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.
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.
Where is your ewc from?
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.
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.
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 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.
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..
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.
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
www.redbudsoilcompany.com
Any tips/pointers
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 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...
Has anyone done this before with success
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Sounds good... I'll be on the road on Sunday though.
