Problems with gnats, need organic solutions

This is my second time growing in soil, first time ever having a problem like this. I am experiencing a slight infestation by small winged insects, they look like fruit flies or gnats maybe. They don't seem to be affecting the plants at all but I hate checkin up on my ladies and seeing 50 bugs flyin around..

I was thinking lady bugs but I'd rather not introduce more insects to the box. AN y suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated..

Nematodes will take them out in less than 2 weeks. And they will continue to thrive and kill any thing in the soil.

When I am having problems with nats, I just add about an inch and a half o sand to to the top of the soil. This will keep them little buggers from laying eggs in the soil. It will also prevent the eggs in your soil from hatching. This work like 100% of the time and the only downfall is that you cannot see the soil so watering is usually done by weight.

The sand trick works really well, but the root cause of the gnats is a too moist medium.

Let your soil dry more between waterings.

Wet

I've used neem drenches, and had varying success. they say you have to do it every week til they are gone. I swear those bastards got stronger afterwards. I'm gonna try the nematode sponge. Thanks GG BTW for that.

Your welcome. BTW it's been 3 weeks and I just saw one gnat yesterday, so I swatted his ass with a yellow sticky paper. I still keep one in each garden. That way I cn get the flying one's as well as the eggs

P.S. i love you said:

I've used neem drenches, and had varying success. they say you have to do it every week til they are gone. I swear those bastards got stronger afterwards. I'm gonna try the nematode sponge. Thanks GG BTW for that.

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avid.toke said:

This is my second time growing in soil, first time ever having a problem like this. I am experiencing a slight infestation by small winged insects, they look like fruit flies or gnats maybe. They don't seem to be affecting the plants at all but I hate checkin up on my ladies and seeing 50 bugs flyin around..

I was thinking lady bugs but I'd rather not introduce more insects to the box. AN y suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated..

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lady bugs are GREAT, they dont eat your plants they are carnivores pick em up at a nursery. also yellow sticky tape attracts insects with the color yellow then sticks them with super sticky glue. they both work great ive used them both. and any small flying insects around your plants arent any good.
your indoors im assuming btw since you said box, the glue traps would probly work better get them at a nursery too

Wetdog said:

The sand trick works really well, but the root cause of the gnats is a too moist medium.
Let your soil dry more between waterings.
Wet

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yep real good

GoldenGanja13 said:

Nematodes will take them out in less than 2 weeks. And they will continue to thrive and kill any thing in the soil.

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Where would I pick up some nematodes? Are we talkin about those little parasitic worms? Annnd do you have a link to a page that has more specific information about em?

Appreciate ya GG

akgrown said:

When I am having problems with nats, I just add about an inch and a half o sand to to the top of the soil. This will keep them little buggers from laying eggs in the soil. It will also prevent the eggs in your soil from hatching. This work like 100% of the time and the only downfall is that you cannot see the soil so watering is usually done by weight.

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Good call, makes sense. Yeah they are usually in the soil when I water the ladies. Will sand prevent future infestations?

Schotzky said:

lady bugs are GREAT, they dont eat your plants they are carnivores pick em up at a nursery. also yellow sticky tape attracts insects with the color yellow then sticks them with super sticky glue. they both work great ive used them both. and any small flying insects around your plants arent any good.
your indoors im assuming btw since you said box, the glue traps would probly work better get them at a nursery too

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Yeah it is indoors. I was considering lady bugs, think that would be the most fun ha. What kinda yellow sticky tape are you talking about? Just any tape that is yellow, like the kind painters use to line edges? I threw a couple post its in last night haha, sticky side up, caught a couple of the fuckers..

Wetdog said:

The sand trick works really well, but the root cause of the gnats is a too moist medium.

Let your soil dry more between waterings.

Wet

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How dry can i let it get before it starts to negatively affect the micro organisms? I made the switch from hydro cause a healthy population of MO's sounded like it worked wonders, and has been so far. Typically I only water once a week and I use a tea that I will brew. I was considering throwing half a clove of garlic into each gallon of tea while it was aerating. Ha my only hesitation is that i'd rather not have the smell of garlic around all the time..

But yeah, I let the soil dry up pretty well and it doesnt seem to phase that bastards

Quick and easy They work like nothing I have ever seen before~~~~> .http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100655849&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100655849&ci_src=14110944&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D28X-_-100655849&locStoreNum=4003&marketID=54

Appreciate your responses guys, but keep em comin ha i still have loads of questions