DE for Fungus gnats?

zack66

Well-Known Member
I sprinkle a light layer on top of my medium. And it worked well. Makes kind of a mess when watering but, it's better then having bugs. Reapply after a couple weeks and it should do the trick.
 

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
Anybody ever used Diatomaceous Earth to get rid of fungus gnats? If so how quick/well did it work?

This the exact brand sold at Home Depot. I mixed some into my soil upon transplanting, and even the adults now stay away.

Stuff works great, only the directions don't give proper ratios for blending...so had to guess.
 

1itsme

Well-Known Member
i personally had no luck with it. it turned my pots into sticky mess. I have had good luck with mosquito dunks and also ewc tea for the larva, and neem or pyrethrin for the adults.
 

LadyZandra

Active Member
Best way to use it is to mix it into the soil before planting-- however: mixing with soil or coarse sand before you add it on top of the soil in your planter-- at least 1" of sand/soil (I prefer sand since it actually keeps gnats away alone) usually does it.
However- I like the mosquito Dunks/nibs (IF you can find them!) soak them in a couple gallons of water overnight--- strain and water the plants-- then top the soil with plain sand or sand w/DE... no more gnats or ANY soil-borne buggies! ;)
 

MYOB

Well-Known Member
If I could choose any problem to have it would probably be fungus gnats. However, they are annoying and usually are a sign that you need to clean up.

I mix DE in with my soil and dust around the entrance to my room. I hang sticky traps for adults. I have had periods where I catch a lot in the traps but I have never seen a larvae in my soil. I grow in an unfinished area of a house and I believe the gnats were coming from other areas like old puddles of water, spilled soil, dying leaves, outside etc.

I try to do a thorough clean up weekly and I have noticed a lot less gnats flying around.
 

bigworm6969

Well-Known Member
I do hydro and keep my shit like a lab and still have them fuckers i use gnatrol and mosqueto dunk,more of an annouance that all i just dis like them alot, i got a questions are spidermites an west coast thing because i never had any problems with them just wondering
 

LadyZandra

Active Member
I'm in Michigan-- and we get them bad here because we "fit the criteria"...
they are the worst whereever you have a perfect combo of higher temps, dry conditions, sandy soil (outdoors) and a lot of agricultural activity nearby- like Farms , Orchards and vinyards.

That is because because THEY spray chemicals to rid their crops of ALL living things-- so the mites/thrips etc... go away from that area to find ANY food source they can take advantage of... mainly- your grow room!
No rain, perfect temps and lots of food without all the Monsanto crap being sprayed!

This is also why, once you get them (if in an AG area) they are harder to get rid of, because they have already built-up a tolerance to mitacides/pesticides... so Organics are less likely to work well.
 

bigworm6969

Well-Known Member
That explains it then i dont live any where near a farm and i really do clean the hell out of my room little easier because i do hydro, just was wondering because i hear alot of people are plagued with them little fuckers thanks lady z
 
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