Something is eating my seedlings after germination

[mtbazz]

Popped ten beans the other day...all ten sprouted, than 9 died shortly after popping above soil.

I looked closely, and in one pot noticed some tiny white larvae quriming around about 2 mm long, and I looked at the dead seedlings under a magnifying glass and could clearly see something had munched on them.

Second time this happened..FIrst time I didn't know what did it, now I do.

Soil is Roots Organcis, it was a fresh bag.

Next time can I treat the soil with something before putting the seedlings in there to prevent this from happening? Does it with NEEM or maybe peroxide? I know that it will kill any beneficials but I don't care about that.

 

[habeeb]

fungus gnats..

wait till it happens on a $150 pack of seeds.. none the less any seeds it happens to sucks

it might be a fresh bag but it's not 'fresh' as you think.. haha

so some options are:

start in pucks or another media

if you want to get rid of fungus gnats hit them hard, but get some neem meal, top dress every week with it, in a few weeks there gone for good, just have to get it flowing through, you can also make a ferment, by throwing some in a bottle with water, it will stink though but works good. another thing in addition is get some bti.. gnatrol, mosquito dunks... get on them or you will have them as long as you have plants..

ive done it all, seriously.. neem was the best, as bti you have to keep applying, neem is more active for longer.. it will take a while for them to disappear, but then one day there gone forever, do the top dress and liquid extract, keep in mind your feeding more N though

to what you said, there is no evidence neem kills bennies, not that i saw as i run organic setups..

 

[mtbazz]

fungus gnats..

wait till it happens on a $150 pack of seeds.. none the less any seeds it happens to sucks

it might be a fresh bag but it's not 'fresh' as you think.. haha

so some options are:

start in pucks or another media

if you want to get rid of fungus gnats hit them hard, but get some neem meal, top dress every week with it, in a few weeks there gone for good, just have to get it flowing through, you can also make a ferment, by throwing some in a bottle with water, it will stink though but works good. another thing in addition is get some bti.. gnatrol, mosquito dunks... get on them or you will have them as long as you have plants..

ive done it all, seriously.. neem was the best, as bti you have to keep applying, neem is more active for longer.. it will take a while for them to disappear, but then one day there gone forever, do the top dress and liquid extract, keep in mind your feeding more N though

to what you said, there is no evidence neem kills bennies, not that i saw as i run organic setups..

thanks...

if i wanted to treat the initial soil i use to germinate the seedlings in, can I just nuke the soil with something?? I really am just looking for a once and done treatment so I don't lose anymore seedlings?

would H2O2 work for this?

 

[Hank Hemp]

Good post habeeb!

 

[Mikell]

Bake it in the oven if it's not an obscene amount of soil, it would be done and ready to run in a few hours. Moist soil will bake more efficiently, maintain around 130-150F for an hour. Overheating is not desirable and may be counterproductive.

 

[ChingonLSU]

thanks...

if i wanted to treat the initial soil i use to germinate the seedlings in, can I just nuke the soil with something?? I really am just looking for a once and done treatment so I don't lose anymore seedlings?

would H2O2 work for this?

You can nuke it and you can use H2O2, just remember the friendly organic life in your soil will take a hit too.
Plugs or grow blocks are an option for getting them started until you get your soil figured out. The larva love moist soil, so drying it out will help too.

 

[Tonygreen]

http://www.livingwithbugs.com/PDFiles/spinosad-04.pdf

Kills em dead, all natural. I always get gnats and thrips with new bags of soil, I always treat them now, every new bag...

 

[Chronic Future]

This is why I start them in promix hp or peat pots