A couple simple options are diatomaceous earth, mosquito dunks, and sticky traps. You can pick up a bag of the DM at pretty much any gardening center for $10-$15 for a good sized bag. Apply a layer of it on top of your soil and it will shred the larvae as they make their way to the surface. The sticky traps will catch the adults that are flying/hopping around on the surface, and the mosquito dunks are actually a beneficial microbe that kill the larvae in the soil. You can pick up the mosquito dunks at any big box home improvement center. They actually sell granules now that you can just shake on to the surface of your soil and water in.What are some organic ways to control gnats that wont hurt microbes?
Sand is not such a great idea w/organic soil grows, cuts off the oxygen supply. Aquarium rock or coarse perlite is a better option.I have seen people using a layer of sand (2'' thick'') on top of their soil.
Personally my room is sealed enough to release hundreds of ladybugs every now and then. I love it, the gnats not so much I try to keep a happy balance.
smart pots should be okSand is not such a great idea w/organic soil grows, cuts off the oxygen supply. Aquarium rock or coarse perlite is a better option.
Peace.
Yep. I only use it in veg in large containers where I don't water for several days to a week. Apply the mosquito dunks, water it in, then a layer of DM (that stays dry on the surface), then sticky traps. Done. This combo has worked for me every time.Mosquito Dunks\Bits or another Bti product are one of the best options. Bti is Bacillus thuringiensis israeli, which makes a toxin that happens to kill certain insects in their larval stages, such as mosquitoes and fungus gnats. The products usually contain the Bti spores and the toxin. Gnatrol is another brand.
DE needs to be dry in order to work; it isn't great for the soil surface in my experience.
I was under that same impression until recently. People using blu mats tend to disagree. When growing organically you are essentially taking care of the microbes in your soil. Microbes like the soil to stay pretty consistently moist. The wet/dry cycles are more geared towards using synthetic nutes where you have already decimated the beneficial beasties in your soil by dumping chemicals in there.if you let your soil go through a dry phase it'll help. A common mistake is keeping the soil damp all the time. MJ likes dry soil. Most plants in general like a lil dry phase. Obviously i'm not saying to the point that they droop, but drying the soil out will help keep the fungus gnats' larvae from hatching. Sand or DM does work too, a fan pointed at the soil is a good idea also, keeps the gnats from landing.
that's an interesting idea, can you elaborate? Do you use it as a surface amendment? Kinda like DM? I use insect frass also, but as a soil amendment, not on the surface, it'd blow around too much in my garden. Good idea though.Insect frass has really worked for me I don't even have to worry about gnats
I just add it in my stocking with my Guanos, compost, and other ingredients and brew it in with my teathat's an interesting idea, can you elaborate? Do you use it as a surface amendment? Kinda like DM? I use insect frass also, but as a soil amendment, not on the surface, it'd blow around too much in my garden. Good idea though.