Tiny little black flies?

$hit, I tryed vinegar, killed my 3 day old, and the other plants started getting yellow at the tips , even the new grow, so I did not water them for 2 days , and than I got the critters back again, how frustrating!!!!
Soon they will go into the flowering stage , I hope the buds will be ok

i always seem to get gnats in all of my grows. i think they hitch a ride in the potting soil. the sticky traps work good for the adults and i always use them. this last grow i tried these beneficial nematodes. not cheap but i was really happy with the results. between the sticky traps and nematodes i think i wiped them out.
http://www.planetnatural.com/product/beneficial-nematodes/

some people say this stuff works great but i have no experience with it:
http://www.amazon.com/Mosquito-Dunks-117-6-30-Ounce-Bits/dp/B0001AUF8G/ref=pd_bxgy_lg_img_y

FYI:
Fungus gnats reproduce in moist, shaded areas in decaying organic matter such as leaf litter. The life cycle is about four weeks, with continuous reproduction in homes or greenhouses where warm temperatures are maintained. Broods overlap, with all life stages present during the breeding season. Larvae not only feed on fungi and decaying organic matter, but on living plant tissue, particularly root hairs and small feeder roots. Brown scars may appear on the chewed roots. The underground parts of the stem may be injured and root hairs eaten off. Damage occurs most often in greenhouses or plant beds. Adults live about 7 to 10 days and deposit eggs on the moist soil surface or in soil cracks. Females lay up to 100 to 300 eggs in batches of 2 to 30 each in decaying organic matter. Eggs hatch in 4 to 6 days; larvae feed for 12 to 14 days. The pupal stage is about 5 to 6 days. There are many overlapping generations throughout the year.

That's good stuff right there St V.

I also use the nematodes. They rock.

I might have seen better prices, but note that that price includes
shipping...and shipping costs are a factor with these as they always
require the fastest option. (well, never the slow, and cheap, one ;0)

IMHO the dunks were of limited effect.....bu then again I was fighting
what I had yet to realize was a freakin Gnatsaster.

Onward an upward,

JD

Lots of good suggestions... didn't see venus fly traps though, hopefully I didn't overlook it.

I bought a couple babies from a local grocery store and they just sit merrily between my plants.

-spek

Rock on JD. We always seem to be on the same page. I talked to the local nursery about the nematodes, they said find some place that will ship them over night or two day air since they will die baking in a hot UPS truck. So Planet Natural was the best I could find. Not cheap but considering the whole expense of a grow I think they are worth it. Plus I had enough left over to do my house plants and have a gallon left over in the fridge to hit the plants again a week later.

I do not keep my tent humid enough for Venus Fly Traps.

Great idea though.

When I catch a Cucumber moth laying eggs in my garden or one of
its caterpillars feeding, I feed it to my garden spider. I figure that if
the bug wants to convert my veggies to bugs, then I will convert bugs
to spiders.

JD

spek9 said:

Lots of good suggestions... didn't see venus fly traps though, hopefully I didn't overlook it.

I bought a couple babies from a local grocery store and they just sit merrily between my plants.

-spek

Click to expand...

i'm wondering if VFT's need a more humid environment than cannabis does? and maybe the VFT won't like all the fans? and how many gnats can a VFT eat a day? interesting suggestion though!
maybe i'm wrong. let us know how that works!

retired pothead said:

$hit, I tryed vinegar, killed my 3 day old, and the other plants started getting yellow at the tips , even the new grow, so I did not water them for 2 days , and than I got the critters back again, how frustrating!!!!
Soon they will go into the flowering stage , I hope the buds will be ok

Click to expand...

it's better to have a minor gnat annoyance than dumping vinegar on your plants. good luck!