Bugs!

[tryno12]

Brought in a few Tomato plants and started a few from seed and there a lot of tiny dark grey/black flies(seem like baby fruit flies?) that seem to like hanging around the soil surface but will fly - can't seem to get rid of them - have fly paper, yellow sticky panels, and spray w/raid flying insect killer when there are a few together away from the plants.
What to do?? don't want to have to throw stuff away and start fresh. I guess maybe pull them by the roots and stick them in new pots w/sterile soil from lowe's?

[MissS]

Those sound like fungus gnats. They live in the soil. The sticky traps will work. I also use Mosquito Dunks which are easy to find at Walmart or Amazon. Break them up and put them in your watering can then saturate the soil. I use them every time that I water. Some people prefer to use a diluted spray of hydrogen peroxide on the soil.
I hope this helps you with the problem.

[tryno12]

Do the Mosquito Dunks kill the gnats?

[Nan_PA_6b]

Mosquito dunks supposedly kill the larvae in the soil. I have a horrible infestation right now. I'm using a peroxide solution to kill anything in the soil (eggs & larvae), then adding mycobacteria (Myco-Blast) to put good bacteria around the roots, then watering exclusively with Mosquito dunks, and have yellow sticky traps spread everywhere. Also, using a fan to keep fungus down. Good luck.

[tryno12]

Me too Nan! not fun! Sent for some Gnatrol ( a form of the Bonide Hornworm killer by a different company) which is the natural method( i guess?) good reviews. I did Cl2 last night and have the yellow stickies all over - some say a layer of sand 1/2" deep will stop it also - i am going for the kill!!!! What dilution / % of Hydrogen Peroxide did you use?
Thanks
Pete

[Nan_PA_6b]

1 part 3% peroxide to 8 or 9 parts water. Remember, peroxide first, then mycos.

[tryno12]

what is mycos?

[tryno12]

what i am growing is Dan's # 33X-f5

[Nan_PA_6b]

Mycos = Mycobacteria, bacteria that form a symbiotic relationship with the fine roots of the plant, protecting them from the gnat larvae.

Like this:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[tryno12]

So I guess that my Gnatrol plus the peroxide and / or sand will be rid of these #%&@#$$%#$% bugs!! Should get order for https://www.gnatrol.com/product-page...ms-gnatrol-bti

Bacillus thuringiensis in a few days..............

[Nan_PA_6b]

Don't forget the yellow sticky traps to take out the adults.

[tryno12]

Thanks Nan,
Pete

[MissS]

Do realize that using the hydrogen peroxide after applying the mycos will kill your microbacteria that you have just added.

[oakley]

I do all of the above.

Sticky traps for a 'heads up' to potential problems. (and controls the flying
hatched gnats)

All plants coming in from outside get a peroxide flush and my water
has crushed mosquito dunks for the first waterings about three weeks now.

I had a minor problem early on but a fresh sticky trap shows no problems.

My micro toms this morning. I have three trays of nine each. 36 plants now
that I will cull and give healthy ones as holiday gifts.

[oakley]

Originally Posted by MissS

Do realize that using the hydrogen peroxide after applying the mycos will kill your microbacteria that you have just added.

I find it important to take care of the gnat problem first, then I can
top dress healthy mycos and also when potting up later.