Fungus gnats or WINGED ROOT APHIDS???

[Chevy cHaze]

If these little aholes persist I might go down the botanigard route as well, even with the more than steep shipping costs to Europe. Probably still cheaper in the end than all these semi successful attempts of keeping them at bay... keen to hear how it's faring for you.
CC

 

[Desert Dan]

If these little aholes persist I might go down the botanigard route as well, even with the more than steep shipping costs to Europe. Probably still cheaper in the end than all these semi successful attempts of keeping them at bay... keen to hear how it's faring for you.
CC

It’s not just the botaniguard… It is a full reset! I had been using botaniguard unsuccessfully for a year prior to this.

I think that perlite and large coco chunks of my previous mix actually impeded its efficacy. Also the res of the hempy bucket maintains moisture all the way to the top layer of the coco.

-DD

 

[Chevy cHaze]

Ah ok I see! I read the reset bit but didn't know you had been unsuccessful with botanigard prior. I thought it might be the solution, but apparently not so...sigh.Doesn't it say it'll kill aphids ?
Thanks anyways DD!
CC

 

[Desert Dan]

Ah ok I see! I read the reset bit but didn't know you had been unsuccessful with botanigard prior. I thought it might be the solution, but apparently not so...sigh.Doesn't it say it'll kill aphids ?
Thanks anyways DD!
CC

It will kill, but not an overnight knockout… you need to maintain the ideal environment for the spores to be effective.

If you have a large population you need to use a knockdown, like pyrethrum, first.

Better to reset and clean clean clean!

-DD

 

[microbe621]

The last time I had pests in the soil I used nematodes purchased at the local garden nursery. I was amazed at the outcome, considering the infestation was considerable.

moi aussi j ai utiliser les nematodes, cela a fonctionner du tonnerre..+ piege jaune, la population etait importante, et les plantes en souffrees, les nematodes fonctionne bien pour moi

 

[onavelzy]

When putting plants into new media, coco, soil, you name it, you can eliminate existing bugs pretty effectively before planting by using boiling water.

I used a 5 g HD type bucket and a standard, wire mesh desk-side trash can (see link below)
If possible, do the prep outside where it won't matter if you spill some water or medium,
because you will
put the trash can into the 5 g bucket then fill it with how much medium you plan to use.
borrow some large stew pots from the kitchen, fill them to about 2/3 to 3/4 full with water and bring the water to a roiling boil.
put a lid on the pot and take it out to the soil container and pour it in carefully. Pour in enough to cover the medium {see other link below)
Cover the bucket and leave it over night, or for a few hours to cool down then pour out the water.
use when ready to plant but the sooner after treating the better to avoid any new bugs getting in.
You would need to add new beneficials as the heat will wipe out any that came with the medium

hope that wasn't too wordy

https://www.icmag.com/media/18078881/

https://www.icmag.com/media/18078882/

 

[stellis0358]

I've used Athena IPM on spider mites once before and worked like a charm. I grew several autos outside last summer (big mistake in hot and humid NY). I had a huge aphid problem. I was able to knock most of them off with a garden hose but couldn't get rid of them. I saw them on branches while drying. I used my butane lighter to burn as many as I could get at but needless to say this was a HUGE turnoff for me. Nothing worse than having it in the back of your mind that there are dead bugs in my buds im about to smoke. I've never had aphids in an indoor grow before. Isn't diatomaceous earth a good solution for fungus gnats? Can't get in, can't get out...

 

[Chevy cHaze]

microbe life photosynthesis plus also seems to have an inhibting effect on these critters, why I can't tell you...
Only once in a while I see one coming out of the soil and they look drugged somehow after I started using the above
CC

 

[woolybear]

I bought a small jar of the sticky clear goo and have made insect traps by using it on white plastic strips.

Recently I found that taking a toothpick and treating the rim of my planting cups/pots has caught a boatload of them. The goo comes off easily enough.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

Pressurize your grow room. Have more air going in than out so you build a positive air pressure in the room. Make sure your air intake is well filtered. I use a carbon filter on my intake. This will prevent insect eggs and fungus spores from entering the room. This is what I do. I live in Seattle where it’s always wet and tons of bugs. I don’t even have to preventative spray. My plants are as clean as they can get. Also so t go in your grow room with clothes and shoes you wear outside. Also no pets in the grow room. Also sweep daily. Clean up excess water. And dirt. All these things will prevent you from dealing with pests and fungus in the future.

 

[woolybear]

I've been taking little plastic condiment cups and applying sticky goo with a toothpick to the outside and inside walls, not the rim though. This makes them easy to plop on top of your medium.

I've also noticed that the gnats like to hang out on the stem near the base of the plant, and also on the outside of the growing pot. Just tap em with your fingertip and they are dead!

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Does anyone have experience with Botanigard?
I came across it and thought this is almost too good to be true... An insect killing fungus that you can spray or mix into the soil, not harmful for humans, to be used right up until harvest sounds just terriffic right? It's labelled to kill aphids...
CC

I used Botanigard 22wp when I had root aphids. I alternated between Azamax and Botanigard a few times (so like 6 or 8 total drenches) and that took care of them. Then I added nematodes to be safe. I've been using the same soil for about over a year since and so far so good. Good luck with your battle.

Get Rid of Root Aphids | Organic Control

Early detection and control is highly recommended for root aphids. The damage they cause shows up as yellowing withered leaves. Your plants will not grow vigorously or reach their mature size. If they flower or fruit, the resulting growth will be underdeveloped.

www.arbico-organics.com

For those with fungus gnats just get some Microbe-Lift BMC

 

[Chevy cHaze]

As I reported earlier, mechanical barriers like perlite, diatomaceus earth or fine mesh all help to keep them at bay. Enough to grow weed with these little fuckers present. Aphids that is, not fungus gnats. A while ago I got my hands on some great white powder and it does look like they don't like that stuff. I have one plant with GW watered in and so far the yellow sticky traps did not catch anything. Been about 2 weeks...
best
CC

 

[woolybear]

I have a squirt bottle filled with water and a bit of GrowSafe*.

I started squirting the base of the plant with the mixture and wow, turns out a lot of them like to hide out there. As a bonus, these bugs are obliterated by the squirt bottle stream, and its fun to tag them.

We'll see if the oils in the growsafe help keep the population down. So far it's looking good!

* GrowSafe Bio-Pesticide for Spider, Organic Natural Miticide, Fungicide and Insecticide. Its basically corn oil that they figured out how to suspend in solution.

 

[Chevy cHaze]

Quick update on the Great White:
I've now watered all pots with GW and currently no further signs of the aphids. App. 10 sticky traps have caught 3 flyers over the course of a week.
In the meantime I've harvested the last blueberry and examined the rootball: looked like a healthy rootball and zero signs of any bugs or larvae.
My plan is to water with GW once every two weeks, keep you posted.
CC

 

[Chevy cHaze]

Unfortunately the fuckers are still present... I think I knocked them back but they're still around and now also doing visible damage again. What a nightmare. As I can't get my hands on any botanigard here in Europe (only option is to order from the US and then it gets way too pricey) I have found an alternative product containing Beauveria Bassiana at a fraction of the cost and will give it a try. It's a fungus and from what i've read it gets into the bugs and kills them from the inside and others have said it did the job nicely. Back shortly oh man...
CC

 

[Jcue81]

Unfortunately the fuckers are still present... I think I knocked them back but they're still around and now also doing visible damage again. What a nightmare. As I can't get my hands on any botanigard here in Europe (only option is to order from the US and then it gets way too pricey) I have found an alternative product containing Beauveria Bassiana at a fraction of the cost and will give it a try. It's a fungus and from what i've read it gets into the bugs and kills them from the inside and others have said it did the job nicely. Back shortly oh man...
CC

Do you run clones and keep moms, Chevy?

A short break with no plant material and they’ll be gone. They don’t lay eggs indoors, they reproduce from clone. A week with no plants and you’ll be aphid free.

If you do have moms, take cuts, submerge under water for an hour, remove all plant material from the main grow, grab a shower then plug somewhere far away from your grow and use that BB you found. You got this!

 

[LostTribe]

Unfortunately the fuckers are still present... I think I knocked them back but they're still around and now also doing visible damage again. What a nightmare. As I can't get my hands on any botanigard here in Europe (only option is to order from the US and then it gets way too pricey) I have found an alternative product containing Beauveria Bassiana at a fraction of the cost and will give it a try. It's a fungus and from what i've read it gets into the bugs and kills them from the inside and others have said it did the job nicely. Back shortly oh man...
CC

You gotta shut down for a proper bug bomb and spray with a sterilization of everything. Flooring, tubs, the works. Did you read my post about taking some of the initiation protocol from Tissue culture and putting it to use? Take 2 cuts off each, 10 min soak in 10% bleach water solution followed but 3 seperate rinses in sterilized water. pre soak rooters in ph'd rooting solution, re cut with sterile or bleach washed blades for each cut made and bagged in a freezer ziplock on a heat mat under small veg light for 2 weeks. You just leave them. That gives you 2 weeks to clean, kill and reset. Otherwise you can expect to totally shut down and start over. No other way about it.

Dr. PK tissue culture walkthrough part 1 youtube.


You do not need a hood nor still air bax SAB. You can do it out in the open just be sterile and dont cross contaminate. The bleach will kill everything that is non systemic. I no longer use the iso, as it can offgas chloroform when combined with bleach. 10% Bleach is sufficient.

Good luck.

 

[Chevy cHaze]

"Do you run clones and keep moms, Chevy?
A short break with no plant material and they’ll be gone. They don’t lay eggs indoors, they reproduce from clone. A week with no plants and you’ll be aphid free.
If you do have moms, take cuts, submerge under water for an hour, remove all plant material from the main grow, grab a shower then plug somewhere far away from your grow and use that BB you found. You got this!"


I did Jcue, I did, but had to toss everything and start over because of these little critters.
They were in all my pots and especially in my mums big time after I thought I had them under control with only few flyers around to be seen.
Heavy hearted I decided to scrap everything. Full clean, bleach wash everything and let it rest for a few weeks.Then I started over with a new tent and all and germinated two california indicas from Sensi just to find them infested too after a while! Finally concluded they were in the soil as I had two more bags in a separate compartment in the house that I broke out and used and I'm beginning to think that might be the way I got them in the first place!
I'll update if the beauvaria bassiana stuff did anything shortly
CC

 

[Chevy cHaze]

You gotta shut down for a proper bug bomb and spray with a sterilization of everything. Flooring, tubs, the works. Did you read my post about taking some of the initiation protocol from Tissue culture and putting it to use? Take 2 cuts off each, 10 min soak in 10% bleach water solution followed but 3 seperate rinses in sterilized water. pre soak rooters in ph'd rooting solution, re cut with sterile or bleach washed blades for each cut made and bagged in a freezer ziplock on a heat mat under small veg light for 2 weeks. You just leave them. That gives you 2 weeks to clean, kill and reset. Otherwise you can expect to totally shut down and start over. No other way about it.

Dr. PK tissue culture walkthrough part 1 youtube.


You do not need a hood nor still air bax SAB. You can do it out in the open just be sterile and dont cross contaminate. The bleach will kill everything that is non systemic. I no longer use the iso, as it can offgas chloroform when combined with bleach. 10% Bleach is sufficient.

Good luck.

Thanks LT,
As I just wrote above I had to do the unthinkable, still so bummed about it but there was no other way if I wanted to have healthy plants again and not just semi-surviving ones.
I'll look into the tissue culture thing, always been intrigued by it but then also somewhat repelled by the complexity and ultra sterile requirements (I do have a background in biology so it should be doable just too lazy hahaha)

CC