Fungus gnat experiment #569

I have drainaway trays maybe a bag around that tied around stem of plant and the pvc. Then panty hose the pvc at the end of the line that dumps runoff into runoff bucket. So minimize chances and at that point it would have to pull off olympic level species propigation described earlier.

To have fabric pots, no way in from above but the bottom has roots poking out. Maybe they can lay eggs on the knook of the root and fabric pot and squirm up inside. Especially if root receeds and leaves a stretched hole in the fabric around the root. Or Im just paranoid high on some good flower rosin.

At least Im thinkin..

I have put a deal of thought to the pantyhose. My wife's pair was really to small and had to be stretched tight to fit over a 3g pot. A couple runs developed too. I went and bought some 'big gal' pantyhose that would probably take a 5g fabric pot lol. These things are not even stretched out and you can't see through the top without a flashlight. I wrap them up around the stalk and wrap a pipe cleaner around. I opened them up today and several adult gnats flew out. I dug around and saw no larvae so its better than before alot. I topdressed the plants and sealed them back up. I saw no young gnats or anything but those 3-4 adults. I'm considering these plants protected. There have been no gnats in there at all once I stopped that hole in the 1 pot. I'm no entomologist, but I really doubt they would lay eggs through the barrier I've made. It's pretty difficult getting the holes sealed especially around the stem. But, I'm pretty sure I've got em this time. I see no reason not to continue IPM treatment. As long as there's a gnat in the place it's worthwhile. I keep a decent fan going too and sticky traps just to make life hell if 1 wanders in.

I have pretty much eradicated the thrips. There is no new damage to my leaves and I have not seen a baby thrip on my leaves in over a month. The gnats don't stop tho.

I spray Athena IPM on the top of the soil before every feed and the outside of the paint bags as well. This has kept the gnats down to a minimum and I only see a handful in the whole 4 x 8 now.

So far so good. The paint bags and sprays have done their jobs. This thread has definitely helped a bunch of us keep the bugs at bay for a while.

Other than going full hydro, I was wondering if using soil from the yard would be better than than the bagged store bought soil/coco with a lot of organic matter.

Dig a bit below the grass, 8 - 12 inches maybe, and fill a bag. Inoculate with mycorrhiza and other beneficial fungi.

Hmm. I know I'm missing something here, but for some reason I think this may work especially if the soil is kind of sandy and does not have a lot of organic matter.

How do they paint filters work for watering/feeding from the top?

I tried to feed that plant with the food /mesh bag and the nutrient rolled off it until I put the syringe neat against the net, I normally feed from the bottom and when I'm not I'm using a syringe so it's no big deal but it'd be annoying af with a water can I think?

Fwiw I'm still gnat free that's a month and more now.

Star Dog said:

How do they paint filters work for watering/feeding from the top?

I tried to feed that plant with the food /mesh bag and the nutrient rolled off it until I put the syringe neat against the net, I normally feed from the bottom and when I'm not I'm using a syringe so it's no big deal but it'd be annoying af with a water can I think?

Fwiw I'm still gnat free that's a month and more now.

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I feel your pain dude. The first time I tried top watering over the pantyhose, the water ran straight off. Maybe a few drops got through. I now press my hand on top to make them touch the soil, and it soaks the water up. It's been interesting with the net up because I can't move/spin them like before.

My fungus gnat problems were greatly reduced when I stopped using any FF soil.

Gnats can ride in any kind of compost or peat or growing mix. Top quality stuff even.
Easy to deal with Using Gnatrol or equivalent. Dunks and granular are too weak. Proper drainage, ventilation and refusing to overwater will avoid any serious problems.

Star Dog said:

How do they paint filters work for watering/feeding from the top?

I tried to feed that plant with the food /mesh bag and the nutrient rolled off it until I put the syringe neat against the net, I normally feed from the bottom and when I'm not I'm using a syringe so it's no big deal but it'd be annoying af with a water can I think?

Fwiw I'm still gnat free that's a month and more now.

Click to expand...

Water gets thru but you have to go slowly. I don't bother covering the top of the pot because I spray IPM before every watering. This kills any new eggs or gnats walking around the top. It also drains thru the soil after watering so it helps get down the insides of the pot as well.

hillbill said:

Gnats can ride in any kind of compost or peat or growing mix. Top quality stuff even.

Click to expand...

This is why I was wondering about using soil from my yard. Very sandy, with very little organic matter.
Then fortifying with with beneficial fungi and microbes.

I was being very careful with my watering. to the point I was under watering, wilted and dry leaves. That balance can be hard to find

I re potted plants a few days back I'm on edge about frickin gnats, bits of dust moving catch my attention crikey even eye floaters have my nerves shot!

I dread adding heat and water and them appearing in the room lol

I'm using the coco I could've or more accurately I should've tested but blew the opportunity, it would've told me if they die or diapause when sealed inside?

Sand is very heavy