So you don't have the issue with gnats while growing hydroponically? Was thinking if I should switch to hydro for next grow but not sure. How are you liking it opposed to soil?
This whole thread is entertaining as hell. First off, his problem is something eating new growth and close to it, leaves...correct? Like it has been said.
It ain't fungus gnats!
You can get fungus gnats with hydro! They work the hydroton zone well. Same for rockwool and soilless.
I'll bet they came in by way of eggs in Budley's soil, when he did soil growing. Fox Farm soils have been known for this for about ever!
Everybody and their brother has a way to control or kill off fungus gnats...First thing is proper identification of the pest. I always have yellow
and blue stickies out! If I find a bug stuck to it. I look at the sucker through a 60-100x scope and be sure what I'm about to fight is what it is!
Letting it dry out is always a place to start. Yet, gnats seem to give folks problems.
First off,
calm down. Fungus gnats do little damage at all. They are more of a "pest" to you, then your plant. Unless of course you ignore them and they go ape shit all through your garden....
Many who say that "this or that" didn't work for me....Simply did not treat in a way to actually "break" the cycle....
Dunks are popular.
D. E. is too.
I don't care for either one. And that's simply a choice. They can work if used properly.
I like
Microbe Lift BMC.....This is active BT spores that you only put like
8-10 drops in your feed. Now simply water to get the whole pot wet. Repeat this once every 5 days 4 times. Fungus gnat life cycle is broken....
I think sometimes when they come back. It's because folks have done the "dry" it out thing and the gnats have gone down deeper between the pot and the soil - That has pulled away from the pot due to shrinkage from lack of moisture. - and are laying eggs there. Possible anyway.
Now the thing is, If you treat with something in any liquid by watering. You
must treat at least 3 times at 5 day intervals...You can not be sure you've killed them all with ANY single treatment....
Now then, When we can post pics again..I want to see those chewed leaves ok? Then we can get to that problem.
Personally, I might hit them with Cpt Jacks spinosad a cpl of times and see if the biting bugs go away, while you tame the gnats..
Cpt Jack's is OMRI
Good luck and leave the Neem for V's lunch spread.