Bugs in the soil

bobj1598

bobj1598

Well-Known Member
My seed starting mix had beetles that hatched and crawled to the surface. Therefore I'm going to try and rid my other bagged soil of the critters before I use it. I watched a video where a grower would allow their soil to dry by placing a container of it underneath their grow fan. I don't have a fan like this.

I'm considering putting outside to dry in the sun, but do I risk other bugs laying their eggs inside of the soil? If I put the lid on the container and then placed in the sunlight (for heat) would the soil medium become moldy? I have about a week or two befroe I transplant, do you think 85L of this soil will have dried up enough in time to kill the food that feeds the bugs if I leave it in the room to sit?
 
Hiphophippo

Hiphophippo

Well-Known Member
It happens a lot with bag soil especially if it wasn’t stored properly by the store or supplier whenever I buy bag soil I open it up and spread the bag out so the soil lays a lot thinner do a light water and peroxide drench on it and then two days later it’s good and ready to go
 
StonedGardener

StonedGardener

Well-Known Member
bobj1598 said:
My seed starting mix had beetles that hatched and crawled to the surface. Therefore I'm going to try and rid my other bagged soil of the critters before I use it. I watched a video where a grower would allow their soil to dry by placing a container of it underneath their grow fan. I don't have a fan like this.

I'm considering putting outside to dry in the sun, but do I risk other bugs laying their eggs inside of the soil? If I put the lid on the container and then placed in the sunlight (for heat) would the soil medium become moldy? I have about a week or two befroe I transplant, do you think 85L of this soil will have dried up enough in time to kill the food that feeds the bugs if I leave it in the room to sit?
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If the bugs have exoskeletons ( arthropods) , try mixing food grade diatomaceous earth into dry soil. DE only works while dry. It's a great cure.
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Soil is supposed to have insects. My soil has a diverse variety of insects. I'd go with coco, or dwc maybe, if I was going to try to avoid insects. That's only my opinion though.
 
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