superono
1378008869
Posted 1383853805
Reply with quote #1
I have a gnat problem. They love my fig cutting practicing almost as much as I do. Two days ago I put bright-yellow sticky traps where their main Gnat Headquarters is located. I tried poking holes into a container's lid and filling it half with white vinegar, after a month it showed about 80 of 300 gnats fell for it. Please share any advice about getting rid of gnats.
newnandawg
1344130335
Posted 1383856255
Reply with quote #2
I learned the hard way. I only water from the bottom using Gnatrol. I put out sticky traps
FiggyFrank
1347560723
Posted 1383856874
Reply with quote #3
I tried the wine/vinegar in a container method but it didn't work at all for me last winter. The fruit flies like it, but not fungus gnats.
armando93223
1318984112
Posted 1383858744
Reply with quote #4
Jonathan....I had gnat problems last year and they pretty much disappeared.....I have daddy long leg spiders that snuck into my home....but I don't kill them, I let them make a few webs by the bright windows....so I am about 99pct free of gnats around my little cuttings. So go outside and get a few small spiders. Maybe You can get a 25 watt bulb with a casing around it and hang it outside...letting spiders make webs around it and then bring inside and turn on at night.
armando93223
1318984112
Posted 1383864007
Reply with quote #5
Just an Update....killed a gnat.... so make it 100pct Gnat free....LOL
BLB
1214341548
Posted 1383868061
Reply with quote #6
carnivorous plants, there are a couple threads about them on the forum, work great
GRamaley
1357742252
Posted 1383872937
Reply with quote #7
I love my hanging pitcher plants, they do seem to get the gnats on this floor, maybe i should move one to the basement... the BT seemed to work for a bit and the nematodes also worked for awhile but they just seem tot keep coming back!!
JustPeachy
1374695228
Posted 1383879663
Reply with quote #8
One word ...Nematodes! Recommended by a forum member in another thread, I used these over a month ago and my gnat problem has been eradicated in one treatment. I'll never use anything else again. http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/nemattack-nematodes-feltiae/266
GRamaley
1357742252
Posted 1383879949
Reply with quote #9
I wonder if my nematodes were good, I have never had them fail me before... need to look at what is left under a microscope...
JustPeachy
1374695228
Posted 1383880625
Reply with quote #10
Quote:
Originally Posted by GRamaley
superono
1378008869
Posted 1383885397
Reply with quote #11
Wow armando93223, I always thought daddy long leg spiders looked scary, but I would try that organic method if I had any daddy long legs. I haven't tried nematodes, it sound like a good suggestion. I have seen them for sale at amazon.com
BexleyRabbit
1375322533
Posted 1383886625
Reply with quote #12
So just like there's Chocolate and Cinnamon Babka, there's bad and good nematodes. I honestly didn't know that. Thanks.
Grasa
1347083219
Posted 1383888155
Reply with quote #13
I gave up on rooting in the winter, i cannot stand these creatures, they ate so many of my special cuttings... In the Spring, outside, they seem to grow better. So, now I will wait until weather is better. i have a large 5 gallon clear bottle ( comes with water) cut the bottom off and use it over the cuttings. it works great and if gnats are out there, they find their predators. i wish you luck, the spider sounds good. I had a pet one by my window, got really fat and is gone now.
greenfig
1359790036
Posted 1383924368
Reply with quote #14
Will the gnats affect the 3 gal figs too or they are mostly a danger to cups and 1 gals?
superono
1378008869
Posted 1383925848
Reply with quote #15
Anywhere there are freshly grown roots. Freshly rooted cuttings are hit a bit worst because all their roots are all fresh.
RobBanks
1355024162
Posted 1383931170
Reply with quote #16
What do the gnats look like and what damage do they cause?
superono
1378008869
tylerj
1347291507
Posted 1383936512
Reply with quote #18
One thing I did last year that seemed to work better than doing nothing was I put a coffee filter around the bottom of the cups or small pots and held it with a couple elastics (since they WILL find there way in through the drainage holes) and then I put about 1" of sand on the top. I do this right away so they can't get a chance to get established in the cups.
RobBanks
1355024162
Posted 1383948636
Reply with quote #19
Oh - thanks for the pix. I do have some of those. About no damage, tho, someone posted that they had lost cuttings to gnats, so I'm curious about that part.
Grasa
1347083219
Posted 1383978852
Reply with quote #20
each adult gnat lays something like 300 eggs and in 14 days all over again, these are the hungrier babies ever, they are tiny and crawl under the new bark, and eat the cuttings from inside out , they are awful... get rid of them asap.
genecolin
1248866064
Posted 1383997381
Reply with quote #21
tyler, I did an experiment with some summer cuttings this year similar to what you're talking about. Instead of wrapping the filter around the cup, I cut the filter to fit in the cup covering the drainage holes. I then poured about an inch of sand in the cup to hold the filter in place. I added my planting mix and planted the cuttings and then added about 1 inch of sand on top. I found no evidence of gnats in those cups while there were plenty of them flying around and in other cups without the sand. I also used permethrin in my first watering in case there were eggs in the soil mix.
tylerj
1347291507
Posted 1384004320
Reply with quote #22
That sounds even better Gene... thanks for the tip!
Tam
1365478628
Posted 1384014024
Reply with quote #23
Thanks for sharing.
needaclone
1346812939
Posted 1384020496
Reply with quote #24
I just need to underscore what Grasa said explicitly and what other posters alluded to. Fungus gnats MOST DEFINITELY CAUSE DAMAGE.
Longue D'Aout, Italian 258, Pennsylvania 6-5000
greenfig
1359790036
Posted 1384041519
Reply with quote #25
I noticed that I have fewer gnats in the area where basil grows. I searched for other plants that gnats do not like and found this (link: http://naturehacks.com/gardening-and-plants/how-to-naturally-repel-gnats/ ):This tip can help repel gnats and beautify your yard at the same time. There are certain plants that gnats just absolutely hate. When strategically placed around your yard, you can insure fewer pests. Lavender is a beautiful, aromatic plant with a myriad of uses. Humans love it, gnats, not so much. The added bonus is that not only will you repel the gnats in your yard, but you can use lavender for cooking, decorating and aromatherapy uses. Another lovely plant that the bugs will hate is lemon balm . This plant has a lovely scent that will be a great addition to any garden. One of the most aesthetically pleasing, bug repelling plants is the scented geranium . These repel gnats best growing in hanging planters along your porch or patio.
GRamaley
1357742252
Posted 1384042977
Reply with quote #26
I found this posting very helpfulhttp://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/hydrogen-peroxide-4617842?highlight=hydrogen+peroxide
superono
1378008869
Posted 1384049339
Reply with quote #27
Thanks for the links. At this moment I don't have any hydrogen peroxide or any diatomaceous earth , but I like the 3% HP idea. I try to be at least 99.9% Organic with my fig trees and cuttings. I wander if dried basil herb from my kitchen spread around the cuttings would help with the gnats. I looked at my rooting cuttings today and noticed lots of dead gnats around the trays. Strange, I didn't spray or put anything new. I think it was my portable heater. I set the thermostat to 86 degrees. Anyway, I set it at the same temperature so lets see. I will post my results. Meanwhile I haven't ordered nematodes yet. Does anyone know how to store them or how long a time will they store alive?
garden_whisperer
1353347580
Posted 1384058790
Reply with quote #28
Put an inch of gritty sand at the top of the pot/cups to keep them from laying eggs there, misquito dunks to kill what's there and lightly water from the bottem. They WILL kill your figs if you can't controll them. The nematods are the way to go but I think they can be costly, but then again so can some cuttings. Good luck, keep us posted.
gorgi
1188888396
Posted 1384071137
Reply with quote #29
One other good cure is "Knock-Out-Gnats" from Gardens Alive:http://www.gardensalive.com/knock-out-gnats-granules/p/3440/
RobBanks
1355024162
Posted 1384142996
Reply with quote #30
Has anyone here tried cinnamon and/or chamomile tea? Looks like those get mentioned quite a bit on the 'net for controlling fungus gnats.
garden_whisperer
1353347580
Posted 1384144715
Reply with quote #31
think sombody used somthing like that this last winter Robert, but if memory serves they ended up doing misquito dunks. i lost a few cuttings last winter myself the ones that made it were the ones i up potted to gal size pots as soon as there was enough roots. i then fed those from the bottem with root stimulator while netting the top of the soil off with dryer sheets. the ones i had in cups, well most of them didnt make it.
garden_whisperer
1353347580
Posted 1384144910
Reply with quote #32
however George makes a point about outside plants and gnats. my green house plants havent had gnats but i keep the doors open so it dont get to hot and there is a constant breese. maybe putting a fan by the cuttings will help. not only by drying the soil making it less likly to be targeted but by blowing adults away from thier LZ. worth a shot i guess.
RobBanks
1355024162
Posted 1384147110
Reply with quote #33
Thanks, Dave. I'm gonna try cheap and easy first since I have cinnamon and chamomile already in the house. The dryer sheets is a great idea.
Dieseler
1215735852
Posted 1384184090
Reply with quote #34
Ditto to post#13.
gorgi
1188888396
Posted 1384189121
Reply with quote #35
A (couple of) remark(s):O 2 from the air and suffocate.
gorgi
1188888396
Posted 1384192659
Reply with quote #36
We are in mutual agreement here ...Bacillus thuringiensis) larvicide
Attached Images Gnatrol_FungusGnat.jpg (9.34 KB, 13 views)
greenfig
1359790036
Posted 1384195662
Reply with quote #37
Quote:
Originally Posted by SCfigFanatic
superono
1378008869
Posted 1384228142
Reply with quote #38
LOL about the coffee. Nope the gnats don't mind a heated temperature room. The gnats that died must have all been old and died at the same time. A new crew just emerged out of the soil and back to gnat mayhem. I like the reviews of using "knock-out Gnats". Also just sprinkling granules onto the soil and not worrying about my product being dead (nematodes) is awesome.
possum_trot
1269047402
Posted 1384238831
Reply with quote #39
A few drops of liquid soap in a gallon container used to water your plants kills the larvae in the soil. Also seems to destroy the eggs. My family has always used this method and it works without fail.
Limhf
1373291534
Posted 1384250855
Reply with quote #40
Hi,
Hoosierguy86
1375830122
Posted 1384311452
Reply with quote #41
Wow. This is my first year and I could not believe how many gnats invaded the citrus and figs indoors. I took the advice on here and got a huge bag of sand at lowes for $3.50. Best money I have ever spent. No more gnats! Thanks for the great advice. FYI I did use an insecticidal soap which was only 5 bucks and killed on contact but was unable to completely remove them with that method.
Bikkurim
1354509162
Posted 1384313046
Reply with quote #42
We tried the hydrogen peroxide which helped, but regular treatments of gnatrol was what did it. We are going to put our rootings later this season and top with sand.
Grasa
1347083219
Posted 1384313986
Reply with quote #43
I saw video, the person put gardening fabric on top of the soil and top it with sand. I thought it was a neat idea, but I cannot locate that video... perhaps that would help also.
garden_whisperer
1353347580
Posted 1384895172
Reply with quote #44
I just ordered this bti gnatcontrol off of ebay said its a larvicide that is organic. Good price as well less than 10 bucks for enough to mix 31 gal
milehighgirl
1382109709
Posted 1384897050
Reply with quote #45
I admit I am a newbie to figs but I've done work with other scion. I have never had a gnat problem so I am not even sure what y'all are talking about. I always dip my scion in 10% bleach solution and then let it dry on the scion before I refrigerate them for storage. I use sterile potting medium or green sphagnum moss. No damping-off or gnats. Is this too simplistic? I guess I'm not bringing too many plants into my house but instead into the garage.
garden_whisperer
1353347580
Posted 1384900801
Reply with quote #46
Fungus gnats are basicly fruit flies. They lay eggs in moist soil and it the larva that eat the roots and kill plants. Lost more than 50 cuttings last winter. I almost gave up. But I can't give up. I sell fig trees on ebay and donate to charities with the money so I have to keep things going.
GRamaley
1357742252
Posted 1384901746
Reply with quote #47
I was like you MG, with everything I had grown and all the plants I have in my house i never had a fungus gnat problem till I started rooting figs... they are somewhat like fruit flies but are black and move in a jerky scurry when not flying.
