Lavender, Gnats and Neem Oil?

[Northeastskier]

Have been using fly paper. 20 rolls for $8.00. Works wonders.

 

[amneziaHaze]

i had those fly rolls you pull out and hang somewhere they would fly on it rest and fly off.... maybe mine was shitty glue

 

[rootforme]

It's not the fungus gnats that caused the damage it's their larvae. You can spray and spray until you turn blue but until you get Beneficial nematodes in the soil to eradicate the larvae you are not going to resolve this problem.

 

[ShawnSunshine]

No, pasteurize the potting soil, I use a 2:1 ratio of dirt to boiling water, put the dirt in a 5 gallon bucket, pour in the boiling water, let it sit for a day.

It would be best to let that soil fully dry out again before using it, just to be sure, but it is now wet and okay to use right away.

Do not use that "Garden Safe Fungicide" if it has permethrin or pyrethrin in it, I tried it for thrips and it fried my leaves.

Honestly, if you pastuerize first and then use the Bits, you won't need anything else.

The garden safe stuff is neem oil, for fungus and insects of on leaves.

 

[ShawnSunshine]

No, pasteurize the potting soil, I use a 2:1 ratio of dirt to boiling water, put the dirt in a 5 gallon bucket, pour in the boiling water, let it sit for a day.

It would be best to let that soil fully dry out again before using it, just to be sure, but it is now wet and okay to use right away.

Do not use that "Garden Safe Fungicide" if it has permethrin or pyrethrin in it, I tried it for thrips and it fried my leaves.

Honestly, if you pastuerize first and then use the Bits, you won't need anything else.

Yeah, I did pasturize my soil, but since you said that, I haven't treated that bag of soil that came in.

Doesn't adding boiled water also kill off good bacteria too?


I'll have to treat this bag here as it's where I see them coming from.

 

[ShawnSunshine]

It's not the fungus gnats that caused the damage it's their larvae. You can spray and spray until you turn blue but until you get Beneficial nematodes in the soil to eradicate the larvae you are not going to resolve this problem.

The mosquito bits are bacteria that eat the larvae, looking forward to getting that tomorrow.

 

[ShawnSunshine]

I too have been fighting fungus gnats the last few weeks. I even started a thread in here a few days ago asking how people steam their soil. (Getting the plan together for the next round). Got a couple replies, mostly people wondering why the hell I would want to do that.



^ and that is the response I really needed, thank you.

I know, they’re more annoyance than problem. But it’s borderline infestation… and it’s/was February…. Gardening experience tells me this could be a nightmare come warmer weather.

Makes more sense to me to try and pasteurize and do some recharge work to the soil, because spraying more oils/chemicals on the grow media than water… just ain’t right.

Quick survey: seems I’m far from alone and at the same time fighting these little bastards… Did y’all buy/use some FFOF by chance? No proof, but I have a strong hunch it is the source of my problem.

I'm getting mosquito bits for the gnats.

"The active ingredient in Mosquito Bits is a biological larvacide called BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis). BTI is a naturally occurring bacterium that's deadly to both mosquito larvae and fungus gnat larvae".

 

[ShawnSunshine]

Fungus Gnats do not chomp on leaves. If you have something eating leaves it's not the Gnats.

Gnats are simple to get rid of. A neem oil or basically any oil, canola, sesame, etc... sprayed on the surface will effectively eliminate them.

Yep, been using lavender oil getting neem oil soon.


It's the larvae that is doing the damage apparently.

 

[amneziaHaze]

they just suck the life out of the plant. everything gets covered with black spots and starts drying

 

[PJ Diaz]

Ugg, neem. Nasty shit.

 

[ShawnSunshine]

Ugg, neem. Nasty shit.

Why's that?

You don't like the smell?

 

[Sberarducci]

I like the mosquito bits stuff, looks like it's good for fungus gnats.

Is diamectous Earth also good for gnats?

I'm still going to buy a neem oil spray I think because I've heard good things about that for cannabis as well as controlling fungus and mildew.

Make the tea !!! It’s the best !!! Make sure it’s hot water form your sink not boiling but not warm either.

 

[PJ Diaz]

Why's that?

You don't like the smell?

Nope, and I don't like the way it makes my weed (or anything else it's sprayed on for that matter) taste.

I was in a local hydro greenhouse a few months ago, and they were growing lettuce in a deep raft system. As I was talking to the folks there, one guy started suiting up to spray some crops. I asked what they were spraying, and they told me that it was neem, because they had a PM issue. I asked, "doesn't that affect the taste?". They said, "no, it degrades on the plant very quickly". They offered me a few heads of lettuce to take with me, so I graciously took them, and said thank you. As soon as I got out of the greenhouse, I smelled the heads of lettuce. Smelled like neem! I wasn't gonna eat that crap, so gave the lettuce to the chickens.

There's also this:

 

[ShawnSunshine]

Make the tea !!! It’s the best !!! Make sure it’s hot water form your sink not boiling but not warm either.

Yep. Totally going to make the tea.

Will leave some in the pots too after I water.

 

[Sberarducci]

Yep. Totally going to make the tea.

Will leave some in the pots too after I water.

Yes it’s the best !! make sure to let it cool also before watering cause the water is going to be really hot.

 

[ShawnSunshine]

Nope, and I don't like the way it makes my weed (or anything else it's sprayed on for that matter) taste.

I was in a local hydro greenhouse a few months ago, and they were growing lettuce in a deep raft system. As I was talking to the folks there, one guy started suiting up to spray some crops. I asked what they were spraying, and they told me that it was neem, because they had a PM issue. I asked, "doesn't that affect the taste?". They said, "no, it degrades on the plant very quickly". They offered me a few heads of lettuce to take with me, so I graciously took them, and said thank you. As soon as I got out of the greenhouse, I smelled the heads of lettuce. Smelled like neem! I wasn't gonna eat that crap, so gave the lettuce to the chickens.

There's also this:
View attachment 5094410

I

Nope, and I don't like the way it makes my weed (or anything else it's sprayed on for that matter) taste.

I was in a local hydro greenhouse a few months ago, and they were growing lettuce in a deep raft system. As I was talking to the folks there, one guy started suiting up to spray some crops. I asked what they were spraying, and they told me that it was neem, because they had a PM issue. I asked, "doesn't that affect the taste?". They said, "no, it degrades on the plant very quickly". They offered me a few heads of lettuce to take with me, so I graciously took them, and said thank you. As soon as I got out of the greenhouse, I smelled the heads of lettuce. Smelled like neem! I wasn't gonna eat that crap, so gave the lettuce to the chickens.

There's also this:
View attachment 5094410

I'll try to use lavender oil first on my cannabis and never neem oil for the flowering stage.


I'll be using the been neem on my primrose and peace lily... That's where the gnats are.


Haven't planted my cannabis yet.

 

[PJ Diaz]

I'll try to use lavender oil first on my cannabis and never neem oil for the flowering stage.


I'll be using the been neem on my primrose and peace lily... That's where the gnats are.


Haven't planted my cannabis yet.

I personally would avoid any oils which have strong smells with cannabis (during flowering at least). I don't really want my weed to smell like lavender, unless that's what the cultivar is supposed to taste like. Sesame oil works pretty well for pest prevention, and has no real odor, but not sure how it works on gnats. Your mosquito bits will help, but may not completely get rid of them. I've heard of people using spinosad drenches for gnats, but spinosad use is questionable in some circles, despite it being organically based.

 

[Babalonian]

I've been spraying the top of soil and coco at the first sign of gnats for years without any issues. I also don't have gnats.

What’s your preferred product to spray with?

 

[Babalonian]

I don't understand how anyone grows anything without 1st researching what beneficials they should have in their soil to prevent these types of things from happening.

what would be your preventative or beneficial additive strategy at the start of your grow?

 

[xtsho]

What’s your preferred product to spray with?

I use DIY home remedies. I've switched over to sesame oil from neem since I use sesame oil for cooking and always have it on hand. 1/2 tsp in a quart of water with a drop or 2 of soap sprayed on the surface of the growing medium is what I use when I notice any gnats. After spraying that I don't notice them anymore.