Wow awesome info +rep! Are the gnats already in the soil? Or are they drawn from outside? I just started using molasses I hope the sweetness doesn't attract them!
If it starts getting lower than 20% I'll grab a $30 cool humidifier I guess heh
Thnx
You could try a clean, damp cloth to raise humidity as well. But it would most likely prove to be pointless, but i donno depends on temp@exhaust i believe.
And Gnats... it depends on your climate and the soil. For instance i took my soil from a relatives garden in fall, and i live in a region with a colder winter season. So now that its winter, i can only assume my occasional gnat has come from the soil as i dont think these insects are really thriving outside in sub freezing temperatures (but you know, they could come from larvae in the store on fruits or who knows where else, but im not bug expert just laying out some of the possibilities i see in mind). However, i have been baking my soil lately, as this sterilizes the soil.
But ultimately, slurpy, the best tool to fighting off these pests is proper watering. Water when your pots get light enough. Take note when you're pot is light and dry vs when it is wet and heavy. Do NOT overwater. Your plant will tell you when she is thirsty, you may hold off for a day or two when you want to water, then the following day open up to see a plant with really droopy leaves and kinda sickly looking. Don't get panicky, give it some water, then if you have the time just sit back and watch it. In the next 20 + minutes it will pick itself right up off the ground as if it never happened. (just dont starve them too long, remember, droughts are natural occurances.)
Another tip i could point out is to include hydrogen peroxide in your waterings, every watering. I use about 1 part peroxide to 4-6 parts water.
Hydrogen peroxides molecular structure is h2o2. Look similar to h2o? Thats because it is h2o with an extra oxygen atom. This extra oxygen atom is given off very easily due to the instability of the molecule, so when added to your water it will deliver oxy straight to the roots. It also kills bad bacterias and promotes the growth of good bacteria.
Very nice.