dannyboy602
Well-Known Member
In ur soil mix or use as a pesticide. Just curious. Thx.
Anyone have any experience using Diatomacious earth
- Thread starter dannyboy602
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714steadyeddie
Well-Known Member
I did, I bought the food grade bag on Amazon, I had gnats and took are of the larva clean. I layered some on my coco, once it was a little dry. Left it for 1.5 days and did it for two weeks and it killed them out for good.
Not sure if it's a myth but I heard it's not bad for the medium either
dannyboy602
Well-Known Member
I'm just wondering if I could include it in all my future soil mixes
714steadyeddie
Well-Known Member
THe food grade is a lot safer
BarnBuster
Virtually Unknown Member
i've used as dust for bugs but not as soil amendment. i wonder if it's absorptive qualities would cause it to leach any specific nutrients out of the soil? i guess i would research more
http://www.usesfordiatomaceousearth.com/agriculture/
http://www.usesfordiatomaceousearth.com/agriculture/
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dabbindylan
Well-Known Member
Have you u heard of gnat knix? I think its expanded glass
slow drawl
Well-Known Member
Hey all... I've been using DE for quite a while. As everyone say's it's not as effective at controlling insects when wet. This stuff works great for ants @Indacouch I've dusted out many nests. It will kill most anything with an exsoskeleton. It's just a pain in the ass to keep reapplying it, but if you do it will work. As stated by @thumper60 take caution not to breath this shit. I have put a shit ton of this on the girls in the GH and haven't had any soil issues at all, and the gnats stay away.
Douglas.Curtis
Well-Known Member
Can be mixed with soil and coco.
Never used on the floor or on top of surfaces, where air currents can pick it up. As has been noted, breathing this stuff is seriously not good. Cuts up your lungs like it cuts up insects. Keep it out of liquids that will dry out and create powdery spots in the air currents.
Never used on the floor or on top of surfaces, where air currents can pick it up. As has been noted, breathing this stuff is seriously not good. Cuts up your lungs like it cuts up insects. Keep it out of liquids that will dry out and create powdery spots in the air currents.
dannyboy602
Well-Known Member
Interesting that you can swallow food grade with lots of benefits but not inhale it. I'll have to look into it more but thx for the tips and I won't use it in my mix so much as a top dressing
Mount
Well-Known Member
I have used DE since I started growing indoors and wont grow without it. Have been an outdoor guy for longer than I care to remember, last fall I decided to try my hand indoors to keep the steady flow of meds going without the typical break between outdoor grows. I cloned some of my outdoor plants and guess they brought spider mites inside. I found the food grade DE takes them out for good and now I use it as part of my routine. I top dress always with it, have dusted the edges of my tents and room as a precaution a few times and I have used it wet as well as dry during veg only to ensure no pests ever touch my plants again. An ounce of prevention will save your pounds at harvest time...
https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/blog/how-to-apply-diatomaceous-earth/
https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/blog/how-to-apply-diatomaceous-earth/
Bubblin
Well-Known Member
I used to use it @ soil.
Something like a 1 and 1/2 cups per cubic foot @ soil. It was ages ago though, and it's strength probably depends on where you get it from.
CaptainCAVEMAN
Well-Known Member
I use it to deter ants and as a soil amendment. Works great for both!
I mix it a bit lighter at 1\2 cup per cubic foot of soil. I don't think there's anything wrong with more, I just started on the small side of amendment measures and haven't needed to increase yet.
I mix it a bit lighter at 1\2 cup per cubic foot of soil. I don't think there's anything wrong with more, I just started on the small side of amendment measures and haven't needed to increase yet.
ltecato
Well-Known Member
I bought a bid bag of DE to use against bedbugs, ick. There is also a product called CimexA for use against bedbugs that I think is supposed to be a beefed-up form of DE or silica powder that sticks to the bastards and dries them out better than regular DE.
According to something I read, DE sticks to bugs that are roaming around, and then when they return to their "nests" or hiding places, they bring back DE that kills their friends and family. Supposed to work for roaches too.
According to something I read, DE sticks to bugs that are roaming around, and then when they return to their "nests" or hiding places, they bring back DE that kills their friends and family. Supposed to work for roaches too.
Douglas.Curtis
Well-Known Member
de consists of tiny, super sharp, particles of calcium. It slices up exoskeletons. Any de making it to a nest will cause havoc, yes. *Probably* responsible for at least *some* "expando-weed." Ever take a hit and suddenly your lungs react and feel like they're about to explode?
It's right up there with super fine perlite dust, for human lungs.
It's right up there with super fine perlite dust, for human lungs.