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-   -   Bugs! (http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=48363)

tryno12 November 9, 2018 07:52 PM

Bugs!
 
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:evil::evil: - 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 November 9, 2018 08:01 PM

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 November 9, 2018 11:37 PM

Do the Mosquito Dunks kill the gnats?

Nan_PA_6b November 10, 2018 11:45 PM

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 November 11, 2018 12:29 AM

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 November 11, 2018 12:48 AM

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

tryno12 November 11, 2018 01:19 AM

what is mycos?

tryno12 November 11, 2018 01:21 AM

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

Nan_PA_6b November 11, 2018 01:31 AM

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

Like this:
[url]https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MT676YG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1[/url]

tryno12 November 11, 2018 01:55 AM

So I guess that my Gnatrol plus the peroxide and / or sand will be rid of these #%&@#$$%#$% bugs!! Should get order for [url]https://www.gnatrol.com/product-page/14-grams-gnatrol-bti[/url]

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

Nan_PA_6b November 11, 2018 10:14 AM

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

tryno12 November 11, 2018 11:29 AM

Thanks Nan,
Pete

MissS November 11, 2018 12:06 PM

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

oakley November 11, 2018 12:10 PM

1 Attachment(s)
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 November 11, 2018 04:06 PM

[QUOTE=MissS;719001]Do realize that using the hydrogen peroxide after applying the mycos will kill your microbacteria that you have just added.[/QUOTE]

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.


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