fungus gnats finally solved - to easy

cannabiscrusader

Well-Known Member
Cinnamon.. It really can't be easier or safer. Turn fans off, sprinkle Cinnamon and scratch into the first inch or two of soil, then a lite sprinkle on top, water lightly (so the cinnamon doesn't blow away when you turn fans back on.

No more gnats, healthier roots, repeat as needed.

Adults can't land to lay eggs, if they do they die. Larvae die in the soil and any eggs that do make it in the soil die was hatched
I'm going to try that now. I also have a few rechargeable bug zappers made for camping, and a secret weapon for close combat.20230217_213136.jpg20230217_213145.jpg
 

tyke1973

Well-Known Member
I am SO very much relieved. I have struggled with fungus gnats for a while, multiple grows. a grow ago they were so bad they were impacting my plants. I had sticky traps, fly traps, dissolved dunks and granulars in every watering to no help. I didn't add a layer of sand... That is where I was going next as much as I didn't want to do it.

Finished the grow, shut it all down. Gave it a some time before I emotionally recovered from the battle.

This time around I watched for a fresh delivery of FFOF soil and picked it up right away, hoping to reduce my changes of bringing them home. It worked. Mid grow I needed more soil... Stress... Tried the same. A few days later, I saw them, Just one or two. Sigh.

Well just before that I had accidentally overwatered a few plants, worse timing ever. So I lowered tent pole fan to be blowing on the soil. The gnats disappeared. the plants were back to normal moisture levels, fan went back to blowing mid to high. Gnats came back. It clicked in my mind, I lowered the fan. Gnats gone.. I typically keep some other plants around in there too, now i have some raddish, lettuce and mustards. I overwatered them for days, weeks.. I saw a few gnats, keep the fan on them and nothing.


So thats it huh? After all that fuss, money and frustrations I finally figured it out. The fix is too easy, For whatever reason, I never stumbled onto that information in all my reading.. BUT here I am gnat free and so glad to be over that shit.

this post for you might be like, well duh, this might help someone. whatever i have no gnats.
Just let the medium dry out ,so the plant wilts even in flower it doesn't effective them in a negative way,but to start off with cover the top either in a layer of perlite or clay balls , sticky strips to catch any that may have yet to hatch.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
What about dumping a couple of cups straight bleach down the floor drains/sink & bath drains/washer tubes, etc.
Don't do that if you're on a septic system as it could kill all the bacteria in the septic tank and screw it up. Half cup and make sure it stays in the traps overnight at least then most of the chlorine in the bleach will evaporate. Don't worry about toilets that are in use as they won't breed in there. It's dirty, stagnant water that stands around for a long time where they can set up house. Any bags of soil or soilless mixes should be removed from the area as they will infest them too if that's not the original source.

:peace:
 

Mr. Bakerton

Well-Known Member
Its great to read everyone has worked out a plan to fight these. Some are going through more work than others. Since the original post I have added a few additional plants to the tent - all with new bag soil. A gnat or two appeared and disappeared.

In all my troubles, all my doing this or that - I have never made it this long without an increase in gnats we me doing nothing. On a typical day, I see zero. Its amazing and very easy. So still to this point, I stand by my methods. Keeping a rotating clip fan blowing at soil level is it. I will come back and update in a month or so. Soon I have will have many veggie starts going and they have always been a magnet.
 

tyke1973

Well-Known Member
The best way to combat them is to cover top of medium,It happens more in organic soils or soil that are kept outdoors.But has long has the top inch is covered it make it hard for them to hatch ,i even go further with larvae rock on top.If you do see them hatch get sticky strips and they head straight for them but let the medium dry out ,it forces them to hatch
 

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
It's probably not the soil. I've never grown in soil and used to get them while using bricks of coco. For the past year or so I've been using rockwool and still get them. In the middle of winter even.
 
Top