|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
chucklehead
GeneticThrowback toNeanderthal



Registered: 02/17/07
Posts: 1,338
Loc: Chucky Cheese
Last seen: 4 years, 7 months
|
diatomaceous earth .. how much?
#7855220 - 01/09/08 06:20 PM (16 years, 23 days ago) |
|
|
Ok so I've fought mushroom flies before and I'm not looking to do it again. Those little larva disgust me and the files are nearly as bad. I'm about to try my hand at the mighty MONOTUB and so I'm going to use some Hpoo/Coir/Verm to make my bulk mix. I have some diatomaceous earth I picked up today at the garden center. I called the manufacturer to make sure there were no poisons of any kind it the mix and they assured me there were none. So good I'm not going to die by using this stuff. So my question is this: in what ratio does one use diatomaceous earth? 1 cup per brick of coir? One teaspoon to one brick? Is there really a recommended ratio?
|
Dr. uarewotueat
Peyote Farmer


Registered: 09/02/06
Posts: 16,545
Loc: Uk / Philippines
Last seen: 10 years, 6 months
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: chucklehead]
#7855292 - 01/09/08 06:36 PM (16 years, 23 days ago) |
|
|
DE is just crushed up fossil shells "diatoms" its totally natural... a cup per brick sounds ok to me, better wait for someone to confirm that though, i only use it for controlling fungus gnats in my ethno soil mixtures, not for mush cult...
-------------------- View My Gallery
|
the4x4hoss
Fat kid at theback of theshort bus


Registered: 12/29/07
Posts: 75
Loc: north central texas
Last seen: 13 years, 11 months
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: chucklehead]
#7855299 - 01/09/08 06:38 PM (16 years, 23 days ago) |
|
|
I use about 2% DE by volume... I have found it doesn't take much to ward off the buggies
-------------------- "Heaven is not a place you go when you die, rather it is that moments in time when you actually feel alive." Mushies help...
|
RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: the4x4hoss]
#7855327 - 01/09/08 06:46 PM (16 years, 23 days ago) |
|
|
It won't do squat for the gnats once it's mixed into the substrate. DE has other benefits though, such as holding a LOT of water, so it's good to use. At one time, I'd put about a teaspoon of DE per cup of peat in casing and substrate mixes. It will help provide moisture for the flush.
DE must be totally dry to work on insects. It works in much the same way a pile of broken glass would cut you up if you had to crawl naked on your belly across it. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
|
Wronguy

Registered: 03/05/05
Posts: 4,450
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#7855386 - 01/09/08 06:58 PM (16 years, 23 days ago) |
|
|
I typically use about 8% by volume in substrates and I don't use it to ward off bugs either. As RR already stated, DE can hold massive amounts of water. This ingredient will also help increase the life of your substrate, as more water is available for later flushes and future hydration. Highly recommended ingredient, if you can afford it.
|
Blutjager
Inhuman


Registered: 06/11/06
Posts: 9,220
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: Wronguy]
#7856838 - 01/09/08 11:06 PM (16 years, 23 days ago) |
|
|
Just where can you get it ??
|
anarchOi
Ellenalien is fat.



Registered: 08/06/07
Posts: 2,293
Loc: ASE
Last seen: 12 years, 11 months
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: Blutjager]
#7857272 - 01/10/08 12:14 AM (16 years, 23 days ago) |
|
|
yeah i'm with blut somehow before i missed the water thing about DE
sounds awesome to me is wal-mart known to carry it? home depot?
--------------------
|
Wronguy

Registered: 03/05/05
Posts: 4,450
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: anarchOi]
#7858304 - 01/10/08 09:19 AM (16 years, 22 days ago) |
|
|
Since I couldn't find any vendors carrying this product, I will tell you where I get mine from. I always purchase 50 lb. bags from Grow Organic .com. They are very reasonably priced and usually have the hard to find stuff.
The only problem is that they're in California, so shipping is definitely a factor. You can rest assured that you will pay more for shipping than the actual product, but it is well worth it. I think a 50 lb. bag has lasted me almost 2 years.
Hence my comments "if you can afford it." DE is expensive most everywhere else, so good luck folks.
|
Fraggin
Multi-Faceted



Registered: 01/05/05
Posts: 8,707
Last seen: 8 years, 3 days
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: Wronguy]
#7858318 - 01/10/08 09:25 AM (16 years, 22 days ago) |
|
|
If I'm not mistaken, some stores that specialize in aquariums carry it in smaller quanties for use in aquarium filters. Also, some pool supply companies may have it for use in pool filters (though many people just use sand). It's also sold under the brand name and chem name Celite.
DE is useful in outdoor grows around the perimiter of fruiting beds of fungi to keep snells away.
|
Wronguy

Registered: 03/05/05
Posts: 4,450
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: Fraggin]
#7858388 - 01/10/08 09:51 AM (16 years, 22 days ago) |
|
|
There are literally hundreds of uses for this product, but I do not recommend using anything other than food grade. The chemical makeup of filtering used for swimming pools is too acidic.
Celite and Diafil are both mined and manufactured by the same company, World Minerals. Diafil is what you want. I believe it is Diafil 516, but I could be wrong. Just grab the food grade and you'll be fine.
|
mutex
Pissing in thegene pool



Registered: 08/20/07
Posts: 90
Loc: The spork fukulum
Last seen: 9 months, 13 days
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: Wronguy]
#7860042 - 01/10/08 03:04 PM (16 years, 22 days ago) |
|
|
I just bought the same brand at Lowes last weekend, but doitbest.com hardware stocks DE as well. This place is cool for stuff like this because they ship for free to participating local hardware stores.
http://doitbest.com/Insecticides+and+insect+repellants-Woodstream-model-5170B-doitbest-sku-769412.dib
They also have verm, gypsum, jars etc. Inexpensive & convenient. Ive seen it on ebay as well, but with shipping its probably not worth it.
|
chucklehead
GeneticThrowback toNeanderthal



Registered: 02/17/07
Posts: 1,338
Loc: Chucky Cheese
Last seen: 4 years, 7 months
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: mutex]
#7860663 - 01/10/08 05:11 PM (16 years, 22 days ago) |
|
|
Cool! What section at Lowes mutex? I checked there yesterday in the lawn and garden and it wasn't there. That's the brand I bought but in much lower quantities for higher prices. Boo.
|
RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: chucklehead]
#7860817 - 01/10/08 06:02 PM (16 years, 22 days ago) |
|
|
I think at Lowes and similar places, it will be where the insecticides are. In fact, it may even be ortho brand. As long as it's just DE, it will work fine. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
|
Theo Nanacatl
boddhisattva
Registered: 12/15/02
Posts: 595
Loc: Indiana, USA
Last seen: 1 day, 11 hours
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#7860936 - 01/10/08 06:33 PM (16 years, 22 days ago) |
|
|
I picked up a few one pound bags at my local health food store. Food grade DE sold for use as organic insect control. Prices were low, too. Good source if you don't need huge amounts...
|
mutex
Pissing in thegene pool



Registered: 08/20/07
Posts: 90
Loc: The spork fukulum
Last seen: 9 months, 13 days
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: Theo Nanacatl]
#7861337 - 01/10/08 07:58 PM (16 years, 22 days ago) |
|
|
Yes I found it at my local Lowes where the insecticides are. It was the "Safer" brand but despite the consumer friendly name, I was a bit concerned about the label saying something about baits. But I found a post here that RR used both baited and unbaited without problems.
I found fly paper and a vinegar trap made from a 2 liter bottle worked well at keeping flies away.
|
RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: mutex]
#7863897 - 01/11/08 07:37 AM (16 years, 21 days ago) |
|
|
A nearly empty bottle of red wine works well too. The stale wine in the bottom attracts them into the bottle, and then they're trapped. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
|
chucklehead
GeneticThrowback toNeanderthal



Registered: 02/17/07
Posts: 1,338
Loc: Chucky Cheese
Last seen: 4 years, 7 months
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#7876004 - 01/13/08 09:47 PM (16 years, 19 days ago) |
|
|
That's a cool tip. What do you do about the larva? I really hate those things. They give me the willies.
|
RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
|
Re: diatomaceous earth .. how much? [Re: chucklehead]
#7876350 - 01/13/08 11:10 PM (16 years, 19 days ago) |
|
|
The larvae are usually in your house plants. They'll rarely be able to hatch and grow in a substrate unless it's prepared too wet. The adults are attracted to the sweet smell of the mycelium for feeding. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
|
|