Fungus Gnats

[Noonin NorCal]

Put them at the base of each plant. The fungus gnat larva will go right for the slices.

Thanks Hq. sorry, one more question. Im in 3 gallon geo pots. about how big of a slice per container?

 

[HqFarms]

Thanks Hq. sorry, one more question. Im in 3 gallon geo pots. about how big of a slice per container?

Just put a few, like three or four about a quarter inch thick. Think of the slices like bait for the larva. You should also use about a half inch layer of sand on top of your media. The sand is your best defense. It dries out too quickly for larva to live

 

[issack]

Nylon paint strainer bags for the dunks so they don't break up is what I do. I keep my dunks soaked in my RO res water and my feed water seems to work well.
If a situation is bad with aphids or gnats. Azamax drench at 1 tablespoon a gallon and done deal. You can mix it with your nutes as well. It will not hurt your plants. I live on Azamax. For everything. Spidermites. Anything. Stuff is fabulous.!

 

[TrueReligion]

Just did a layer of gnat nix and mosquito dunks drench so far so good

 

[JJ Lowe]

Best and easiest fix for me, order the 100pk of yellow stickies from amazon, put 2 in every pot and replace every 3-4 days. Problem solved in a week.. then put one in every other pot for monitoring..

 

[BigPete]

I have found a way to eradicate fungus gnats. I have noticed that they mainly enter the pots through the drainage holes on the bottom of the pots as the moisture level is always higher there. To stop them I wait untill the rootball is dry enough so that I can pull it out of its pot, I then cut a circular piece of voile (fine net curtain) slightly larger than the top of the pot and place on top of the pot. I then lower the root ball back. I now have a screen that they cant get past. For the top of the pots I use fine perlite.

 

[DocTim420]

My post from a different thread--

As we all know, Bacillus thuringiensis serotype israelensis (BTi) is effective natural pesticide to control Fungus Gnats. So how do we measure BTi? Which product is the best "deal" for buying BTi?

Well, that question requires a little back of the envelope math before one can actually compare different BTi products. You see, BTi is measured in International Toxic Units (ITU) at various concentrations ranging between 100 to 7,000 ITU/mg. The "Active Ingredient Percentage" on the label is just part of the story...gotta include the amount of ITU/mg.

An 8% "active ingredient" product formulated with 1200 ITU/mg has 96 ITU (1200 x 0.08) for each milligram of product.

A 3% "active ingredient" product formulated with 7000 ITU/mg has 210 ITU (7000 x 0.03) for each milligram of product.

Hmmm, that means the 3% products has nearly twice the amount of ITU than the 8% product. WTF?

Also, application methods are different. Some products are RTU (ready to use) for both soil and water applications, others like Vectobac require the preparation of fermentation slurry to activate the BTi, and some are only water soluble (not to be mixed directly with the grow medium).

Since not all BTi products are "equal", I have prepared a comparison of the "usual suspects" and correlated everything to cents per million ITU.

Gnatrol is the most affordable, but can only be used in a liquid suspension form--you can not add the powder directly to the grow medium.

Bits is the 2nd most affordable and can be added to both water and the directly to the potting soil. When added to the water, BTi is instantly activated...but when mixed with potting soil, BTi is gradually activated (time release of sorts) for about 21 days. Bits are basically corn cob bits sprayed with BTi.

Dunks are slow acting (gradual release as the "donut" dissolves) and can be added to the potting soil directly--but must be crumbled to a powder like consistency (PIA). Dunks are pressed donuts made of gypsum and cork bits sprayed with BTi.

I have no experience with Vectobac products but a special fermentation slurry must be prepared before the BTi is activated (an additional step that most BTi products do not require).

Microbelift BMC is already in liquid form and like Gnatrol, it must be diluted in water before use...and from my analysis, is not a bargain.

I previously used both Gnatrol and Dunks, but for the past few years I exclusively use Bits for my source of BTi ($120 for 5 gallon bucket). I mix Bits directly to my water (30 ml/20 gallon rez), mix Bits directly in the potting soil (5 ml/5 gallon container) and mix Bits with my top dressing fertility (7.5 ml/5 gallon container).

One product for all. Admittedly, I could use Dunks form my water rez, but since that rez is used and refilled daily, I prefer the faster acting Bits over the slow release Dunks.

So there you have it. If there are other BTi products you want included in my analysis, please let me know and I will be more than happy to add them.

 

[ExoticProphet]

Azamax works very well in a root drench and foliar spray for a variety of pests (including gnats and aphids). Its OMRI listed. Not the cheapest option but it has worked for me so far.

 

[Meds4Me]

Tossing it out there, ...

A Foliar spray for gnats is pointless and a wast of time. Adult gnats want nothing to do with your plant in anyway shape or form. The only reason they are there is for the moist soil to lay their eggs in if you water to often. The Larva WILL go for your root's, so a foliar spray does nothing because it nothing more than a BYPASS of the roots.

Cold Hard Facts:

Water Control
Yellow Sticky's
BTI

Anything other than that, ... your just fooling yourselves to the point that if you lost a crop to gnats, ... you'll blame the gnats instead of yourself and I'm guessing it's something that person is surly to repeat over and over.