Fungus Gnats in living soil... please help!

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pacifier

Well-Known Member
So, this is my first run in a "living soil" set up. 15gallon smart pots, lots of wicked organic fertilisers purchased, worms, bio char, pumice etc added. Been completely stoked with how it's going, took a bit longer than normal for the plant to get properly going, but hit the ground running after a nice long veg. So, i've been using a thick straw as a mulch and also chucking in alfafa and clover seeds (even planted edamame beans and garlic!) and letting all the leaves I prune break down on the mulch. The problem im having is that i'm basically creating an ideal environment for bloody fungus gnats.. have always ignored them in the past, and it's been easy to treat, used to let soil dry out more to keep on top of numbers. But it feels like the nice thick mulch of organic matter i've created for my ladies is basicaly making the perfect environment for fungus gnats, think they've stressed my plants a bit and look like they are a bit stunted.. ive been in flower just over a week and there really has'nt been that much stretch at all... i've been spraying neem etc/ have just used some nematodes, sticky traps etc, but find it hard as the living soil needs to obviosuly be moist for all the microbiology in the pots and haven'nt wanted that to dry out and have a diverse effect on that..


Any thoughts? What is everyone else doing for mulch? It seemed the straw was great as it was really working to keep and retain moisture.. but not good for avoiding pests..

Numbers do seem to be dropping, still definitely present, just curious if anyone has experience of this, or could offer and advice on mulching indoors w/containers...


Thanks so much & sorry for the ramble, I blame the shatter :bigjoint:
 
MustangStudFarm

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
pacifier said:
So, this is my first run in a "living soil" set up. 15gallon smart pots, lots of wicked organic fertilisers purchased, worms, bio char, pumice etc added. Been completely stoked with how it's going, took a bit longer than normal for the plant to get properly going, but hit the ground running after a nice long veg. So, i've been using a thick straw as a mulch and also chucking in alfafa and clover seeds (even planted edamame beans and garlic!) and letting all the leaves I prune break down on the mulch. The problem im having is that i'm basically creating an ideal environment for bloody fungus gnats.. have always ignored them in the past, and it's been easy to treat, used to let soil dry out more to keep on top of numbers. But it feels like the nice thick mulch of organic matter i've created for my ladies is basicaly making the perfect environment for fungus gnats, think they've stressed my plants a bit and look like they are a bit stunted.. ive been in flower just over a week and there really has'nt been that much stretch at all... i've been spraying neem etc/ have just used some nematodes, sticky traps etc, but find it hard as the living soil needs to obviosuly be moist for all the microbiology in the pots and haven'nt wanted that to dry out and have a diverse effect on that..


Any thoughts? What is everyone else doing for mulch? It seemed the straw was great as it was really working to keep and retain moisture.. but not good for avoiding pests..

Numbers do seem to be dropping, still definitely present, just curious if anyone has experience of this, or could offer and advice on mulching indoors w/containers...


Thanks so much & sorry for the ramble, I blame the shatter :bigjoint:
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Use mosquito dunks, they really work if you use it correctly. I soak them in water, then water it in.
 
P

pacifier

Well-Known Member
Smoknkush_420 said:
OK so i had this issue. i used fossil shell flour. killed all the gnats. then took off my grass mulch and replaced with crushed egg shells. works a charm
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Should of mentioned but I’ve used diamecious powder as it’s organic but found it doesn’t work for me as I need to keep the soil moist, the stuff only works when you can let the soil dry out or it just turns into a yellowish paste.. looking into other mulches. Might just do a thick cover crop and ditch the straw..
 
MustangStudFarm

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
pacifier said:
Ah, not heard of these before... will check em out. Any tips on how to use? Thanks
Click to expand...
The mosquito dunks come on corn cob, so you have to let it sit in water for a while before you water with it. It should be on the label that it also treats gnats, it was on the last package that I used. Copy&Paste:
To use mosquito dunks: Fill up a gallon jug (or watering can) with clean water and toss in a mosquito dunk. ... Let the dunk soak in the water for as long as possible (at least overnight), then remove it from the water (the dunk can be reused) and use this water for fungus gnat–infested plants.
 
B

Basement Dweler

New Member
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pacifier said:
Should of mentioned but I’ve used diamecious powder as it’s organic but found it doesn’t work for me as I need to keep the soil moist, the stuff only works when you can let the soil dry out or it just turns into a yellowish paste.. looking into other mulches. Might just do a thick cover crop and ditch the straw..
Click to expand...
I use Nat Knix it's crushed glass looks like kitty litter but it's white had good results ! U can get it on Amazon or eBay
 
Smoknkush_420

Smoknkush_420

Member
pacifier said:
Should of mentioned but I’ve used diamecious powder as it’s organic but found it doesn’t work for me as I need to keep the soil moist, the stuff only works when you can let the soil dry out or it just turns into a yellowish paste.. looking into other mulches. Might just do a thick cover crop and ditch the straw..
Click to expand...
yeah man i have the same issue whqt i do is put it down the sides of the pot where the little fuckers like to bury it stays dry for a little while then ill scoop whqt i can out and add more dry til they die off
 
Kassiopeija

Kassiopeija

Well-Known Member
Get Nematoden - they will last for about 6 weeks and if you do recycle your soil they may stay there forever, but for this you need to have real living soil using compost.

Once your soil is free you can successfully thwart off Fungus Gnats with a few tricks:
- Get very dense insect nets and close the bottom of your pots with it.
- Use a 2cm layer of washed quartzsand on top.
- Additionally shake diatomaceous earth powder onto washed expanded clay balls and put a layer over the sand.

This is how I grow (100 percent organic) having dealt with gnats multiple times.

I'd recommend some additional 20% perlite and 20% coco to get more air and waterholding to your soil.
The sand will prevent water evaporation greatly (longer watercycles) and the clay will make it easier to water manually. Roots will grow right into the topsoil even into the sand, plus in an organic grow you want to have more humid soil anyway.

Hope this helps, good luck with your grow:weed:
 
P

pacifier

Well-Known Member
Smoknkush_420 said:
yeah man i have the same issue whqt i do is put it down the sides of the pot where the little fuckers like to bury it stays dry for a little while then ill scoop whqt i can out and add more dry til they die off
Click to expand...
great shout.. will be doing this asap, thanks!
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
EWC compost tea bubbled for a day to two should give you some nematodes. Top dressing with EWC will help too. EWC have Hypoapsis miles mites and nematodes in them, but the nematodes come out more if you make a tea. I can see them swimming around when I make teas if I look close. I'm in living soil now too and use rice hulls as my mulch. It's clean and provide silica.
 
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NewGrower2011

Well-Known Member
I was just going to ask about concentrated versions of BTi, sort of like SouthernAg and the fungicide - same stuff much stronger and cheaper!
 
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