I am having issues with getting rid of the Gnats. I have a bug light for them but they seem to be multiplying. I have only had the light for a couple days so maybe I’m just impatient
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Good morning. Yes, those nats are a pain. What I do is get you some Mesquito Bits, then follow the directions on the bag to mix them in water. Let them sit for the alotted time and water yoiur plants with the water. You will have to do this a few times because their eggs will hatch out under the soil and start the whole thing all over again. Also get you some of the yellow sticky traps. and put them in the pots, this will help catch the pesky bugs. Strain the bits out don’t pour them in your pots. 
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Have you used the microbe Lift BMC liquid formula?
It’s the same thing from the bits plus the enzyme they put off I think. It was for lakes and mosquitos originally but if you scroll down on the link there’s dosing for gardening and hydroponic. I’m only one grow in but it seems to work as long as I dose every other week or so. I got rid of them for about a month and then quit using it and they came back after about 2 weeks. Was planning on dosing with nematodes on the next grow when I mix the soil. I’ve heard good things about the SF strain.
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Oh and I hear people swear by wet dry cycle as the cure for this. It lines up with their biology too. @MidwestGuy probably knows more but I think if you just allow a 12 hour dry periods between watering their eggs die automatically. I’ve been struggling with getting a hang of it but I think this is the way if you can figure it out. I’m switching off autowatering wick feeders next grow and I am going to try nematodes with a proper dry cycle because it’s better for the roots and plant too.
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Thank y’all. I’m going to get some bits first and go from there
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If your plant can afford extended dry period it’ll kill off the mat and the larvae. They need more soil to reproduce. You can also add a thick layer of perlite on top and that a discourage them
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Do you know how long of a dry period is needed? I’m still trying to figure this method out as someone that classically over waters.
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Oh also do you have a recommended depth for the perlite? I’ve read about this with sand , and dolomite but better to use what I’ve got. I’ll have some spare anyways and could probably spare an inch or 2 for each pot.
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A good inch or two ought to work just fine.
Are your plants in veg or flower?
You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth up under the perlite
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Thanks! I just saw the post and was reading along. Mainly doing planning for my next grow. Currently in week 7 of flower of my first. They’re autos and I expect to ripen in the next 2 weeks ish based on pistols and trichomes, so anything laid now wouldn’t hatch before harvest anyways I don’t think.
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I went ahead and ordered the BMC for now. I want them gone. Dry cycle is hard to get to that point it affects the girl to much.
I tried to get there by just using water every other day
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Just ordered some
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Ive had excellent success with captain jacks dead bug (spray soil after watering) to knock down the infestation. Then i added some beneficial nemotodes (SF) + sticky traps.
Try to keep the top inch of your soil on the dry side.
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I was looking at trying SF nematodes on my next grow. How have they been working for you? Any recommendations on brand/dosing?
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Im using the nema globe brand from amazon. They come in 8 Infusion Bio-Pouches which dont need to refrigerated. You just place one of the pouches on top of the soil and water it. It needs to be moist for 3 to 5 days in order to slow release them from their little gel pods. I just kept a humidity dome over it and spritzed it with water once a day.
So far in combination with sticky traps and captain jacks dead bug (initially) to beat down the infestation, its been working great! 3 weeks now and my traps have 2 or 3 gnats on there that ive seen. I wish i still had pictures of my traps from before lol, it was pretty bad. I think my bag of soil got rained on at the local nursery.
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That’s great news! I think basically any soil with forest or jungle products will have them but I’ve heard an early treatment with nematodes is the best continuous treatment just hadn’t tried it yet. I was going to mix them in during the soil mix but will definitely double check the instructions first. I hate to say it but Amazon is an amazing indoor grow source.
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What light for bugs do you have.
Is this an auto or photoperiod.
I ask because an auto you can run during the dark cycle and they are more efficient. I have this one seems to do a decent job. Still took a couple days to really start working. It is loud when it zaps.
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The one I have is smaller but it lights up the whole area with the blue light. I worry about it messing up the time they are off
So they are photoperiod. Yes that would mess up the light cycle for them. I use no pest strips for photoperiod. They work really good. Mine are in basement garage its under house. Anyway not in my living area.