

[overmyhead]

Bottom line? You wanna get rid of 'fungus gnats' once and for all?

2 tbs. of neem seed meal/cake on top of the soil as a top-dressing = end of gnats.

Eh - pretty simple solution at a low price.

CC

Where can you purchase this meal/cake? It seems like no one carries it - only hits on google were suppliers in India. Thanks.

 

[JackTheGrower]

Question..


If i put apple slices in a small box made from sticky traps with the sticky on the inside will I get more Gnats?

 

[40AmpstoFreedom]

Question..


If i put apple slices in a small box made from sticky traps with the sticky on the inside will I get more Gnats?

This isn't an answer to your specific question, but is an alternative that I know works...beer. I use cups of beer in my tents when needed. I tried using sodas etc but nothing works as good as beer. Someone told me about this a long time ago on here and it really works. You will see them floating in it after day or two.

 

[maryjohn]

Since a friend gave me some food grade DE, and I've used it for a couple months, I have to say it works much better than neem. I have no gnats now. None.

 

[Stoned Crow]

Since a friend gave me some food grade DE, and I've used it for a couple months, I have to say it works much better than neem. I have no gnats now. None.

What's DE? From reading this thread I should know, But I'm stoned

 

[C21H30O2]

DE is Diamatacious Earth (sp)... I just threw a mosquito dunk in my reservoir, Ill let you guys know how that works.

 

[habeeb]

I'm sure I've said it before, always take caution with dust ( DE )

'The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis. Natural or dried diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica"

"The sharpness of this version of the material makes it dangerous to breathe and a dust mask is recommended when working with it"

 

[Randybobandy]

Gnatrol is the best in my opinion. Azamax too.

 

[habeeb]

gnatrol = mosquito dunks, in case anyone did not know ( BTi )

but I have used gnatrol with success, I am exploring very "natural methods" that cost nothing like top dressing with sand and the sorts , gnatrol safety sheet

 

[CannaCompulsory]

Nematodes kill hundreds of larvae/pest
Check out horticultural SCANMASK...
Only use about 1 teaspoon per gallon of soil, works long and well : )

 

[Randybobandy]

Iv'e found that the mosquito dunks don't work at eliminating them just at holding gnats back. Probably because of low BTI concentration.

 

[beejium]

This isn't an answer to your specific question, but is an alternative that I know works...beer. I use cups of beer in my tents when needed. I tried using sodas etc but nothing works as good as beer. Someone told me about this a long time ago on here and it really works. You will see them floating in it after day or two.

i think i remember grandma using beer as an ant trap. only ting i remember differently was that she leaned pop sickle sticks from the top to the ground. i don't remember if it worked.

 

[maryjohn]

gnatrol = mosquito dunks, in case anyone did not know ( BTi )

but I have used gnatrol with success, I am exploring very "natural methods" that cost nothing like top dressing with sand and the sorts , gnatrol safety sheet

hey habeeb, any idea what they mean by "food grade"? the friend got it as per recommendations of a pest control company for bedbugs.

I wonder what food contains DE?

 

[Stoned Crow]

hey habeeb, any idea what they mean by "food grade"? the friend got it as per recommendations of a pest control company for bedbugs.

I wonder what food contains DE?

I thought "food grade" meant that it is acceptable to use around food, like "food grade plastics", or "food grade wood finishes".