Just threw away half a bag of Fox Farms Ocean Forest... FUCK FOX FARMS

bguwop420

Well-Known Member
Didn’t you already have a bug problem before adding the soil?

I live on the east coast and have never gotten an infested bag (knock on wood). I read here or elsewhere that it’s a good idea to test the soil by putting some well moistened soil in a sealed jar with the idea that if there are critters, you’ll see them in the jar after some hours. Testing a new batch of soil this way right now.
Yea I had a gnat problem ever since getting this bag of soil about 3 weeks ago..keep wiping them out and used the soil one more time n they came baxk..got em wiped out for the most part again I think ..thanks DE
 

7CardBud

Well-Known Member
All the bag mixes have gnats in them. I got them in every type of bag numerous times. Bar Harbor, Stonington Blend, FFOF, Happy Frog all had them.
That is the main reason I switched to peat growers mixes and soluble feeds. Also not having stinky amendments around is a plus as well.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
All the bag mixes have gnats in them. I got them in every type of bag numerous times. Bar Harbor, Stonington Blend, FFOF, Happy Frog all had them.
That is the main reason I switched to peat growers mixes and soluble feeds. Also not having stinky amendments around is a plus as well.
Bugs are one of the reasons I switched to coco with synthetics. No more bugs, worms, bacteria, or fungi. Just a nice clean, sterile tent.
 

420 Garden

Well-Known Member
I use FFOF every run.
1 week BEFORE I germinate I get all my pots layered with nutrients. Then 3 drops to 1 gal of water of microbe lift. You only water in till you see runoff. Go lights on at 50% with fans and inline running for 4 to 5 days. Your then ready to go directly to the 5 gal pots with your germinated beans. Happy growing!
 

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
Seriously, just go to Home Depot and get a big jar of Mosquito Bits. Put a few handfuls in a gallon of water and let it soak overnight. Remove the DE layer from your soil and water in the Mosquito Bits water, then spread the granules on top of the dirt, then replace the DE layer if you feel like it.
 

bguwop420

Well-Known Member
Seriously, just go to Home Depot and get a big jar of Mosquito Bits. Put a few handfuls in a gallon of water and let it soak overnight. Remove the DE layer from your soil and water in the Mosquito Bits water, then spread the granules on top of the dirt, then replace the DE layer if you feel like it.
I have a big thing of mosquito bits coming in tomorrow
 

medidedicated

Well-Known Member
Bugs are one of the reasons I switched to coco with synthetics. No more bugs, worms, bacteria, or fungi. Just a nice clean, sterile tent.
I would say location matters, bedroom had coco plants for a year and now dirt, 30 days in and no bugs. FFOF. But basement coco plants, I had beatles and earwigs and other types of bugs. Plant count might have a large influence IME but wow ear wigs grew out if control in the coco in the basement.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
I would say location matters, bedroom had coco plants for a year and now dirt, 30 days in and no bugs. FFOF. But basement coco plants, I had beatles and earwigs and other types of bugs. Plant count might have a large influence IME but wow ear wigs grew out if control in the coco in the basement.
If it's living soil, you're going to have bugs, breaking organic matter down, eating other bugs, etc....
There should also be bugs that you can't see.
 

medidedicated

Well-Known Member
If it's living soil, you're going to have bugs, breaking organic matter down, eating other bugs, etc....
There should also be bugs that you can't see.
I saw white mites that someone said come with soil and are good, they eat gnat larva but I didn’t mind that if it stays in the pot but that is all I saw so far. I am struggling with watering and leaf burns/toxicity. Sure isn’t easy but still low maintenance. We are middle of summer and no bugs.

I just wanted a break from coco but about to do coco again, 2 plants in a 2.5x5, I am excited. I am a fan of both soil and coco, the little ecosystem of bugs don’t bug me. I know what you mean, bugs are gross but if they stay in the pot and isn’t creating another food chain of bugs in and outside the tent I wouldn’t like that. Basement I get bugs though.

Trying to invest learning how it works in soil, it is easy bud, low maintenence.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
I saw white mites that someone said come with soil and are good, they eat gnat larva but I didn’t mind that if it stays in the pot but that is all I saw so far. I am struggling with watering and leaf burns/toxicity. Sure isn’t easy but still low maintenance. We are middle of summer and no bugs.

I just wanted a break from coco but about to do coco again, 2 plants in a 2.5x5, I am excited. I am a fan of both soil and coco, the little ecosystem of bugs don’t bug me. I know what you mean, bugs are gross but if they stay in the pot and isn’t creating another food chain of bugs in and outside the tent I wouldn’t like that. Basement I get bugs though.

Trying to invest learning how it works in soil, it is easy bud, low maintenence.
I used to think easier too, but now that I got the autowater hooked up, I mix a bucket of nutes every couple days, and pour it into the res, ph it, and I'm done. Easy peasy.
 

medidedicated

Well-Known Member
I used to think easier too, but now that I got the autowater hooked up, I mix a bucket of nutes every couple days, and pour it into the res, ph it, and I'm done. Easy peasy.
That versus just watering with tap once a week and top dress monthly with ready to use soil. That is why I have two soil grows already 30 days in with hardly any work put in. The difference in labor is night and day IMO but coco has its advantages in growth for sure.
 

natureboygrower

Well-Known Member
A little bit of a good quality compost added to your soil should harbor enough beneficals to take care of any gnat larvae. Hypoaspis miles, mainly.
 

Seanf610

Active Member
I like roots organic hydroponic coco mix. It grows in that real well and takes nutrients easy. Easy to learn with
 

bguwop420

Well-Known Member
Seriously, just go to Home Depot and get a big jar of Mosquito Bits. Put a few handfuls in a gallon of water and let it soak overnight. Remove the DE layer from your soil and water in the Mosquito Bits water, then spread the granules on top of the dirt, then replace the DE layer if you feel like it.
Can I use the mosquito bits water if I'm watering over earthworm castings?
 
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