Fungus Gnats

[kingkola1]

I have 8 plants in transition from veg to flower. Over the past 3 weeks I have collected about 20 gnats on yellow sticky cards (the type of cards used to catch gnats and flys). I am using 1/3 coco, 1/3 ocean farm, and 1/3 perlite in cloth smart pots. I occasionally see 1 or 2 gnats flying around. I have about an inch of gnat mix perlite on top, mixed in about a half inch of food grade diatomaceous earth, and have pushed 1/4 tsp of mosquito bits down in the soil and sprinkled about 3/4 of a tsp on top of the gnat mix that gets mixed in during watering. Just wondering if I have a serious gnat problem big enough that the larvae are going to give me root problems or is this normal. Since this is my first grow, I don't have any history to compare to. If it is a big problem, what else can I do to get rid of them? I am trying to grow "organically".

I wonder if when I pick up the cloth smart pots and put them down, that I disrupt and expose the grow medium down the side of the pot where the gnats may be escaping from?

 

[Flockshot]

You don't have a big problem, in my opinion. Fungus Gnats take about 30 to 40 days to get rid of because they have about a 30 day life cycle. So once they stop laying eggs, there are still gnats in the pipe line. I didn't like the Diatomaceous earth because every time I water it needs to be re applied. I found that an inch of dry play sand on top worked best for my problem. And, I would suggest that you cut back on your watering schedule because the top inch or two of your mix isn't drying out enough. My 2c.

 

[kingkola1]

Thanks. I started cutting back on watering a lot about 3 weeks ago; it must be that pipeline you are talking about.

 

[Canyon Grower]

Another control method is diluted hydrogen peroxide at a usual watering. Kills the larvae but doesnt harm your plants. I have used it to good success.