Gnat Control

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
I use DE top dressing and azamax. I''m gonna try those mosquito puck things.
I've been hearing about those dunks for over a year and never tried them. It appears mosquito dunks(Home Depot etc)are a cheaper version of Gnatrol, and the results are just as effective. Here is one excerpt from at least a dozen success stories posted on the various gardening forums I have been reading:

Dunks are more concentrated than Gnatrol(about double), which is reccomended to be used at 1-3 teaspoons/gal. However the dunk does not release all of its active ingredient immediately.
Crush the dunk with a hammer BEFORE opening the blister pack
Use about 1/4-1/2 dunk soaked overnight per gallon of water and you can resoak the remaining solids again, or just water them on thus allowing a constant release over time.
Thorough soaking of the media is essential, as well as controlling all nearby breeding areas such as under benches and other places organic matter accumulates.
Cleanliness and 3 weeks of follow up are very important as only the larvae, not adults, are controlled.
 

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
Damn fungus gnats, I bought the mosquito dunks today...will let you all know how it turns out.
 

StickeeGreens

Well-Known Member
Azadirachtin is the main ingredient in AzaMax by general hydroponics. The stuff works great, you foliar feed, or use it as a soil drench. I like the soil drench personally, 3 applications 10 days apart is enough to disrupt the present insect life cycle, and also becomes systemic! Which is awsome! This means that the insecticide is now internally within the plant making it not ideal for new insects whom go searching for a new roost. However Azadirachtin is not a "knock down" insecticide. It is actually a life cycle disrupter and inhibitor. Basically when treated insects cannot grow or reproduce correctly. Thus killing them in a couple genrations, this is why multiple applications are needed.
 

StickeeGreens

Well-Known Member
Gnatrol almost the same way as Azamax. Not only does it disrupt insect life cycle the actually killer inside is a basteria. This is called Bassilius Thurgenisis(spelling might be off) which also eats gnat eggs before they hatch, and disrupts larvae growth. I have used both and they work great if you can follow directions and administer multiple applications in a timely fashion.
 

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
Gnatrol almost the same way as Azamax. Not only does it disrupt insect life cycle the actually killer inside is a basteria. This is called Bassilius Thurgenisis(spelling might be off) which also eats gnat eggs before they hatch, and disrupts larvae growth. I have used both and they work great if you can follow directions and administer multiple applications in a timely fashion.
Short for BTI, the main ingredient in Gnatrol:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_92460-1643-MODU1_0__?productId=3047384

And the same formula sold for mosquito larvae.
 

Vindicated

Well-Known Member
I like mixing diatomaceous earth (DE) into the soil. I've even gone as far as to mix a solution of DE and warm water and paint the stems of my plants using a small paint brush.
 

840/2

Active Member
I've never burnt anything with them......seen no signs of it hurting them either. I wonder though about taste......if all that cedar oily goodness gets into the actual bud....who knows!
 

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
These little bastards are brutal in Spring, I'm waiting for plants to dry before watering with the mosquito dunk solution. If this doesn't work I'll go with DE soil, was trying to avoid a long trip for that unless I have to.
 

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
I've never burnt anything with them......seen no signs of it hurting them either. I wonder though about taste......if all that cedar oily goodness gets into the actual bud....who knows!
cool, whatever works as long as you got rid of the gnats. Man they are annoying.
 

FatMarty

Well-Known Member
I use a tiny automatic weapon with scatter-shot to combat gnats.
I was never really able to control them until I went with soilless mix.

I repotted everything and sprayed with Azamax and haven't had a problem for 2 plus years since.
There is a dip schedule in the Azamax guide that might help.
You dilute it and dip the entire rootball into the solution 3 or 4 times in a row.
 

domino7

Well-Known Member
When I was growing in soil, I had a lot of trouble with gnats. I saw a post on here, about using a layer of sand on top of the soil, and I tried it. It was 100% effective. Besides being easy, it was cheap, and used no pesticides. A $3 bag of sand covers a lot of pots.
 

del66666

Well-Known Member
mix 1 teaspoon of neem per litre of feed or water...........emulsify with non perfumed washing up liquid
 

del66666

Well-Known Member
Now there's a new one...ty...couldn't hurt 2/try at any rate. I just finished soaking plant #1 with BT water...we'll see.
aspirin stimulates the plants defenses...apparently its very similar to a chemicle produced by plants when they are attacked......you can use a wetting agent and spray the plant for extra protection..
 

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
aspirin stimulates the plants defenses...apparently its very similar to a chemicle produced by plants when they are attacked......you can use a wetting agent and spray the plant for extra protection..
Hi Del,

So far so good w/the mosquito dunk water, haven't seen any gnats today. TY for the aspirin idea, wonder how well it would work for in-ground outdoor applications?.

Seems like it wouldn't hurt as a preventative measure.

Cheers!
 
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