Lavender, Gnats and Neem Oil?

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't want any other plants in my tent, but that's me. Regarding the cotton liner, why? Unless it is black, it could grow mold. Just use the smart pots, the drain holes are a pain in the ass and the smart pots do way better for your plants than the air pots. I've tried both, will never use air pots again.
Was thinking of this... It has a mesh of plastic and cotton:

IMG_20220301_232553.jpg
 

Babalonian

Well-Known Member
If it’s going inside the pot, idk if cotton is a good idea. If for whatever reason you needed to clean or sterilize it, I don’t think you could without removing it. A synthetic or alternative is less to non absorbant, giving you a chance to get whatever chemical/organism you’re trying to get out fast.
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
If it’s going inside the pot, idk if cotton is a good idea. If for whatever reason you needed to clean or sterilize it, I don’t think you could without removing it. A synthetic or alternative is less to non absorbant, giving you a chance to get whatever chemical/organism you’re trying to get out fast.
I have a polyester/cotton blend dark blue sheet.

Some people have been using old jeans
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
I have a polyester/cotton blend dark blue sheet.

Some people have been using old jeans
Maybe can use the cotton on top, like a tea bag cover, which would let nutrients seep in with the sheet for the pot..

I really want to leave to soil uncovered though. I want to keep feeding and tilling the first few inches of soil.
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
I would not use that at all - I try to eliminate potential issues, not introduce new variables, I've lost too many plants to fucking around, but again, my two cents. If you've got the time, we've got the beer.
Yeah I'm gonna stick with the dark blue sheet then, it's something I can sacrifice to make a fabric/air pot.
 

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
Microbe-Lift BMC natural biological control. Non-toxic to people or pets.. Use 1 drop per/gallon of water in my normal feedings once a week and have not seen any gnats.. Your root zones will also be less stressed out not having bugs eating them. You can apply that stuff like once every 14 days I think.. I'd do it every 7-10 days to be safe.
kills developing mosquitoes before they become breeding, biting adults, including those which may transmit West Nile Virus and Equine Encephalitis, and those which may transmit Heartworm Disease to dogs and cats.

MICROBE-LIFT/Biological Mosquito Control is a liquid product, so it has no adverse effect on the aesthetics of ponds and water features
MICROBE-LIFT/Biological Mosquito Control can be applied to areas that can contain aquatic life, fish and plants.
MICROBE-LIFT/Biological Mosquito Control can be applied to areas used by or in contact with humans, animals, horses, livestock, pets, birds or wildlife.
  • Up to 14 days activity depending on application site
  • Disperses easily in water
  • No fish toxicity
  • No toxicity to non-target invertebrates
  • Significantly lower potential for development of resistance in target insect populations than chemical larvicides such as methoprene
  • No adverse aesthetics to the pond
  • No organic or inorganic residues
 
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Derbud420

Well-Known Member
o_O
So I have been fighting gnats for about 2 weeks now with lavender oil and I've done pretty good job but there's still a few but just want to chomp on my Primrose leaves and now they're even trying to chomp on the peace lilies. ☮

I do believe that they arrived as soon as I brought the Primrose home and I think those Primrose were kept outside so thinking maybe there's still some eggs in the soil?

I also saw one beetle looking creature, which is now dead.

The lavender oil has been helping but I don't think it's enough.

So I'm looking for some options like neem oil and some organic things that I can put into the soil itself as well as foiliar spray.

Would Neem Oil be a helpful addition?

Considering all natural and organic methods to prevent pests.

Right now I only have one gnat flying around in the house so I'm trying to catch that one still but I'm concerned about planting new plants and my plan was to plant marijuana on the 1st of March but I want to get this bug situation under control.

Any advice would be very helpful.

Thanks.☮
I use gnatrol for fungus gnats. A couple application and they are gone
 

Grojak

Well-Known Member
For me yellow sticky traps and letting plants dry out more between watering a has always worked. I tried mosquito dunks years ago but that didn’t seem to work until I put yellow sticky traps around plant containers.

of course you can go chemical and get good results but I view that as a backup plan to less intrusive methods.
 

Lenin1917

Well-Known Member
For me yellow sticky traps and letting plants dry out more between watering a has always worked. I tried mosquito dunks years ago but that didn’t seem to work until I put yellow sticky traps around plant containers.

of course you can go chemical and get good results but I view that as a backup plan to less intrusive methods.
If you’re organic letting it dry isn’t a great option, gotta keep those microbes alive.
 

laddyd

Well-Known Member
o_O
So I have been fighting gnats for about 2 weeks now with lavender oil and I've done pretty good job but there's still a few but just want to chomp on my Primrose leaves and now they're even trying to chomp on the peace lilies. ☮

I do believe that they arrived as soon as I brought the Primrose home and I think those Primrose were kept outside so thinking maybe there's still some eggs in the soil?

I also saw one beetle looking creature, which is now dead.

The lavender oil has been helping but I don't think it's enough.

So I'm looking for some options like neem oil and some organic things that I can put into the soil itself as well as foiliar spray.

Would Neem Oil be a helpful addition?

Considering all natural and organic methods to prevent pests.

Right now I only have one gnat flying around in the house so I'm trying to catch that one still but I'm concerned about planting new plants and my plan was to plant marijuana on the 1st of March but I want to get this bug situation under control.

Any advice would be very helpful.

Thanks.☮
Topdress with a layer of garden pumice screened at 1/8. People swear by mosquito bit tea, didn't work for me same for gnatrol. Mixed results with diatrometrous earth[sp]. I could still see the little buggars burrowing into the soil. Gnat larvae will eat your roots, damaged my last 2 grows till I figured it out. Saw a garden video about the garden pumice, tried it, finally no more gnats.
 

Babalonian

Well-Known Member
Topdress with a layer of garden pumice screened at 1/8. People swear by mosquito bit tea, didn't work for me same for gnatrol. Mixed results with diatrometrous earth[sp]. I could still see the little buggars burrowing into the soil. Gnat larvae will eat your roots, damaged my last 2 grows till I figured it out. Saw a garden video about the garden pumice, tried it, finally no more gnats.
I was thinking ground cover and/or perlite. This sounds like a very viable alternative (and one I can implement when/if plan A fails)

thank you
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Microbe-Lift BMC natural biological control. Non-toxic to people or pets.. Use 1 drop per/gallon of water in my normal feedings once a week and have not seen any gnats.. Your root zones will also be less stressed out not having bugs eating them. You can apply that stuff like once every 14 days I think.. I'd do it every 7-10 days to be safe.
kills developing mosquitoes before they become breeding, biting adults, including those which may transmit West Nile Virus and Equine Encephalitis, and those which may transmit Heartworm Disease to dogs and cats.

MICROBE-LIFT/Biological Mosquito Control is a liquid product, so it has no adverse effect on the aesthetics of ponds and water features
MICROBE-LIFT/Biological Mosquito Control can be applied to areas that can contain aquatic life, fish and plants.
MICROBE-LIFT/Biological Mosquito Control can be applied to areas used by or in contact with humans, animals, horses, livestock, pets, birds or wildlife.
  • Up to 14 days activity depending on application site
  • Disperses easily in water
  • No fish toxicity
  • No toxicity to non-target invertebrates
  • Significantly lower potential for development of resistance in target insect populations than chemical larvicides such as methoprene
  • No adverse aesthetics to the pond
  • No organic or inorganic residues
I use gnatrol for fungus gnats. A couple application and they are gone
Same active ingredient as Mosquito Dunks or Bits.
 

Kerowacked

Well-Known Member
If it’s going inside the pot, idk if cotton is a good idea. If for whatever reason you needed to clean or sterilize it, I don’t think you could without removing it. A synthetic or alternative is less to non absorbant, giving you a chance to get whatever chemical/organism you’re trying to get out fast.
Or you could put tin foil around the outside of the pot til the soil settles.
 

ShawnSunshine

Well-Known Member
Definitely returning the Neem Oil.
It smells like burnt funky cashews... Don't want that smell lol.o_O:?:oops:

Good news though!

Mosquito Bits are here!☮IMG_20220302_182433.jpg
 
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