Fungus gnat experiment #569

[Drop That Sound]

Yeah, unfortunately they can be another vector, and transport other plant pathogens along with them into a grow. Mold + downy & PM mildew spores, fusarium wilt, "viruses", bacteria, etc.

Worst of all though.. Spider mites?! Yep, its true. They can actually hitch rides on the flyer's back.

 

[Drop That Sound]

You don't even have to have medium, although they do prefer it for breeding in. Even in bare root hydro setups with or without hydroton; if your roots go bad, or so much as dry out, or even a few leaves fall down in, it's as if the gnats can suddenly smell it from trillions of light years away. Then they somehow materialize from thin air, and start infesting the crop like the little parasites they are. Even in hydro systems, crawling around under dwc container lids, and especially through the non panty hosed off netpot "access holes". Not even #%$#ing phased by Bti, or upwards of 10ppm bleach in the nutrient solution that's splashing them.

 

[medidedicated]

x

Star, you can't keep the IPM in the medium for more than 1 hour if a plant is in the medium. Athena has directions for it.

The exact directions are:
1) Soak the medium with water until run off. Vac. This makes the root zone wet so it doesn't absorb too much IPM.
2) Soak the medium with IPM until run off. Vac. Wait 45 minutes to 1 hour. This is key. No more than 1 hour if a plant is in the medium.
3) When time is up soak the soil again with your regular nutrients until run off. Vac.

If you pre soak the soil with IPM before planting you can leave it for a few days but make sure to flush it before planting.

For moderate infestations you have to do this every 3 days for 2 weeks along with a spray routine every 3 to 4 days as well.

The downside to Athena IPM is the price. @ $135 a gallon it's hard to swallow. Plus you have to use 120 ml each gallon for spraying but thankfully only 40 ml per gallon for soil drench. Athena sucks for spraying anyway so I use Capt. Jacks Dead Bug Brew for the spraying @ $32 a quart but you use twice as less and it's 10 times as good.

Are these instructions good for flower? Athena it says up to 5th week flower is that true? Is the dead bug brew ok as well? Im in 3rd week flower and might be worth it to save them since they cant get in or out and its early. I got the athena for the drenching to be safe when making coco.

The dead bug is just for now and cheap I see. A quick search says not to with the dead bug but its for the root zone just some sprays. Just making sure. The rest my flowering clones are first week and might not have any gnats or might do the same thing. I can say it solved the issue of them flying around the room and house!

 

[medidedicated]

Ok I looked at reviews and ai answers it seems to be ok. I just wanted to be sure sure sure. I dont want to get myself sick the thought of that is scary and silly just for not asking and being sure. Im going to do those exact instructions thanks. I guess the athena simply cant be used after 5th week flower.

 

[Samwiseman420]

x


Are these instructions good for flower? Athena it says up to 5th week flower is that true? Is the dead bug brew ok as well? Im in 3rd week flower and might be worth it to save them since they cant get in or out and its early. I got the athena for the drenching to be safe when making coco.

The dead bug is just for now and cheap I see. A quick search says not to with the dead bug but its for the root zone just some sprays. Just making sure. The rest my flowering clones are first week and might not have any gnats or might do the same thing. I can say it solved the issue of them flying around the room and house!

IPM is for the soil. You can use it all of flower. I spray the top of the soil with IPM right before I feed. This way the the water will run down the sides and coat any bugs with the IPM.

Capt Jacks is for spraying. Do not spray after 2 weeks in flower. It will burn the hairs on the buds. You can do it up to 3 weeks if needed because the hairs will grow back in but I don't recommend it.

 

[medidedicated]

IPM is for the soil. You can use it all of flower. I spray the top of the soil with IPM right before I feed. This way the the water will run down the sides and coat any bugs with the IPM.

Capt Jacks is for spraying. Do not spray after 2 weeks in flower. It will burn the hairs on the buds. You can do it up to 3 weeks if needed because the hairs will grow back in but I don't recommend it.

It will do that to the hairs if you spray the root surface area to kill adults trying to escape? I read reviews some people arent killing them with the bug brew but some say it works. Is it any stronger than h202? h202 didnt kill them last I tried on contact but I did read about the bubbles that protect the gnats.

Speaking of which when yall say a surfactant with the athena ipm is dish soap ok? Was that just for the athena or also the dead bug brew? Just want make sure Im following everything right. Im not sure how I will spray adults trapped in the panty hose, just spray it anyway?

 

[medidedicated]

For referrence it looks like this. First thought is make a hole that you open and close to spray peobably daily in my situation as I wont get the best coverage. Just shake it to make them come out. Idk how Id do it though exactly. Im not exactly sure what the ingredient is that kills the eggs and larva maybe the bubble effect was at play when I tried h202 not a soil drench though.

 

[medidedicated]

Well that was easy LOL I tried a spray bottle and some extra panty and it goes right through like nothing. Il try it out just wish there was something that works for everyone but some claim it dont kill em on contact. I believe it based on trying h202 idk whats stronger though.

Referring to the dead bug brew but I guess also the athena kinda curious whats killing them if it works.

 

[medidedicated]

Damnit I see what you meant, dead bug isnt meant for the roots at all, got it. I just got the bottle too. Im half assing things again my bad. I misunderstood that you really should use athena for drench and spraying simply that the dead bug was cheaper for spraying. Need to pay more attention lol.

 

[Star Dog]

Another gnat appeared today inside one of the bags sealed 2nd October.
I was only just allowing myself to think they might be gone, cursed things.

@Samwiseman420 do you know what percentage of isopropyl alcohol athena is using?
I've a spare plant I'm going to try it.

 

[Drop That Sound]

Flashback to the time I smoked them out with peppermint extract, vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and high milligram free base nicotine..

 

[Samwiseman420]

Another gnat appeared today inside one of the bags sealed 2nd October.
I was only just allowing myself to think they might be gone, cursed things.

@Samwiseman420 do you know what percentage of isopropyl alcohol athena is using?
I've a spare plant I'm going to try it.

I do not.

 

[Star Dog]

I don't believe it I posted in the wrong thread

I'm 99.9% sure they're not finding there way into the pots, there's not been any around to get in and the sticky trap hasn't caught anything in weeks, if they were around I'd see them.
I squished another cursed gnat this morning that's #4 in the last week surely they've got to run out soon?

It's surprising how well they're doing in bags, I pulled one out yesterday for a look and everything looks normal, tbh I'm a little surprised after all I've read about the need for oxygen...obviously they need x amount lol

My paint bags didn't arrive but a email said posted, something might not turn up but a email saying it had been delivered at 'time' is unusual, anyhow ordering more and preventing them is my plan for the future with my mums for damage limitation, crikey miss one and you're fkd before you know it.

The fight goes on!

 

[Drop That Sound]

You can pump air into the bags, to keep them inflated. Provide all the o2 the roots need. The air pumps usually have their own little filter too, to keep the nasties out.. Can't say I've ever seen one crawling up an active airline..The positive pressure should keep them out from the gaps where the air is escaping, where you tie it off.. Plus, you could pump in something to kill the few gnats you keep seeing. Gas, or fumes from a hot shot no pest strip, etc..

I did have an earwig somehow crawl into an inflated ziplock sack that was pumped full of air though, that I was growing in. Through the tiniest hole. My least favorite garden pest. Can't stand those things, lol. They infiltrated my grow trailer earlier this year.

 

[Samwiseman420]

You can pump air into the bags, to keep them inflated. Provide all the o2 the roots need. The air pumps usually have their own little filter too, to keep the nasties out.. Can't say I've ever seen one crawling up an active airline..The positive pressure should keep them out from the gaps where the air is escaping, where you tie it off.. Plus, you could pump in something to kill the few gnats you keep seeing. Gas, or fumes from a hot shot no pest strip, etc..

I did have an earwig somehow crawl into an inflated ziplock sack that was pumped full of air though, that I was growing in. Through the tiniest hole. My least favorite garden pest. Can't stand those things, lol. They infiltrated my grow trailer earlier this year.

Earwigs are great for ears. Best torture ever