This video missed the mark a lot. The first don't is don't use soil that retains too much water. The second don't is don't overwater. If you follow those don'ts, you don't need anything else. The third don't is don't mess around with neem oil or a top coating, get something with Bti (a natural bacteria that is highly selective and safe for humans, mammals, birds, even most insects. It only kills mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and maybe a couple more. But it works amazingly.) You can use Mosquito Bits(soaked in water, then use the water to water the plants. And/or sprinkle some Mosquito Bits on the soil and then water over them), Mosquito Dunks (broken up into little pieces and soaked in water), or Gnatrol.
@@zeruty Although I watch gardening channels daily (dreaming), I am new to gardening, since I don't have a patio and live in a studio apartment. Will need to move to get the full gardening experience. Years ago I tried to grow greens indoors near a window but got gnats. It is too humid in Texas to worry about indoor soil and I don't like bugs in my small area.
@@anitahernandez1207 I've tried to write a reply a few times and it seems UA-cam keeps deleting it. I'm not sure why. I guess l'll break it up so I know what triggers it.
@@anitahernandez1207 are you familiar with Aerogarden or similar indoor countertop hydroponic systems? I just recently got some. They're a good way to grow indoors without soil.
Neem oil is not the only way to address the problem. I use mosquito bits in the soil and water with a solution of the mosquito bits in water. It is very effective. Thanks for the valuable info. Luke.
Great info! Years ago, I heard about the cinnamon thing for gnats; I tried it, didn't work. Now, I use about a 1/2 inch layer of sand on the surface of all my houseplant's soil and it has worked perfectly. When I bring new houseplants home, I layer them with the sand and I never have issues with fungus gnats from bringing in new plants. When I plant seeds for starts that will go into my garden, I make sure to first sterilize my growing medium. I do this by either pouring boiling water over it and putting a lid on it until it cools down or I bake it in a large pan in my oven at 200ºF for 15 minutes, then let it cool in the closed oven. These methods have worked perfectly for keeping fungus gnats out of my house.
I like to use BT mosquito bits in my soil and watering trays to prevent fungus gnats! It's a great organic way to prevent the little critters, and harmless to pets, people, and wildlife. (Except the fungus gnats and mosquitos!)
Im glad my hydrogen peroxide way wasnt in this video, i honestly think it works really well. It seems to have another benefit of aeration of the soil because as hydrogen peroxide breaks down it creates water and oxygen. The soil poofs up after treatment and isnt compacted. Maybe placebo 🤷♂️
Didn’t work on 20+ flats. You probably controlled them? Too much vegetation and root pruning pots too many hiding places. I tried everything last year and just going to sterilize the soil for anything that is planted inside.
I chose carnivorous plants to control fungus gnats. I got a couple nepenthes pitcher plants and a couple drosera sundew plants. I haven't had an issue since
@@rachelhall4808Surely all you need is a few to survive long enough to lay their hundreds of eggs before they get eaten. I would expect it to be just be a sustainable method of feeding carnivorous plants. Wasn’t there anything else you changed or had tried at the same time?
@chrisgoldbach4450 I was very pleasantly surprised at how easy the sundews were especially. By far my favorite among my carnivorous plants, well among all my plants really lol very otherworldly in appearance
@@Hello_Fuckers0 that’s exactly why I keep a few. Nepenthes, Drosera and the long trumpet one. Their weirdness appeals 😄 Never had any luck with Venus’s fly trap in the past so never keep them. I hope spring isn’t long in coming to perk them all up a bit in my spare bedroom.
Luke, here's the 3 things you shouldn't do to avoid fungus gnats: Don't use soil that retains too much water Don't overwater Don't mess around with neem oil drenches or anything else other than Bti. Mosquito Dunks, Mosquito Bits, or Gnatrol. You mentioned how fast they reproduce, so don't screw around. Get the magic bullet.
I used Cinnamon in an attempt to dry out a problem with my (overwatered) wet & humid greenhouse full of plants. I sprinkled a bit of cinnamon in certain pots and the very next day the flying gnats were gone but so was ALL humidity. Cinnamon has great applications when used with care. Fortunately, the baby plants didn’t suffer, but what a lesson.
Hold the fort. Mosquito bits. There is instructions on the bag. Worth EVERY PENNY. I put it into my gallon milk jug for indoor watering and put holes in the lid. Then I top water with it for about 2 weeks. I also hang the BLACK FLAG FLY STICKS from over my grow light as well as the ones you described. No more larve. And it’s pet friendly
Completely agree on the futility of DE and cinnamon with fungus gnats. Sticky traps can help keep adults from being a nuisance but don't fix the issue. Great video! Edit: forgot to mention... I stopped using sticky traps because they started nabbing useful insects like lady bugs and jumping spiders. I love my jumping spider army out in my porch greenhouse. Little army of Henrys.
I just saved a jumping spider this morning in my grow area. It was stuck, so I took a little dropper with some oil in it and released its little legs. It's hanging out on a terracotta pot now, I think the terracotta helped soak any oil off its legs, I was worried I just prolonged its suffering! 😢 Seems happy, moved the trap to another location. Love my spider friends!
> "Sticky traps can help keep adults from being a nuisance but don't fix the issue" Wrong,they are part of the fix! Not only are they an early indicator, they reduce the number of adults that can lay eggs. Every professional greenhouse uses a combination of yellow sticky paper in combination with BTI to fight fungus gnats. Cinnamon should not be used, absolutely unnecessary, and affects aeration of the soil in a negative way.
I will like this video BECAUSE it's a shorter video. I feel that most youtubers are very considerate of their audience's limited time. ESPECIALLY when it's something like the subject of this video. I click on a video to learn something, not to be charmed by someone's editing sensibilities and music tastes, which, I've noticed, seem to be the primary focus of most gardening-based youtube videos. In other words, thank you.
DE is just as useful as perlite or vermiculite when used in the same way to prevent adults access to soil. If you buy DE go to a livestock feed store to save big $ as it is sold in bulk.
Going forward I’m addressing the issue by heating soil in a sealed aluminum roaster in a grill. Had it with trying to get rid of gnats. Once they take a hold in a large amount of flats they are impossible to get rid of. Tried everything and last year I had a lot of flats and you can’t get them all. Did the BT bits in soil, sticky traps and drench for several weeks, vacuumed, peroxide, cinnamon, Neem, insecticidal soap and diatomaceous earth does not work when wet. Name a method I’m sure I tried it as the gnats/aphids were bad. We never have aphids inside or outside. The only thing that appeared to get rid of gnats and aphids was horticultural oil, but by then I was taking them out to harden off. Didn’t have them until started lettuce inside this season. They come from compost or just potting soil in general. I think today the lettuce gets kicked out and will start over with my new method of sterile soil. Never had such problems until last year. Also the new air root pruning pots give them more places to hide besides all the vegetation I had. I can’t dry out seedlings, tiny petunias don’t like it.
Another good video. I’m going to try my bug zapper light just because it’s sitting in the room being stored anyway. I use neem oil but might try cinnamon. I’ll put it on my upper lip to mask the smell of neem oil inside. 😀.
I do 3 things. 1. Use CLEAN gear. I clean and sanitize EVERYTHING that touches my seedlings. Trays, scoops, diblers, markers, etc... Anything that might retain even a spec of soil, because you can't easily see eggs. 2. I premositen the soil with boiling water. This kills any hidden eggs in the seed starting mix. 3. After planting the seeds, I place a 1/4 layer of perlite on top. Keeps any bugs that might have made it through the first 2 steps from laying eggs.
sticky traps are great to identify gnats as a problem so good to have around indoor plants all the time IMO. helps prevent infestations the earlier you detect them.
Exactly!! Finally someone who gets it! In combination with BTI they're a quick gnats killer and early indicator, every professional greenhouse will agree with me.
I have used mosquito bites. Dissolved into the water that I then used to water all my plants. After using the treated water for a couple weeks, adult gnats were gone. I used the sticky traps to make sure they were gone. Haven’t had an issue since.
You use the exact approach! All those people playing with cinnamon, diatomaceous earth, heating up the soil in the oven, etc are using the wrong approach, often affecting the soil in a negative way. If you filter the mosquite bits (or dunks) with for example a filter made out of a nylon pantyhose, you basically give your plants only water and BTI, no harm to the soil as a result. Well done!
Little rocks on top of the soil (to block the gnats), bottom watering, changing out the soil of the plant most effected by the gnats and this stuff I found called systemic houseplant insect control cut down on the majority of population. One of those actions probably helped more than the other but that's what I did. I was desperate to get rid of as many as possible. Thankfully I noticed a difference. I also removed all the dead leaves and other plant matter from the pot if I saw any. I like the sticky traps because they serve as a gage. Almost like the canary in the coalmine strategy....poor canary. But I'm open to all suggestions. I've never heard of the baking soil until now. I used some old soil that I had in the shed last year and created this problem. I'm so pissed with myself because this wasn't an issue before. But I know better now. Thanks!
You told us what not to do but finally, you never said what to do to stop the fungus process. Also, I suggest you ask a friend to edit your videos. You are so passionate, that you repeat 10 times the same thing.
I'm not sure what fungus knats are. I had little critters that left what looked like mini spider webs on the underside of my Serrano peppers that destroyed them. The next time I planted, I used a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water that I sprayed on the top and bottom of the leaves, which seemed to kill the pests and not bother the plants. I used a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide per cup of water in a 32 ounce spray bottle that you can get for a few dollars. The online recipes I think were much stronger but you don't want to overdue it on your plants. Plus I sprayed the top of the soil too because I didn't know if they were there too. Another nice video Luke. We have to keep growing. Bless you and yours from the Lord and God.
Haven't seen any comments mentioning this but NemaKnights beneficial nematodes work really well for me! Speaking of which, I need to apply some to my basement garden today, thanks for the reminder Luke! These, plus sticky traps for the adults, attack multiple stages of a generation.
Question: I have seeds starting, humidity is inside… I watch it constantly. BUT when the seedlings pop up I remove the dome, snd bring the lights closer. I know how long to keep lights on, but when do you REMIVE the lights? At what point do the plants need to be?
Seems like the two pots my cat peed in don't have gnats anymore, but I don't recommend it. It killed one aloe vera. lol I do have gnats in some of my indoor plants. I was just thinking I should do something about it today.
Cinnamon seemed to be the only thing that slowed them down for me. I have tried covering the soil with an inch of sand, Neem cake tea, Mosquito dunk tea, Sticky Traps, Letting soil dry out, None of that worked.
I'm not Luke, but usually it depends on your gardening zone. People will buy seeds up to a year before they need to use them because often companies including MIgardener put their seeds on sale at the end of a season. But in zone 5/6 where I am, we are definitely in the seed-buying timeframe now. And I say that with an asterisk, because you can buy them at any time really, but if you are planning your garden and really want to make sure you get some obscure variety, you don't want them to sell out, so we typically try to buy those at this time, since they likely won't be sold out yet. I hope this helps!
I had a good bit of succulents die or change color because of diatomaceous earth. I just got a systemic but i cant NOT get rid of scale or mealybug on my jade!
Hey Luke I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the new GMO purple tomato from Norfolk plant sciences. They just started selling the seeds on their website to home gardeners. This is a first time that has happened.
Exclude sticky paper from your 'DON'T Do These 3 Things!' video, as it is a crucial component of the solution. When used in conjunction with BTI, sticky paper significantly expedites the removal process. Moreover, it serves as a valuable indicator, enabling prompt action to be taken early on, thereby preventing a severe infestation that could require a prolonged eradication process.
I water my plants with fungas gnats with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water. That takes care of eggs in the soil. I use yellow stickies for the flyers.
Fungus gnats are attracted to water damp soil. If you put a layer of sand on the surface and bury a water bottle spout into the earth and cover it with netting or fiber fill, the gnats can’t get to it and there is no food
Neem oil didn't work. Yellow sticky traps didn't work. Hydrogen peroxide and water didn't work. Plastic wrap over the soil worked temporarily. Coating the soil didn't work. And yes, these were fungus gnats. Nothing worked. Zipping the pot in a ziploc bag worked as long as the bag remained on the pot, but it took time for the gnats to die and larva to starve. Unfortunately, once the bag was removed months later, they came back. In the end, my tomato plant never got past the flowering stage and went straight into the trash.
You forgot to tell people to use mosquito bits. The ONLY thing that saved my plants. Soak the bits in water, strain bits out and then water. Water this way for 2 weeks. Fungus nats gone!!!
Sterilizing soil b4 use works perfectly to kill and or prevent them...indoor soil needs to be microb free...growing indoors is a different game vs outdoors.
Not me watching this when I just finished all my cinnamon by adding it to all my plants 🤦🏻♀️ why do people give bad advice, I saw a video that said cinnamon was perfect to kill the fungus gnats 😢
I use a shallow container with half apple cider vinegar, half water, as much sugar as will dissolve, and a drop of dish soap. The adult flies land in it and drown. It takes a little while, but has cleared out insane infestations for me.
Diatomaceous earth kills insects by expanding inside their exoskeletons (clay expands exponentially with addition of water). It happens relatively quickly.
My above statement is incorrect and therefor I disliked it. The diatomaceous earth adsorbs lipids in the barrier on the exoskeleton and allows water to leave the body causing desiccation by evaporation. I had been going on another persons word on that process and didnt ever bother to look it up myself. Shame on me
👎No on cinnamon ✅ Yes on neem oil ✅Yes on yellow sticky traps ✅Yes on coating the top soil with vermiculite 👍Thank you!
All I got with cinnamon was the smell in the house.
This video missed the mark a lot.
The first don't is don't use soil that retains too much water.
The second don't is don't overwater.
If you follow those don'ts, you don't need anything else.
The third don't is don't mess around with neem oil or a top coating, get something with Bti (a natural bacteria that is highly selective and safe for humans, mammals, birds, even most insects. It only kills mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and maybe a couple more. But it works amazingly.)
You can use Mosquito Bits(soaked in water, then use the water to water the plants. And/or sprinkle some Mosquito Bits on the soil and then water over them), Mosquito Dunks (broken up into little pieces and soaked in water), or Gnatrol.
@@zeruty Although I watch gardening channels daily (dreaming), I am new to gardening, since I don't have a patio and live in a studio apartment. Will need to move to get the full gardening experience. Years ago I tried to grow greens indoors near a window but got gnats. It is too humid in Texas to worry about indoor soil and I don't like bugs in my small area.
@@anitahernandez1207 I've tried to write a reply a few times and it seems UA-cam keeps deleting it. I'm not sure why. I guess l'll break it up so I know what triggers it.
@@anitahernandez1207 are you familiar with Aerogarden or similar indoor countertop hydroponic systems? I just recently got some. They're a good way to grow indoors without soil.
Neem oil is not the only way to address the problem. I use mosquito bits in the soil and water with a solution of the mosquito bits in water. It is very effective. Thanks for the valuable info. Luke.
I do that too.
I also used that with the sticky traps.
Yup! Just bought a new pack of dunks, the last pack lasted me over a decade. Well worth the eleven bucks!
Aren't mosquito dunks made out of Bacillus thurengiensis? If so, you could use that directly.
@@FrozEnbyWolf150mosquito dunks/bits are way easier to find
Great info! Years ago, I heard about the cinnamon thing for gnats; I tried it, didn't work. Now, I use about a 1/2 inch layer of sand on the surface of all my houseplant's soil and it has worked perfectly. When I bring new houseplants home, I layer them with the sand and I never have issues with fungus gnats from bringing in new plants.
When I plant seeds for starts that will go into my garden, I make sure to first sterilize my growing medium. I do this by either pouring boiling water over it and putting a lid on it until it cools down or I bake it in a large pan in my oven at 200ºF for 15 minutes, then let it cool in the closed oven. These methods have worked perfectly for keeping fungus gnats out of my house.
May I ask what're you placing the soil on?
How do you water with the sand? I tried that and the sand looked weird after a while.
@@Mina-12128 Were you bottom watering and the sand looked weird after a while?
I like to use BT mosquito bits in my soil and watering trays to prevent fungus gnats! It's a great organic way to prevent the little critters, and harmless to pets, people, and wildlife. (Except the fungus gnats and mosquitos!)
Hey Luke, Gently Bend the stake part of the sticky trap back. There is a tab without sticky on it to get the paper off.
Im glad my hydrogen peroxide way wasnt in this video, i honestly think it works really well. It seems to have another benefit of aeration of the soil because as hydrogen peroxide breaks down it creates water and oxygen. The soil poofs up after treatment and isnt compacted. Maybe placebo 🤷♂️
Yep. Been doing it for 15 years. Buy it bulk at 12% mix it down yourself at home and save a lot of money. 🤙🇺🇸🧂
Didn’t work on 20+ flats. You probably controlled them? Too much vegetation and root pruning pots too many hiding places. I tried everything last year and just going to sterilize the soil for anything that is planted inside.
I chose carnivorous plants to control fungus gnats. I got a couple nepenthes pitcher plants and a couple drosera sundew plants. I haven't had an issue since
Oh that’s a great idea!
@@rachelhall4808Surely all you need is a few to survive long enough to lay their hundreds of eggs before they get eaten. I would expect it to be just be a sustainable method of feeding carnivorous plants. Wasn’t there anything else you changed or had tried at the same time?
Never thought theyd be so easy to care for. The sundew is badass. The flower is pretty also.
@chrisgoldbach4450 I was very pleasantly surprised at how easy the sundews were especially. By far my favorite among my carnivorous plants, well among all my plants really lol very otherworldly in appearance
@@Hello_Fuckers0 that’s exactly why I keep a few. Nepenthes, Drosera and the long trumpet one. Their weirdness appeals 😄 Never had any luck with Venus’s fly trap in the past so never keep them. I hope spring isn’t long in coming to perk them all up a bit in my spare bedroom.
Luke, here's the 3 things you shouldn't do to avoid fungus gnats:
Don't use soil that retains too much water
Don't overwater
Don't mess around with neem oil drenches or anything else other than Bti. Mosquito Dunks, Mosquito Bits, or Gnatrol. You mentioned how fast they reproduce, so don't screw around. Get the magic bullet.
I used Cinnamon in an attempt to dry out a problem with my (overwatered) wet & humid greenhouse full of plants. I sprinkled a bit of cinnamon in certain pots and the very next day the flying gnats were gone but so was ALL humidity.
Cinnamon has great applications when used with care. Fortunately, the baby plants didn’t suffer, but what a lesson.
*_"the very next day the flying gnats were gone"_*
That's what you think....
I use Carnivorous Plants. Sundews are the best!
Thanks for the informative video. I found BTI and sticky traps together worked really well.
I like short and to the point. Thanks Luke.
Hold the fort. Mosquito bits. There is instructions on the bag. Worth EVERY PENNY. I put it into my gallon milk jug for indoor watering and put holes in the lid. Then I top water with it for about 2 weeks. I also hang the BLACK FLAG FLY STICKS from over my grow light as well as the ones you described. No more larve. And it’s pet friendly
Completely agree on the futility of DE and cinnamon with fungus gnats.
Sticky traps can help keep adults from being a nuisance but don't fix the issue.
Great video!
Edit: forgot to mention... I stopped using sticky traps because they started nabbing useful insects like lady bugs and jumping spiders. I love my jumping spider army out in my porch greenhouse. Little army of Henrys.
I just saved a jumping spider this morning in my grow area. It was stuck, so I took a little dropper with some oil in it and released its little legs. It's hanging out on a terracotta pot now, I think the terracotta helped soak any oil off its legs, I was worried I just prolonged its suffering! 😢 Seems happy, moved the trap to another location. Love my spider friends!
> "Sticky traps can help keep adults from being a nuisance but don't fix the issue"
Wrong,they are part of the fix! Not only are they an early indicator, they reduce the number of adults that can lay eggs. Every professional greenhouse uses a combination of yellow sticky paper in combination with BTI to fight fungus gnats.
Cinnamon should not be used, absolutely unnecessary, and affects aeration of the soil in a negative way.
Could you please link to the control video in the comments, pretty please?
I will like this video BECAUSE it's a shorter video. I feel that most youtubers are very considerate of their audience's limited time. ESPECIALLY when it's something like the subject of this video. I click on a video to learn something, not to be charmed by someone's editing sensibilities and music tastes, which, I've noticed, seem to be the primary focus of most gardening-based youtube videos. In other words, thank you.
I have used only yellow sticky traps and letting top layer of soil dry and worked great... have not had any in a long time...
Sometimes knowing what NOT to do is just as important as knowing WHAT to do.
Thank you, Luke!
I had the worst infestation I've ever had this fall. I tried everything. Nothing worked till I used DE. It was very very effective almost immediately
DE is just as useful as perlite or vermiculite when used in the same way to prevent adults access to soil. If you buy DE go to a livestock feed store to save big $ as it is sold in bulk.
Going forward I’m addressing the issue by heating soil in a sealed aluminum roaster in a grill.
Had it with trying to get rid of gnats. Once they take a hold in a large amount of flats they are impossible to get rid of. Tried everything and last year I had a lot of flats and you can’t get them all. Did the BT bits in soil, sticky traps and drench for several weeks, vacuumed, peroxide, cinnamon, Neem, insecticidal soap and diatomaceous earth does not work when wet. Name a method I’m sure I tried it as the gnats/aphids were bad. We never have aphids inside or outside. The only thing that appeared to get rid of gnats and aphids was horticultural oil, but by then I was taking them out to harden off.
Didn’t have them until started lettuce inside this season. They come from compost or just potting soil in general. I think today the lettuce gets kicked out and will start over with my new method of sterile soil.
Never had such problems until last year.
Also the new air root pruning pots give them more places to hide besides all the vegetation I had. I can’t dry out seedlings, tiny petunias don’t like it.
Another good video. I’m going to try my bug zapper light just because it’s sitting in the room being stored anyway. I use neem oil but might try cinnamon. I’ll put it on my upper lip to mask the smell of neem oil inside. 😀.
What about watering with mosquito bits?
I do 3 things.
1. Use CLEAN gear. I clean and sanitize EVERYTHING that touches my seedlings. Trays, scoops, diblers, markers, etc... Anything that might retain even a spec of soil, because you can't easily see eggs.
2. I premositen the soil with boiling water. This kills any hidden eggs in the seed starting mix.
3. After planting the seeds, I place a 1/4 layer of perlite on top. Keeps any bugs that might have made it through the first 2 steps from laying eggs.
sticky traps are great to identify gnats as a problem so good to have around indoor plants all the time IMO. helps prevent infestations the earlier you detect them.
Exactly!! Finally someone who gets it! In combination with BTI they're a quick gnats killer and early indicator, every professional greenhouse will agree with me.
I have used mosquito bites. Dissolved into the water that I then used to water all my plants. After using the treated water for a couple weeks, adult gnats were gone. I used the sticky traps to make sure they were gone. Haven’t had an issue since.
You use the exact approach! All those people playing with cinnamon, diatomaceous earth, heating up the soil in the oven, etc are using the wrong approach, often affecting the soil in a negative way.
If you filter the mosquite bits (or dunks) with for example a filter made out of a nylon pantyhose, you basically give your plants only water and BTI, no harm to the soil as a result. Well done!
Little rocks on top of the soil (to block the gnats), bottom watering, changing out the soil of the plant most effected by the gnats and this stuff I found called systemic houseplant insect control cut down on the majority of population. One of those actions probably helped more than the other but that's what I did. I was desperate to get rid of as many as possible. Thankfully I noticed a difference. I also removed all the dead leaves and other plant matter from the pot if I saw any.
I like the sticky traps because they serve as a gage. Almost like the canary in the coalmine strategy....poor canary. But I'm open to all suggestions. I've never heard of the baking soil until now.
I used some old soil that I had in the shed last year and created this problem. I'm so pissed with myself because this wasn't an issue before. But I know better now. Thanks!
I have been fighting with the gnats in my house plants😢 Going to get neem oil. Thanks
You told us what not to do but finally, you never said what to do to stop the fungus process. Also, I suggest you ask a friend to edit your videos. You are so passionate, that you repeat 10 times the same thing.
I'm not sure what fungus knats are. I had little critters that left what looked like mini spider webs on the underside of my Serrano peppers that destroyed them. The next time I planted, I used a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water that I sprayed on the top and bottom of the leaves, which seemed to kill the pests and not bother the plants. I used a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide per cup of water in a 32 ounce spray bottle that you can get for a few dollars. The online recipes I think were much stronger but you don't want to overdue it on your plants. Plus I sprayed the top of the soil too because I didn't know if they were there too. Another nice video Luke. We have to keep growing. Bless you and yours from the Lord and God.
What you had was most likely Spider Mites.
I use boiling water on my soil before using it which helps control them.
Haven't seen any comments mentioning this but NemaKnights beneficial nematodes work really well for me! Speaking of which, I need to apply some to my basement garden today, thanks for the reminder Luke!
These, plus sticky traps for the adults, attack multiple stages of a generation.
BTI is way cheaper, readily available, plus they have a very long shelf life unlike nematodes.
Got my seeds thank you for the free greens mix.
Question: I have seeds starting, humidity is inside… I watch it constantly. BUT when the seedlings pop up I remove the dome, snd bring the lights closer. I know how long to keep lights on, but when do you REMIVE the lights? At what point do the plants need to be?
Plus I use yellow glue traps and they work well too to catch a few still flying around
Seems like the two pots my cat peed in don't have gnats anymore, but I don't recommend it. It killed one aloe vera. lol I do have gnats in some of my indoor plants. I was just thinking I should do something about it today.
Cinnamon seemed to be the only thing that slowed them down for me. I have tried covering the soil with an inch of sand, Neem cake tea, Mosquito dunk tea, Sticky Traps, Letting soil dry out, None of that worked.
I've had success using DE. I mix it into the top 1" of the soil and it seems to have done the trick for killing the larvae in the soil.
Gnatrol is very helpful. You can use it a a preventive or after an infestation. A tiny bit goes a long way.
I’ve seen a university recommend water treated with mosquito bits to get the larvae
Ack! I followed Luke’s advice and zero fungus gnats-UNTIL I picked up a tray of transplants from a small independent nursery. Just saw 2 gnats.😡
watering with water that has had mosquito dunks soaking in it works too.
QUESTION; What controls earwigs ?
Thank you. Definitely don’t use the yellow sticky traps outside. They attract and kill bees.
Nice channel, very informative. Quick question: is there a best time of the year to order seeds or does it depend on the crop?
I'm not Luke, but usually it depends on your gardening zone. People will buy seeds up to a year before they need to use them because often companies including MIgardener put their seeds on sale at the end of a season. But in zone 5/6 where I am, we are definitely in the seed-buying timeframe now. And I say that with an asterisk, because you can buy them at any time really, but if you are planning your garden and really want to make sure you get some obscure variety, you don't want them to sell out, so we typically try to buy those at this time, since they likely won't be sold out yet. I hope this helps!
I had a good bit of succulents die or change color because of diatomaceous earth. I just got a systemic but i cant NOT get rid of scale or mealybug on my jade!
My basement spiders take care of them pretty good.
It's so cool that you mention this. This year I did my winter planting in my basement. No gnats in the house. I had no idea😊.
Nice one once again Luke, are there any homemade solutions you can use instead of neem oil?
i had goodluck with pumice stone on the soil surface
Awesome! Blessings!
Sorry for my ignorance but is DE the same material as BT?
Hey Luke I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the new GMO purple tomato from Norfolk plant sciences. They just started selling the seeds on their website to home gardeners. This is a first time that has happened.
Exclude sticky paper from your 'DON'T Do These 3 Things!' video, as it is a crucial component of the solution. When used in conjunction with BTI, sticky paper significantly expedites the removal process. Moreover, it serves as a valuable indicator, enabling prompt action to be taken early on, thereby preventing a severe infestation that could require a prolonged eradication process.
I water my plants with fungas gnats with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water. That takes care of eggs in the soil. I use yellow stickies for the flyers.
Good stuff, Luke!! 👍
My cats are entertained by the fungus gnats. Swatting away 😺
😂Now that’s one control I didn’t try😂
Do coffee grounds work??
Never even considered neem oil 🤯 I’ve been using BTi forever and it’s just not working for me.
Fungus gnats are attracted to water damp soil. If you put a layer of sand on the surface and bury a water bottle spout into the earth and cover it with netting or fiber fill, the gnats can’t get to it and there is no food
You say no cinnamon, but I was told by a plant shop owner that cinnamon is good mixed into the bottom inch of soil. What do you think
What's your other video? I can't find it
Neem oil didn't work. Yellow sticky traps didn't work. Hydrogen peroxide and water didn't work. Plastic wrap over the soil worked temporarily. Coating the soil didn't work. And yes, these were fungus gnats. Nothing worked. Zipping the pot in a ziploc bag worked as long as the bag remained on the pot, but it took time for the gnats to die and larva to starve. Unfortunately, once the bag was removed months later, they came back.
In the end, my tomato plant never got past the flowering stage and went straight into the trash.
This whole separate arc about these gnats is too on time o.0
Does diluted Peroxide and water work?
What about nemotodes?
No cinnamon at all? Can it be steeped in water and then sprayed on? Mixed into the substrate before planting? Or just NO?
You forgot to tell people to use mosquito bits. The ONLY thing that saved my plants. Soak the bits in water, strain bits out and then water. Water this way for 2 weeks. Fungus nats gone!!!
Are those biological control by nematodes or such, or pesticide. I have no objection to either in pot plants.
Sterilizing soil b4 use works perfectly to kill and or prevent them...indoor soil needs to be microb free...growing indoors is a different game vs outdoors.
How about nematodes?
😎 i thought you were my buddy 😊
I apparently have root fly not fungus gnats. There is a difference.
Not me watching this when I just finished all my cinnamon by adding it to all my plants 🤦🏻♀️ why do people give bad advice, I saw a video that said cinnamon was perfect to kill the fungus gnats 😢
I use a shallow container with half apple cider vinegar, half water, as much sugar as will dissolve, and a drop of dish soap. The adult flies land in it and drown. It takes a little while, but has cleared out insane infestations for me.
I thought DE suffocated the insects
sand so the soil does not stay soggy
Thumbs-up
What about hydrogen peroxide?
Need oil is a banned toxic pesticide in Canada
Fewer* adults mean fewer* eggs
Diatomaceous earth kills insects by expanding inside their exoskeletons (clay expands exponentially with addition of water). It happens relatively quickly.
My above statement is incorrect and therefor I disliked it. The diatomaceous earth adsorbs lipids in the barrier on the exoskeleton and allows water to leave the body causing desiccation by evaporation. I had been going on another persons word on that process and didnt ever bother to look it up myself. Shame on me
Promo*SM 🌟
Neem is bad for humans.
I've used potatoes for larvae in the past.