So i heard somewhere that it can be benificial to use the clay pebbles on top of the soil just in like a 2 inch to 3 inch layer in order to ward off fungis gnats and other intruders because they only lay there eggs in the top layer of the soil. Am i totally off here or is there something to this mabe?
I’ve battled with fungus gnats over the past year. I tried adding a couple of inches of perlite, which seemed to help with the fungus gnat issue. I haven’t tried hydroton. My concern would be algae growth.
Out of the several methods I’ve tried when it comes to dealing with those pests, the most effective method for me was using Mosquito Dunks and beneficial Nematodes (SF). Now, instead of throwing out full sticky traps each week, I might find 1 or 2 of the pests stuck to said traps per week. Give mosquito dunks or bits a try; the nematodes are probably overkill. Both will knock back the population of larvae living in your soil.
I have actually tried the masquito bits which seems to help a lot i rarely will see them just every once in a while ill see one in the running around on the top soil. Plus i can tell that they are getting at the plant cause there is always only like a select few leaves that like start turning pedals almost inside out looking ill see if i can get a pic of one here in a second. Which mabe that is something else. Either way something is puting stress on my plants and it needs to stop!
What if i didnt soak the pebbles before use so they would be dry and when i water the plants the water wont be staying up with the clay long enough to absord any of it so it wont be just like a wet blanket on top of the soil cause i know what your saying that is just a set up for mold growth.
Fungus gnats are a sure sign of overwatering. If you have to use something, Diatomaceous Earth (food grade) is a better resource.
Im only watering the 2 plants i got roughly half gallon every 3 days or so each. Which lets the top soil completely dry out too. But this is what my leaves are doing and its not all its just like 2 or 3 of them on one of the 2 plants.
yeah mine was doing that too sometimes I would see them almost trying to flip over to get sun underneath them it’s weird I just raised my light 3" and they flipped back
you leave them flat on the floor I would put them on milk crates just to give the underside some air