Fungus Gnats, problem?

Hollatchaboy said:

So what was your outcome on the gnats?

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I didn't get rove beetles . . .yet. I can't afford them. I spend money on getting rid of a spider mite problem just two week into flowering (such good timing). I will be capturing some native folk for my tent. I got them done with nematodes and "long pipes" preditory mites. My indoor enviro was not warm enough to keep most species alive. A few dry down cycles and some EWC dressings and it was checked.

I bought some nematodes called Metarhizium anisopliae, and some BTI. And I've been alternating the two of them, like Tuesdays I spray my plants with nematodes, then Fridays with BTI, and I am also applying neem oil in between. They look better, I used to have a lot of fungus gnats, their numbers have been reduced greatly.

Not sure if this has been stated but a fan blowing across the medium helps a ton. It dries out the top layer between waterings. My second step is adding a layer of perlite on top. Third, I’m sure has been said, yellow sticky traps. Fourth I will add DE as needed. This seems to control them.

The most important thing you can do is, water at the proper time. When in doubt wait a day or half way through your light cycle. And NEVER water within a few hours of lights out.

The nematodes go into the soil . . .They infect the larvae in the soil and paraisitize the punks. Just remember have a good IPM regimen is good but things can build resistances if things are used too often. Everything in moderation

It seems like when I top dress with either ewc, or compost, is when I get the gnats. 2 weeks after I top dress the population goes back down. I'm guessing the larvae just naturally comes in the ewc and compost?

Hollatchaboy said:

It seems like when I top dress with either ewc, or compost, is when I get the gnats. 2 weeks after I top dress the population goes back down. I'm guessing the larvae just naturally comes in the ewc and compost?

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Maybe, my fungus gnat problem began when I left my plants for a week, I got back and I had a hundred fungus gnats!, and the last thing I did was to topdress my plants with ewc.... I think we're onto something here.

DoobieDoobs said:

Maybe, my fungus gnat problem began when I left my plants for a week, I got back and I had a hundred fungus gnats!, and the last thing I did was to topdress my plants with ewc.... I think we're onto something here.

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Where is your ewc from?

DoobieDoobs said:

Maybe, my fungus gnat problem began when I left my plants for a week, I got back and I had a hundred fungus gnats!, and the last thing I did was to topdress my plants with ewc.... I think we're onto something here.

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That's kinda funny cuz I top dressed 11 days ago. I had to leave for Texas 3 days later, and I'm just going to get home tonight. I have a buddy do my waterings when I'm out of town, and he told me the other night that the gnats have never been so bad. I only water 5% once a day, so i don't believe it's over watering that's causing it for me. I haven't been able to pinpoint it yet though.

Hollatchaboy said:

Where is your ewc from?

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I bought it in Home Depot, to be honest I don't think the ewc I got are very good, but it is what they had when I bought it.
Then again, could be that I got my fungus gnats because left my plants with fully watered pots.
However, I am getting a better kind of ewc next time.

DoobieDoobs said:

I bought it in Home Depot, to be honest I don't think the ewc I got are very good, but it is what they had when I bought it.
Then again, could be that I got my fungus gnats because left my plants with fully watered pots.
However, I am getting a better kind of ewc next time.

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If you don't have one, look into worm bins. They're cheap(if you diy it), easy, and the best source for ewc. I currently buy my ewc and compost though. What's your watering schedule?

I'd like to have a worm bin, but I am worried that the smell will attract unwelcomed fauna like cockroaches.
I usually water when I feel the top soil is too dry, or whenever my plants seem droopy. That would be I water every 4 days more or less.

DoobieDoobs said:

I'd like to have a worm bin, but I am worried that the smell will attract unwelcomed fauna like cockroaches.
I usually water when I feel the top soil is too dry, or whenever my plants seem droopy. That would be I water every 4 days more or less.

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I believe I've heard they don't really smell but it's the same reason I don't have one yet. I think I'm gonna bite the bullet and get one started. My plants will prolly like me a lil more for it.

How much water do you give at a time?

The smell is great from the worm farm,not foul at all.

Hollatchaboy said:

I believe I've heard they don't really smell but it's the same reason I don't have one yet. I think I'm gonna bite the bullet and get one started. My plants will prolly like me a lil more for it.

How much water do you give at a time?

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I still have some fungus gnats but since I started using my own EWC, they are much fewer. I switched to living soil and my girls like it a bit moister than is ideal. Plants are doing so well I just give them what they want and then, I watch in amazement! So I guess what I've found is, if it stays in balance, do not worry. I'm new to the organic game and therefore, I will only Give my personal view. Good growing..

I run in covered sips. Once I sprayed the topsoil to water in my dry fert I noticed an explosion of hypo miles. There still there I guess they really like the higher humidity from having the lid on my tote.

Rozgreenburn said:

I still have some fungus gnats but since I started using my own EWC, they are much fewer. I switched to living soil and my girls like it a bit moister than is ideal. Plants are doing so well I just give them what they want and then, I watch in amazement! So I guess what I've found is, if it stays in balance, do not worry. I'm new to the organic game and therefore, I will only Give my personal view. Good growing..

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Good to hear your view! I'm new to living soil too, so I get a lil overzealous trying to give advice. I need to stop. Lol.... but I will say this.... nature one way or the other balances everything out, so to me, getting it as close to nature as possible, imo, would be the best way to go.

living gardening said:

I didn't get rove beetles . . .yet. I can't afford them. I spend money on getting rid of a spider mite problem just two week into flowering (such good timing). I will be capturing some native folk for my tent. I got them done with nematodes and "long pipes" preditory mites. My indoor enviro was not warm enough to keep most species alive. A few dry down cycles and some EWC dressings and it was checked.

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I just got some rove bettles and I’m going to take 50/500 & try and breed them like this. If this works, it would not be expensive at all. Natures Good Guys sells 100 for about $23 and I just got 500 for about 60. But if you could breed them you’ll have bad ass IPM which is what I’m hoping for


Has anyone done this before with success Any tips/pointers

Dreminen169 said:

I just got some rove bettles and I’m going to take 50/500 & try and breed them like this. If this works, it would not be expensive at all. Natures Good Guys sells 100 for about $23 and I just got 500 for about 60. But if you could breed them you’ll have bad ass IPM which is what I’m hoping for

How To Grow Your Own Rove Beetles & Save Lots of Money By building a Rove Beetle Farm

A few years ago I got fed up with buying rove beetles. They are just so damn expensive to be blatantly honest. That being said, I also feel they are an integral part of a no-till growing environment indoors. They are some of the best soldiers you can have to help you defend against fungus gnats...

www.redbudsoilcompany.com

Has anyone done this before with success Any tips/pointers
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I got a gnat problem going on too... I'm going to try the hypoaspis miles after my next top dress. I'm pretty sure I'm getting them from the compost im using.

I’m about to take knf_gardens class with a small group of people. I got him to bring down his usual price from $200 to $50 per head for a group discount. The class will be held on Sunday over zoom. Let me know if your interested & I’ll add you to our group discussion.

Dreminen169 said:

I’m about to take knf_gardens class with a small group of people. I got him to bring down his usual price from $200 to $50 per head for a group discount. The class will be held on Sunday over zoom. Let me know if your interested & I’ll add you to our group discussion.

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Sounds good... I'll be on the road on Sunday though.