Root Maggots (Anyone ever have problems?)

[Closet Funk]

This pisses me off. I lost about 5 good seeds of Kodiak Gold and Deep Chunk to these root maggots. I didn't even know what they were. They look like little white worms. They eat the tap root out the seed and pretty much kills it. I was wondering why a few seeds didn't sprout throught the soil. I decided to dig alittle to see what the problem was and here were these little fuckers. I read up on them and it says to drench soil with neem oil mixed with water. I hope it gets rid of them.

Has anyone else had problems with root maggots? if so then school me more on some info and what other ways to get rid of them if neem doesn't work. Thanks!

 

[Pimp Aurora]

Sounds very similar to what harry has although it could be springtails but they don't normally hurt your plants, either way i'd have a look here..

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=54416

 

[MTF-Sandman]

BTi should also work if they are larval insects...

 

[Blackmelo]

Hi closet, I recently lost a northen lights cutting to these maggots myself.
I got them from this crappy stuff called root riot cubes.
They are infested with all kinds of pests.

Did yours just start in your soil?

 

[Xtrakritical]

aww man, I noticed a small white (tiny) worm in one of small rooted cuts I have in coco!

I knew it couldnt be good...

now Im worried.

Xtra

 

[Dr.Snow]

I lost one plant to those bastards last year outdoors... It was a fairly well established plant that started to grow what looked like mutated leaves (i.e. one large leaf growing instead of 5 or 7 on new growth). I was really confused because the other plants were healthy and this one appeared healthy otherwise also. Then one day I was looking at the plant and it fell over, the meristem/taproot had been completly eaten all the way through and those damn gross maggots started pouring out of the soil. I think that preventativly you should be careful not to overwater as I think they like the soggy soil. The only treatment I've heard of is the neem oil/water treatment but I'd be more concerned about the maggots breeding/maturing and spreading to your other plants. If you decide to keep the infected plant at least isolate it so when the maggots turn into flys or whatever they don't lay eggs in your other plants medium. Good luck and stay safe!

 

[soquick]

Sounds like fungus knats!! They lay thei wormy lil bastards in the soil and they feast on the roots...I would suggest Nemetodes (sp?) Have you seen any mature ones flyin yet??

SQ

 

[baccas125]

If nematodes don't work try using mosquito dunks. They are filled with benefiacal bacteria that eat larve in the soil. you may also want to check fungas gnat threads.

 

[MTF-Sandman]

I'm with Baccas...BTi kills off almost any type of larval insects in the medium/res.

 

[TanzanianMagic]

Sciarid Flies aka Fungus Gnats

Sciarid Flies aka Fungus Gnats

Has anyone else had problems with root maggots? if so then school me more on some info and what other ways to get rid of them if neem doesn't work. Thanks!

If you have fungus gnats, the soil is probably too wet.

So the first thing from a prevention point of view, would be to make sure that your soil mixture is right. It has to drain quickly, and only hold a modicum of moisture. You should use perlite.

Then, you should make sure you don't water too often. Ordinary potting soil can stay too wet for too long. If you use large pots, try putting some hydroton rocks at the bottom. I find this only works for bigger pots, because in small pots the roots dry out too much.

Imporantly, make sure that the PH of your soil is correct. Most people only check the ph of their nutrient solution. However, if the soil's ph is such that the plant shuts down it's roots, it also stops evaporating water from the pot, meaning that even if the mix is right, it stays wet for too long. The same is true for overfertilizing. If you think about it, if the plant stops taking up water from the soil, the only way moisture is removed from the pot is evaporation from surface of the pot. Which is way too slow.

Now for the cure part. Try nematodes and other insect predators, or bacteria like Bt israelensis.

However, the real reasons that fungus gnats can reproduce in any numbers, is because they have something to feed on - which is young roothairs and rotting roots.

Lastly, coco coir has problems of it's own, but one thing you can almost completely avoid are the insects and fungi that are present in soil and compost.

 

[Mr Celsius]

Do they look sorta like centipedes? If so they are probably synphilin.

 

[gmanwho]

Not sure where i read it the other day, use " misquitoo dunks " i heard. Lowes or the depot have them. You take the disks and throw them in standing water,they kill misquito larvae.

Something about crushing them up and add them to your water when you feed.

Havent tried it, but the package on back says it kills "all larvae". Will try it. Non toxic, so they say.

Gonna search around myself for more info.

Figured i'd share, but get other opinions first.

B-safe

 

[gmanwho]

dunk update

dunk update

Ive tried crushing the dunks and spreading them over the top of the coco. 1 tbsp scattered over the top for a 3 gal bucket. 1 week, still have maggots or silver white small centipeded looking pests.

next i will try diluting some of the dunks and water though.

Gotta get them out of there. they are eating my roots. you bastards.


B-safe

 

[rule35sub1]

I used dunks, crushed up half a disc in my rez, no more gnats.

 

[MynameStitch]

You are supposed to dilute them in water and shake good and water your plants.....

1/2 dunk to a gallon of water.