How exactly does the potato peice work and what are you suppose to do with it. I no it works for the larvae only but still would like to know how it works please and thank you anyone
The larvae are attracted to the potato. So instead of attacking your roots, some will go after the potato. Then you can dispose of them and place a new potato to attract/dispose of more. You can lay it flat on the surface of the soil, maybe wiggle the slice into the soil a bit - so the top is flush with the top of the soil.
I think this will be a slow and inefficient means of control. It will help, but progress may be slow.
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Good read on gnats and at the bottom also have many options for control from nuclear chemical blasts to low impact nematodes.
I also found an easy and effective way to capture kill the adults.
Better than the yellow stickies I have.
Have top fill humidifier and left the lid off 2 nights ago and noticed the party gathering so decided to give the adults what they want…a hot wet party…they fly up and jump in the pool but no life guards on duty so they drown lol
Yellow sticky 5 confirmed kills
Bucket-O-Water oh about 15 -20 or so…
Neem Cake or Neem oil works to kill them I believe too…
HAGD
I figured out why the garden safer powder wasn’t really working.
I ordered some of the israelensis Bt from eBay. @hungrybird You were right, almost everything I found was the wrong strain, mostly kurstaki
You will def get results now mate, get some gnat nix as well to put on top of your grow medium, also the yellow sticky cards give you an indication of how many of them are left flying around.
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I’ve been using gnat nix, potato slices and the sticky yellow papers, no real reduction. I’ll have a day or two of minimal bugs, then boom the little buggers are everywhere.
Hopefully the BTi does the trick.
Stoopid gnats.
The BTI will do the trick, the gnatnix and yellow boards are just an added preventative, it has worked for me.
Ive had the most success with white distilled vinigar water and a couple drops of soap. Ive basically wiped out 200 of them using this method. Also i add a little baking soda. Fungus knats are atracted to high co2 levels.
So here’s my question: I planted my seeds about a week ago (3) and have one through the soil but I also have fungus gnats all over my 5 gallon cloth potting container. I was very careful about overwatering, just using a sprayer over the top soil, but I guess it was still too much. So here’s the question - I am concerned about letting the top 1/2-1 inch of the soil to dry out as I work to rid the gnats because my other two seeds have not pushed through yet. So what do I do? Keep watering with the sprayer or just let it dry out for a couple of days? Just don’t want to lose the other two plants. BTW…I have been using a Neem Oil solution every other watering, doesn’t seem to help much, and I also have a fan blowing over the top of the soil as well.
Appreciate any advice. Thanks.
This will actually kill the gnat larvae
Bti Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis
you have to get the above but in the pure powder form that you mix with water, then PH it and it will get to the roots when you water thoroughly where the Gnat larvae live and eat your roots, then you have to keep reapplying for the whole life cycle hence the yellow sticky boards and the Gnatnix that you put as a complete top dress on your soil, the yellow cards also help you see how many gnats are still around, it has worked for me, that means it can work for others! It may be expensive but not as expensive as losing a plant or two, or significantly losing yields.
Just order some and will give it a try. Just concerned about my seeds sprouting. Hope it works!
Thanks for the advice!!
Cheers,
SlayerMJ
I fully recommend the BTi for fungus gnats.
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I had over 20 seedlings and small plants destroyed by fungus gnats in a grow box in the garage. It was a super hot and humid summer. I tried neem oil drenches, less watering, aerated the soil with more perlite, vermiculite and propagation sand. Fly spray got rid of them in the end. But by this time the roots had been eaten and were tiny. The roots never recovered and all the plants either died or remained stunted in growth. Now I use coir, charcoal, perlite and propagation sand with organic seaweed nutrients and the next crop is growing well. Dispose of all infected soil material.
they have never really affected my crops.more of an annoyance.
I think seven is pretty chemical
Just read the ingredients
Your call as I don’t use it
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