Had an issue which im still trying to resolve.
As far as soil treatment whats the best way? Some say sand and some say a chemical/water treatment
Hands down, a class by itself: BT. It’s a natural soil bacteria that we overload and it harmless to us. Once overloaded it destroys them from the inside out. I pass on the bits/dunks, they work but it’s diluted into the dunks medium. The Monterey is what I usually get. It’s concentrated rather all ready diluted in the dunks. The doses are cheaper this way and more effective. In my humble experience. Dose it double strength. It is a liquid so you just water it in.
The sand/Diatomaous earth methods work. But they are slower to die because the ones in the soil are still crawling around. The new ones just search for more habitable soil and move on for geeener pastures. Letting everything dry back more helps too, for breaking the cycle. The worst part about this method the knats find the drain holes. It works for preventative if you see a few, or say a grower always gets them during the wet season outside. Think mechanical “smoke screen” to fool them into there’s no organic matter and roots here. Just a dry desert of sand.
In my humble opinion a better preventive, but not curative. Once infected, you need more help. Once again my experience and humble opinion.
I did have them and I had to do a complete dry back to get rid of them. I think I was watering one day too early so I basically waited an extra day than I normally was to water, making sure they were dry.
I agree, use bt for the larvae and sticky traps for the fliers.
The sticky traps are already working wonders.
Seeing gnats although not good at all does tell you that you’re overwatering. Sucks to deal with those lil rascals, but learn from it as well.
I tried “Organic soil” with worm casings, bat shit, etc, It comes with a good supply of gnats in every bag. I used sticky cards and BT to get rid of them. slow but it worked. Never again.
I am a firm believer in mosquito bits. Being organic/living soil I stay moist…lol. I said moist hehe. Ill get gnats at least once a year here. Same time every year. Climate.
I soak the bits in a gallon of water 24 hours or so. Add the liquid to my feed water. Maybe a cup or 2 per gallon. Wife hangs sticky traps near her in living room. Drives her nuts.
The adults die…short life cycle. The larva die in the soil with the bit juice. About 3-4 days and all gone. Just what works for me.