Lavender, Gnats and Neem Oil?

Driver733

Well-Known Member
I am trying this method tonight, since I have this on hand.View attachment 5094089View attachment 5094090


Going for the vinegar and soap water, see if I can trap em.


Might get the yellow strips too.

Depending on how much I need to do.
Whether you trap them or not, by the time they are flying, the damage is done. A single gnat can lay hundreds of eggs per week. The larvae are the problem, the flying gnats do not harm the plant other than laying new eggs.
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
Whether you trap them or not, by the time they are flying, the damage is done. A single gnat can lay hundreds of eggs per week. The larvae are the problem, the flying gnats do not harm the plant other than laying new eggs.
Damn, well I better order that mosquito bits tonight.
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
I don't understand how anyone grows anything without 1st researching what beneficials they should have in their soil to prevent these types of things from happening.
I DIDN'T GROW THE PRIMROSE. They we're a gift.


That's why I'm doing emergency maintenance.

I'm learning a lot.

IT'S going to be my first marijuana grow, so I'm being extra picky.

Now you understand. bongsmilie
 
Last edited:

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
Whether you trap them or not, by the time they are flying, the damage is done. A single gnat can lay hundreds of eggs per week. The larvae are the problem, the flying gnats do not harm the plant other than laying new eggs.
I just discovered that they may have not come from the primrose, necessarily.

I had a bag of soil that I bought , black gold, it was OPEN..a small opening I didn't see at first...

Saw fungus gnats near there, flying.

I'm going to have to treat that entire bag
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
I just discovered that they may have not come from the primrose, necessarily.

I had a bag of soil that I bought , black gold, it was OPEN..a small opening I didn't see at first...

Saw fungus gnats near there, flying.

I'm going to have to treat that entire bag
What about neem oil flushing the soil?

Have you tried that with success?
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
Whether you trap them or not, by the time they are flying, the damage is done. A single gnat can lay hundreds of eggs per week. The larvae are the problem, the flying gnats do not harm the plant other than laying new eggs.

I've got these coming March 2nd!

Hopefully that'll do.

Cost me $15+ tax

Going to soak the Bits in water to make a spray/watering... Soak the soil good in that bacteria.


The neem oil spray I'll use in conjunction with lavender oil for future control.

Wish me luck!☮☮☮Screenshot_2022-03-01-00-20-31-962.jpgScreenshot_2022-03-01-00-21-09-054.jpg
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
No shit. I tried.
Hey, folks, the important thing is I'm catching it now, before the grow begins.

I knew about beneficial bacteria, just didn't know there was one specific for fungus gnats that works best.

Last time I had a Garden, indoor or out was in 2012.

Sadly ,I don't know exactly where the gnats came from, either the primrose or from the soil, they're showing up on both places.

The Primrose were a gift, so it's making more sense they came from there.


Good news is my IPM is coming on the same day I'll probably plant.☮
 

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Hey, folks, the important thing is I'm catching it now, before the grow begins.

I knew about beneficial bacteria, just didn't know there was one specific for fungus gnats that works best.

Last time I had a Garden, indoor or out was in 2012.

Sadly ,I don't know exactly where the gnats came from, either the primrose or from the soil, they're showing up on both places.

The Primrose were a gift, so it's making more sense they came from there.


Good news is my IPM is coming on the same day I'll probably plant.☮
If you're doing organics. Predators for the win. Hypoaspis Miles, Nematodes, etc work awesome. Most of that stuff you can get from good EWC, but you can order them separately too.
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
If you're doing organics. Predators for the win. Hypoaspis Miles, Nematodes, etc work awesome. Most of that stuff you can get from good EWC, but you can order them separately too.
My soil I bought has Earthworm castings in it ... Plus other helpful fungi, bacteria.

Was thinking about adding red Wigglers to my pots, but not sure, since it's in the window.

I've got the mosquito bits (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis)
coming.


Here's My soilIMG_20220228_215709.jpgIMG_20220228_220013.jpgIMG_20220228_220938.jpg
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
Plus I'll be feeding my plants this after they become seedlings.

IMG_20220228_215847.jpg
IMG_20220228_215826.jpg
IMG_20220228_215817.jpgIMG_20220228_215736.jpgWill need to find a higher nitrogen/potassium mix soon, then bloom food.
 

Driver733

Well-Known Member
What about neem oil flushing the soil?

Have you tried that with success?
No, pasteurize the potting soil, I use a 2:1 ratio of dirt to boiling water, put the dirt in a 5 gallon bucket, pour in the boiling water, let it sit for a day.

It would be best to let that soil fully dry out again before using it, just to be sure, but it is now wet and okay to use right away.

Do not use that "Garden Safe Fungicide" if it has permethrin or pyrethrin in it, I tried it for thrips and it fried my leaves.

Honestly, if you pastuerize first and then use the Bits, you won't need anything else.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Fungus Gnats do not chomp on leaves. If you have something eating leaves it's not the Gnats.

Gnats are simple to get rid of. A neem oil or basically any oil, canola, sesame, etc... sprayed on the surface will effectively eliminate them.
 

Babalonian

Well-Known Member
I too have been fighting fungus gnats the last few weeks. I even started a thread in here a few days ago asking how people steam their soil. (Getting the plan together for the next round). Got a couple replies, mostly people wondering why the hell I would want to do that.

No, pasteurize the potting soil, I use a 2:1 ratio of dirt to boiling water, put the dirt in a 5 gallon bucket, pour in the boiling water, let it sit for a day.

It would be best to let that soil fully dry out again before using it, just to be sure, but it is now wet and okay to use right away.

Do not use that "Garden Safe Fungicide" if it has permethrin or pyrethrin in it, I tried it for thrips and it fried my leaves.

Honestly, if you pastuerize first and then use the Bits, you won't need anything else.
^ and that is the response I really needed, thank you.

I know, they’re more annoyance than problem. But it’s borderline infestation… and it’s/was February…. Gardening experience tells me this could be a nightmare come warmer weather.

Makes more sense to me to try and pasteurize and do some recharge work to the soil, because spraying more oils/chemicals on the grow media than water… just ain’t right.

Quick survey: seems I’m far from alone and at the same time fighting these little bastards… Did y’all buy/use some FFOF by chance? No proof, but I have a strong hunch it is the source of my problem.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
I too have been fighting fungus gnats the last few weeks. I even started a thread in here a few days ago asking how people steam their soil. (Getting the plan together for the next round). Got a couple replies, mostly people wondering why the hell I would want to do that.



^ and that is the response I really needed, thank you.

I know, they’re more annoyance than problem. But it’s borderline infestation… and it’s/was February…. Gardening experience tells me this could be a nightmare come warmer weather.

Makes more sense to me to try and pasteurize and do some recharge work to the soil, because spraying more oils/chemicals on the grow media than water… just ain’t right.

Quick survey: seems I’m far from alone and at the same time fighting these little bastards… Did y’all buy/use some FFOF by chance? No proof, but I have a strong hunch it is the source of my problem.
I've been spraying the top of soil and coco at the first sign of gnats for years without any issues. I also don't have gnats.
 

hillbill

Well-Known Member
I deal with gnats somewhere in the house most of the year since I live on the north side of a heavily wooded mountain. My yard is 95% shade.
 
Top