|
 Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
 Holydiver
Stranger
Registered: 03/19/01
Posts: 5,156
Loc: The midnight sea
|
 Gnat explosion - what do do? 
#10751775 - 07/27/09 08:25 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I went to transfer this thing to a bigger pot today and found a gross worm looking solid root ball and when I went to pull it away thousands of ants or gnat things + their eggs came pouring out and they are EVERYWHERE now. houseplants, MJ, the bastards landed everywhere and are populating.
any way to control this? I read somewhere that putting a layer of sand on top of the plants can keep them from inhabiting, how's that?
|
 Cactusdan
Patecatl
Registered: 10/11/07
Posts: 7,024
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 3 years, 4 months
|
 Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Holydiver]
#10752474 - 07/27/09 10:36 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I've also had luck by putting cups of vinegar around to get rid of them.
Kind of a smelly solution though.
--------------------
|
iluvfungi
Registered: 06/17/09
Posts: 1,488
Loc: Oakland, CA USA 
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Cactusdan]
#10752696 - 07/27/09 11:27 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Um, maybe go to the local grow store. Those guys know a lot about this kind of stuff and most likely have something safe you can use.
|
Holydiver
Stranger
Registered: 03/19/01
Posts: 5,156
Loc: The midnight sea
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: iluvfungi]
#10752896 - 07/28/09 12:12 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I'm trying to avoid stores + $ + chemicals, but I found some natural stuff online I'll try. (thanks for vinegar suggestion it is along those lines).
--------------------
To find a place to live between the negatives and positives.
|
Horticulture
Mycocurious
Registered: 04/30/09
Posts: 1,102
Loc: Midwest
Last seen: 9 years, 2 months
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: iluvfungi]
#10752919 - 07/28/09 12:22 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
What you probably have are fungus gnats. The theory behind the layer of sand is that it will prevent them from breeding, since their larvae live in the soil. That ought to work... but there are some downsides to sand as well, such as issues with air flow and evaporation. Safer soap, or a dilute mixture of dishwashing soap and water will kill them on contact, but you have to get them all, and that can be tricky.
Two really safe control methods would be a bit of cinnamon dusted on top of your soil, or getting a sundew plant (Drosera) to catch them. Both will control, but doubtfully entirely eradicate. If you're having a huge gnat problem it may be an indicator that your soil is too wet to begin with. They like damp conditions, and don't do well in dry soil.
Also, what sort of orchid are you repotting in the photo? It probably needs to be in orchid bark or something that gets more airflow and drainage. That could be why the gnats chose to breed in there.
--------------------
The Plant Mage Guild
|
Artnotwar
Chemical Researcher
Registered: 04/07/06
Posts: 3,379
Last seen: 11 months, 14 days
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Horticulture]
#10753891 - 07/28/09 07:16 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
you'd better learn to love those gnats, I've had mine for ages 
look into diatomaceous earth, or DE for short. everybody seems to swear by it for killing gnats, it did nothing for me though.
--------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Until the 20th century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see,
and hear.
Since the initial publication of the charged electromagnetic spectrum, humans
learned that what they can touch, smell, see, and hear... is less than one
millionth of reality.
--------------------------------
|
ethnoguy
"Raper of Mother Nature"
Registered: 10/03/07
Posts: 3,915
Loc: your momma's house
Last seen: 10 years, 11 months
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Artnotwar]
#10754458 - 07/28/09 09:49 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I've cured a problem by allowing the soil to dry out and manual removal. I would give Horticulture's ideas a shot. Vinegar does attract gnats. What doesn't attract those bastards?
Neat plant. Those roots are crazy looking.
EG
|
Big L
In tall buildings
Registered: 02/11/09
Posts: 3,532
Loc: Luxury
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Holydiver]
#10754500 - 07/28/09 09:57 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
there are some really good parasites that will eat them up.
mites and nematodes
Other than that let the soil get bone dry and leave it that way for a long time.
Those fuckers are persistent.
|
013akilper
Registered: 08/20/04
Posts: 1,761
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Holydiver]
#10754578 - 07/28/09 10:13 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
i used to have a huge gnat problem til i dumped a crapton of diatomaceous earth in every pot i had. it works but i had to use a lot. though after a while if you dont re apply the gnats will just come back. but a bad thing bout that stuff i think it clogged up my pots they dont drain very well after using the de
--------------------
|
lolbience
bridgesy eye eye eye
Registered: 06/20/09
Posts: 306
Last seen: 9 years, 9 months
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Holydiver]
#10754616 - 07/28/09 10:20 AM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Holydiver said:
any way to control this? I read somewhere that putting a layer of sand on top of the plants can keep them from inhabiting, how's that?
Gnats are attracted to wet/moist soil. They lay their eggs in the dirt, and their larvae feed on your plants' roots (basically injecting fungi and disease). A layer of sand prevents the gnats from laying eggs.
I'd neme the shit out of them, then put a 1/2 inch minimum layer of sand on the top of the soil. Took about a week to wipe out my fungus gnats that way, although it was a minor case.
|
Dr. uarewotueat
Peyote Farmer
Registered: 09/02/06
Posts: 16,545
Loc: Uk / Philippines
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Holydiver]
#10757317 - 07/28/09 06:31 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
letting the soil dry out for a while and adding a layer of DE to the top of the pot always worked for me.
any emerging gnats should be instantly shredded and any adult flies coming in to lay eggs should suffer the same fate.
it takes a while to get rid of the adult flies completely.
use that sticky fly paper around your pots to catch the adults too.
--------------------
View My Gallery
|
Prof. Astro
acirebma
Registered: 04/15/08
Posts: 4,084
Last seen: 5 months, 22 days
|
|
DE had mixed results for me even using high amounts. But letting the soil dry and if you need using the vinegar should do it, they are more active in winter in my area so I haven't seen them this season.
--------------------
|
Dr. uarewotueat
Peyote Farmer
Registered: 09/02/06
Posts: 16,545
Loc: Uk / Philippines
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Prof. Astro]
#10757464 - 07/28/09 07:00 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
if DE doesn't work, then you are doing something wrong.
--------------------
View My Gallery
|
Prof. Astro
acirebma
Registered: 04/15/08
Posts: 4,084
Last seen: 5 months, 22 days
|
|
It probably wasn't the correct grade, as per my understanding there are several grades from filter to food. Mine was just a generic on labeled for roaches.
--------------------
|
ethno3
Stranger
Registered: 04/18/09
Posts: 45
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 13 years, 1 month
|
Re: Gnat explosion - what do do? [Re: Prof. Astro]
#10758780 - 07/28/09 11:03 PM (14 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I've been combating fungus gnats for a few weeks now in my greenhouse and agree it's not easy.
I've been using a combination of things:
yellow sticky traps and containers of lemon juice to catch the adults.
A layer of sand to prevent them laying more eggs.
Cinnamon and black pepper sprinkled on top of the soil.
And letting the soil dry out which is getting rid of the fungus gnats but killing my psychotrias.
And i just put in a few containers of vinegar to see how that works.
It's a slow and painful process but seems to be working.
Good luck.
|
|
Threaded
Previous
Index
Next
Bridgetown Botanicals 
Kratom Powder for Sale 
Bulk Cannabis Seeds 
North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies
Edit 
Reply 
1 2 all )
runnerup
felixhigh
GNIOM1498
Gr0wer
davidiusthebeast
NeiL
Larrythescaryrex