Naddydasty214
Active Member
Yes builasoil email or ig, jay_plantspeaker on ig they have the kill rate
Gnats
- Thread starter Vyp
- Start date
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
What actually is a chigger? I've heard of them but don't think I've ever encountered one.
Naddydasty214
Active Member
also known as berry bugs, harvest mites, red bugs or scrub-itch mites.What actually is a chigger? I've heard of them but don't think I've ever encountered one.
it’s a mite that bites and it itches like fuck for awhile.
Southern states we have them bad, you HAVE to wear pants if walking in tall grass and better if you tape or tuck them as well into shoes/boots
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
Mosquitoes are the bane of my existence up here in northern Alberta. We got these huge ones with golden coloured bodies that come in like a missile. No landing and looking for a good place bite first. Just wham and they go thru jeans like they weren't even there. Never used to bother me much but in the last 10 years I seem to have developed an allergy to them. Huge welts and an itch that drives me nuts.
I've taken to packing around a tube of Benadryl to dab on the bites ASAP and that works really well for me. Can't take the pills as they make me feel like the 3rd day of a bad drunk. No fleas up here so the pets are safe but have lost a few cats to coyotes in the last 20 years and one to a huge owl.
Mr. Bakerton
Well-Known Member
I've been using the dunks and they seem to have knocked the numbers down but haven't pushed them away totally. It sounds like there are better products, yeah?
Mr. Bakerton
Well-Known Member
Put it in my cart! Thanks!
hillbill
Well-Known Member
That will work
Milky Weed
Well-Known Member
Im starting to think the dunks are better at keeping them from ever starting, but once started it may need extra high doses or maybe help from another product until they are gone.
Mr. Bakerton
Well-Known Member
I was lucky to bring them into my grow from the start. Seed starting soil had it so bad they actually killed off 2 of my seedlings, or at least I think it was a grub that did that. Could have been something else in the soil.
Been using sticky traps and the dunks for 8 weeks or so. Def put a dent in them pretty quickly but they just aren't disappearing.
I keep a dunk or two in a liter of water and add some each watering. Maybe my method isn't good. perhaps I should set aside my next watering and keep a dunk in it for a few days then fully water with dunked water - full strength.
Guess thats worth a question, Hows everybody else doing it?
myke
Well-Known Member
I’m in Canada so fancy products arnt available. Tried everything. What works best is an inch of sand on top of the soil. A bitch to water through have to go slow but works and it’s cheap. I’m beginning to think that it’s impossible to get rid of them. I run sips at about 60 gallons worth of soil and I just can’t defeat them. Slow them down yes but can’t kill them all. Sand works but it’s a pain to topdress. I’m using sheets now laying right on the soil slows them down but they find away out and back in. I’ve just learned to live with them.
Friggen Gnats!!
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
I use a product called Gnatrol I got at the hydro store in Grande Prairie, Alberta. It's just the BTi bacteria that is used in dunks so maybe grind up a dunk and water that into your soil. I used just a low dose of the Gnatrol last time I had fungus gnats and they were gone. Tried it on a bad case of springtails I had recently and it didn't phase them a bit so used this really toxic Fungus Gnat Killer powder and they were gonzo and I haven't seen any since. Still got a few thrips to hunt every day but that's not a big deal.
Hiphophippo
Well-Known Member
I use the bti in water aerated for 24 to 48 hours. I mist the top layer of soil till it’s pretty wet. I also use fly strips and then cover the top layer with Damascus earth I also buy those masquito bits and add them into my top layer of soil to keep the bti present with waterings. The trick is to defeat each life cycle at the same time the larvae the toddler gnat and the adult gnat. The bti kills the larvae the Damascus earth gets the youngsters and the adults while the the fly strips get the adults and invading ones believe me they are a pain and once they are gone you have to do preventative actions to keep them gone sorry this is one long sentence it was voice to text I’m multitasking right now
HydoDan
Well-Known Member
I have tried all possible remedies and I have to agree. You can control the population but eradication seems impossible!
Hiphophippo
Well-Known Member
You have to fight all stages of life at once the larvae and adult stages it’s hard to eradicate them but very possible with time and patients but usually trying to eradicate Them while growing is very diffficult I’ve found you Have to remove the plants, treat the soil and the surrounding area all at the same time just killing the adults doesn’t do it and just attacking the larvae won’t do it. I grow in a living soil and found it very hard at first to eliminate them. But after I approached it with a planned attack I found it much more effective
HydoDan
Well-Known Member
I've been using a planned attack for over three years.. Neem oil, Sesame oil, BTI, Spinosad, H2O2, vinegar, Alcohol, Citric acid, sticky traps, covered drain holes and a 1" layer of sand. Sucked up flyers with my shop vac.
It all worked to some extent but they're still here. I treat the soil every time I water. Not sure what else to do!
Hiphophippo
Well-Known Member
Sounds extreme man sorry to hear that I’ve had them destroy entire crops before but I’ve had luck in riding myself of them and have taken special precaution to keep them away I basically did the things you said you did with luck though maybe step up the concentration and keep any moisture to a minimum in the grow area.Can I ask what medium you are using?
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
Do you have your pots elevated?