I lost 4 cuttings (so far) and one with roots to a recently purchased bag of Miracle Grow Moisture Control potting soil.

In short save your money...I have more cuttings to root and I'm going back to Black Kow composted manure and perlite...

Don't feel bad Lou about 3 years ago I lost about 40 cuttings due to gnats no exaggeration and I used the same Miracle Grow Moisture Control they were coming out of the soil like a swarm and I tried every chemical sticky trap on the market and they won the larvae ate all the newly formed roots never again Miracle grow and NO MORE RIPPED BAGS  like Alan said 

Bayer complete insect control applied as a soil drench took care of my gnat problem 100%.  It is absorbed by the plant and has a three month residual so you can only use the soil for figs that won't fruit or for flowers or anything you won't harvest for 3 to 6 months.  Keep the soil in a brute garbage container, let it dry out, and problem solved.  Bill

I have been using Neem oil as a preventive for insects/gnats

It has long been pointed out that MG potting soils come equipped with them nasty fungus gnats (eggs or whatever!).

I also recently had a similar case with a Scott's potting soil.

Why are these people distributing this mess all over the country?!?
I am sure that there must be a sure way to stop this at the SOURCE.

Contact them, and let them know of this/their big problem.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences...when I stumbled on the moisture control discussion from a few years back the results were more positive.

I could have dug up my own sort and done better.

Alan,

Maybe they are required to sterilize the manure...or they (Black Kow) use some process to kill eggs and larva?

Dave,

Yes we had loads of the buggers...in my ignorance I did not pull the rare cuttings... I let the cuttings sit a few weeks in that soil.


But the bag was not ripped when I purchased...AFAIK.

Peter C,

Thank you for the tip. I have some permathin that I use on animals and plants...Neem oil is very unhealthy when ingested due to phytoesrtrogens...but I should put aside my reservations when dealing with gnats, and someting I will not ingest for three years. ;)

Bill,

Yes Beyer knows how to kill things...if I ever have another infestation in the home I will definitely consider this option...no way I would eat from it in a few years in any regard.


Kkk2210,

Yes, I am glad we can "get the word out"...this soil has too many fig folks reporting gnats, and it was designed not to drain, to hold water...such makes it too easy to overwater, and encourages that growth. IMHO it is very bad for fig cuttings in particular.

I deal bad because the cuttings I lost were rare plant genetic material...I just wish I had been more true to myself, and gone a cheaper and BETTER route.

I am sorry you lost that amount of cuttings. Hopefully this post will be a warning to those who look up the soil in the future.

May we all be blessed with (almost total) sucesss going forward.

Pyrethrum kills the gnats and larvae in the soil

The soil mixture /gnat problem is made significantly worse when places like Agway, Lowes and Home Depot, store the soil outside, in the rain.

The holes in the bag let in too much water. They become a breading ground. Look for bags that are inside and dry. Mix the MG soil 50/50 with Sunshine mix or Pro mix and top 2-3" straight Sunshine or Pro. They do not like to nest in it because they (Sunshine/Pro Mix) are soilless.

Home Depot has given me partial refunds at the store because of this problem. Especially when their $12 soil cost me $50 in bug remedies.

I personally like some soil in the container to hold a little more moisture.

Mike

Alan, thanks for the info. Since gnats hate black kow, I will stick with it.

Mike, my bags were indeed from outside the store, and they raised the price to almost 15 FRN a bag! Got my money bag on the bag I did not open...may dry out the other half bag and treat it with pesticide.

Very good info everyone. I have noticed that the MG can have mold also! Found a good local composted mix that I have been solarizing as you suggest. Seems to do the trick. I am interested in the Black Kow? Where do you find it? Cheers, Jodi

Get a bag of Promix HP or BX and you will not having any issues with Gnats.

Navid.

I second the Promix suggestion.  Get one of those 3 cf bales.  They are compressed and last a heck of a long time if all you are doing is cuttings.  Worth the money.  And I'm cheap so I don't say that often. 

Thank you Rob will keep my eye out for a promix bale...if I find fertilome ultimate potting (soil-less mix) I'd buy it as well...stores aren't as well stocked here as they are in bigger metropolitan cities.

I use ProMix-BX and still from time to time have had issues with gnats.  If the surface of your soil is wet for any extended period of time, then gnats will propagate.  To get around this, buy a 10lb bag of sand and create a 1/2" to 1" layer of sand on your top layer.  That will inhibit gnats from laying since the sand dries out very quickly and will also cut down on mold issues.

smithmal

I've had the same experience with MG moisture control. Since then I started using Bacto potting soil with no gnats and very good results.

Yes everyone send me more cuttings, fidgeater approves of this message.

I learned several lessons this year rooting cuttings and growing plants in containers in general:

1. Never ever use moisture control soil. I lost so many cuttings and even young plants in peat/coco coir rich soil that I lost count.
2. Peat is especially evil. It holds too much water and then rots the roots. The shoots look like they are drying out and then you water some more and worsen the situation.
3. Planting in pure bark(fine)or gritty mix lets roots breathe and plants grow rapidly. Look up Tapla's gritty mix. I am finally getting all my cuttings to not die once I started using pure bark for cuttings. 
4. Composted manure is also problematic for rooting cuttings. It holds too much water.

TAKE A LOOK................ https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/miracle_gro.html