What is your experience with fungus gnats using Coconut Choir as rooting medium?

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OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1460211059	Reply with quote #1

What is your experience with fungus gnats using Coconut Choir as rooting medium? I had fungus gnats infestation using peat based soil. I had less than 60% rooting success. In my view fungus gnats seem to have a lot to do with it. I am going to start using coconut choir for the remaining few cuttings. Is coconut choir immune to fungus gnats if nearby rooted plants in peat based soil have potential fungus gnats? __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

So_Cal_Mike

Registered:1351472531
Posts: 43

Posted 1460217795	Reply with quote #2

In my experiance, fungus gnats seem completely disinterested in coco coir. For me coco coir is the perfect rooting medium. __________________ Sunset Zone: 21 • USDA Zone: 10a __________ Wish List: Lattarula

brianm

Registered:1389664758
Posts: 971

Posted 1460229432	Reply with quote #3

I can tell you my only gripe with coir. It is when it goes dry after a while and plant is in cup. Rehydrating is difficult because the water doesn't drain it just soaks. Some trees will rot because of this. It is very resistant to fungus gnats though. __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra,UC Davis Black Ischia, Maltese Raven

Elfarach

Registered:1409716614
Posts: 288

Posted 1460230447	Reply with quote #4

Gnats are the worst, they do kill your chances at a higher rooting rate. My main gripe with coco coir is that no matter what variety I try rooting they have very thin and weak roots. I've tried plain water and also with light fertilizer and I get the same result. When the time comes to up-pot them is where I loose some. Comparing coco coir rooting to sand, the roots are much thicker when rooting in sand or even in regular soil if they survive the rooting process. __________________ Simon C. So. Cal (El Monte) Zone 10a Wish list: Adriatic JH, Raspberry Latte, Violet de Sollies, Col de Dame Black, Ischia Black, Takoma Violet

Bluemalibu

Registered:1448153498
Posts: 230

Posted 1460232402	Reply with quote #5

Thanks for your input, Simon. Has this been your experience in side-by-side rootings of the same cultivar in the different mediums? I'll give this a try tonight. Brian, to combat the wet coir against cuttings, I've tilted the cup at a 45* angle and drizzled the fertigation liquid down the side of the cup, maintaining the drier coir close to the cutting. I have not yet lost a cutting due to rot using this method. I also place the cup into a closed ziplock bag with just the cutting extending through the bag. This slows evaporation greatly during the first few weeks of the rooting process. When leaves push, I gradually open the bag to the atmosphere and begin the fertigation when required to maintain the low moisture level inside the cup. __________________ Ebay: Bluemalibu NorCal, 9B - Fig Heaven. No fog, no snow; just lots of sunshine!

brianm

Registered:1389664758
Posts: 971

Posted 1460240284	Reply with quote #6

I will tell you, the healthiest fattest roots have been direct rooting in pro mix hp. And no I don't get those huge roots in coir. However, I still get plenty of thin roots that are ok. __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra,UC Davis Black Ischia, Maltese Raven

coop951

Registered:1217167527
Posts: 596

Posted 1460258584 · Edited	Reply with quote #7

This year I've had the worse gnat problem ever using Pro Mix BX. Really horrible, I've tried Neem Oil and Diatomaceous Earth and am not impressed with either one. I battle them and it seems to get better for a while and then a new batch returns. Rooting in Coco Coir and Long Spagnum moss has been no problem but they arrive when I up pot. Really frustrating, but I feel I'm winning...but not by much No More Promix for me __________________ Coop Northern NJ Zone 7a

OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1460259596	Reply with quote #8

I use More Prom HP for a well rooted one year old plants in one gallon or bigger pots with no problem. Fungus gnats don't kill at that stage as is my experience. It is "in the cup stage" that fungus do their job of killing unless the rate of root growth is fast which helps the plant survive. __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

Chivas

Registered:1283819505
Posts: 1,675

Posted 1460284545	Reply with quote #9

You can also mix the coir up to 40% chunky perlite if it is too wet for you, this provides excellent drainage but more frequent waterings. __________________ Canada Zone 6B

OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1460290570	Reply with quote #10

James, thanks. You wake up so early on Sundays! I was thinking of perlite addition but "chunky" is the word. Most bags available here from Miracle Grow or others have small perlite grains and half just perlite dust even if some bags are marked 'horticultural perlite'. __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

tylerj

Registered:1347291507
Posts: 646

Posted 1460293964 · Edited	Reply with quote #11

Akram, Home Hardware carries the brand "Alltreat Farms" perlite and I find it has much less dust and better size perlite than the MG... When I sift a bag of MG perlite I would lose half of it. Also when I am rooting in cups (with pre-dampened potting mix/perlite) I wrap the cups in saran and tie around the cutting which locks in the moisture for many weeks and keeps the gnats out. Nylon stockings work great too for the 6" green pots or 1 gallon pots. Since using them the last 3 years now I've had great success not loosing cuttings at the potting up stage due to gnats. Tyler __________________ London, Ontario zone 6a Wish List: Martinenca Rimada, Genovese Nero AF, Galicia Negra, Brooklyn White

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1460302109 · Edited	Reply with quote #12

Akram I use mostly perlite with a little coir, never had a fungus gnat in my rooting, but that is because I root in a sealed Sterlite container (humidity chamber). No gnats can ever get in it. If you are rooting in a cup exposed to outside atmosphere then they have a breeding ground. But the gnats still do not appear spontaneously-there must be a source of organic matter somewhere nearby for the eggs to hatch or appear. I would focus on that. Even if you are rooting exposed to an indoor environment, if there are no plants around and no composted soils, where do gnats come from? Neither pro-mix nor coir are media that would normally host fungus gnats. Extinguish the source of gnats and you should solve the problem I think. Even after I up-pot i keep 1-gal plants under lights indoors, never had gnats get into my young plants because I keep my indoor environment bug free. I even have a worm composting tray in my basement, never had bugs transfer out of it into my plants. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

adipose

Registered:1428963427
Posts: 158

Posted 1460329848	Reply with quote #13

Has anyone tried this stuff: http://smile.amazon.com/Gardens-Alive-3440-Knock-Out-Granules/dp/B017RX3VO4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage I had gnats this year, never more than 2 or 3 at a time, but I kept applying diatomaceous earth and it seemed to mostly keep them at bay. I never could get rid of the last one or two, so I got this stuff. It seemed to work...but I also got the gnatty soil outside as soon as possible so I don't know for sure. __________________ Wish List: sbayi, hmari, niagara black, black ischia

OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1460331340	Reply with quote #14

rafaelissimmo Yes, that kind of airtight system may prevent them from entering from outside. I always thought only raccoons were too cunning for some backyard gardener and for me too. After observing and dealing with fungus gnats I feel that they have a survival instinct that has made them cunning to some level. They do try to find ways to get in and stay to do their cycle and do the damage. __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

Chivas

Registered:1283819505
Posts: 1,675

Posted 1460333406	Reply with quote #15

Hey Akram, I get up early everyday. http://www.laportegardens.com/en/products/ Call those guys up and see if they have the chunky perlite, should be around 1/4 inch or so if they have it. They are in Oreleans so its a bit of jog for you. You could try local hydroponic shops, they usually charge more though but may be more convenient. __________________ Canada Zone 6B

OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1460335947	Reply with quote #16

Thanks. I will contact them.Currently they are closed for the season. Yes, hydroponic are costly. I paid $14 for a brick of Coco choir, though twice the size of a real brick. It turned out to be pressed long fibers and I did not like it. Then I paid only $4 for two brick from Home Hardware that these two together were equal to the one from hydroponic.So the price ration was $14 to $4. I liked the one from Home Hardware. __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

Elfarach

Registered:1409716614
Posts: 288

Posted 1460425222 · Edited	Reply with quote #17

So I only set up a few cuttings because I wanted to try my hand at grafting this year. These 3 cuttings are from the same mother tree, my Black Jack which is pretty vigorous, all roughly around the same diameter. The 2 on the sides are in damp coco coir and were put in 32oz deli cups on 12/25/15, the one in the middle was put in the same size cup but in old soil mix (lost a rooted cutting from last year and recycled the soil) but the thing is that I didn't do it until mid/late January 16. The 2 x-mas cuttings were washed and dipped in wax, the 3rd one was't even washed or dipped!!! I have noticed some spider mites but no gnats in the soil mix and no bugs at all with the coco coir and they are in the same humidity chamber. Coco coir works great but liked I said, my only gripe is the weak roots. When time for up-potting, I use the same coco coir with the soil mix I choose for that rooted cutting. I don't really shake off the coir. What ever sticks, stays!!! I feel like the extra shock of completely new growing medium hurts its chances of surviving so I leave most of the coco. One more detail, the middle cup has roots all around while the coco coir cuttings are only what you see... __________________ Simon C. So. Cal (El Monte) Zone 10a Wish list: Adriatic JH, Raspberry Latte, Violet de Sollies, Col de Dame Black, Ischia Black, Takoma Violet

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