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Nov 19, 2019 6:47 AM CST
Name: Diana
Southeast Missouri (Zone 6a)
Cat Lover Vegetable Grower Enjoys or suffers hot summers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: Missouri Irises
Canning and food preservation Hibiscus Dog Lover Daylilies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Mary said,
"The gnats in the drain are not fungus gnats, they are a completely different animal. Much bigger and prettier. Psychodidae."
So named because they drive people crazy?🤪
I have those in my house too. Thinking
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Nov 19, 2019 6:58 AM CST
Name: Diana
Southeast Missouri (Zone 6a)
Cat Lover Vegetable Grower Enjoys or suffers hot summers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: Missouri Irises
Canning and food preservation Hibiscus Dog Lover Daylilies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I couldn't find a link, but this was on Amazon:
NaturesGoodGuys
3.8 out of 5 stars 191Reviews
NaturesGoodGuys Live Beneficial Nematodes Hb+Sc+Sf - Kills Over 200 Different Species of Soil Dwelling and Wood Boring Insects. (5 Million_Nematodes)
$19.99 + $1.25 shipping
Hb and Sf kill fungus gnats, and Sc kills fly larvae and a variety of moth larvae, so it theoretically could get fungus gnats and drain gnats, both.
Avatar for Davi
Nov 19, 2019 8:18 AM CST
Name: Davi (Judy) Davisson
Sherrills Ford, NC (Zone 7a)
Mary

Mr. Frog is absolutely correct. It is not safe to use Sevin inside your house. You owe it to yourself to do an online search to find out why!
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Nov 19, 2019 11:02 AM CST
Name: Sue
Vermont (Zone 5a)
Daylilies Dog Lover Hybridizer Canning and food preservation Garden Procrastinator Seed Starter
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Vermont
Interesting study that suggests (I think) that mycorrhizal fungi actually assist that plant to resist fungus gnat damage.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365...

So if this is true, I am going to use Pro Mix with mycorrizal fungi, and not bake it.
Suevt on the LA
Last edited by SueVT Nov 19, 2019 11:05 AM Icon for preview
Avatar for josieskid
Nov 19, 2019 8:04 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Crown Point, Indiana (Zone 5b)
Davi, "Mr. Frog" Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing I promise I will do the online search and come back here to tell you what I find out!

As for frogfan being right about anything - he didn't even notice that a drain fly is not a fungus gnat!!! Really?
I are sooooo smart!
Avatar for josieskid
Nov 19, 2019 8:32 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Crown Point, Indiana (Zone 5b)
Ok, I did the googling. Most of the very few sites that talk about using sevin indoors were dealing with idiots that were covering their carpeting with it in an attempt to get rid of fleas. One site talked about how practically every country in the world has banned the use of sevin, except for the United States. I highly doubt that. There were many gardening sites that told you how to apply it to the garden and yard and then it was safe for pets and children.

It's just like anything else, ya read all the yada, yada, yada, then you just go do it. I've used sevin many times, mostly for ground dwelling hornets. I've read the label instructions, cautions, and warnings. I will use a mask and plastic gloves. I will sprinkle the dust on the plants down in the basement where there is no wind, with newspaper under the flats to catch the excess. I will be ok.
I are sooooo smart!
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Nov 20, 2019 6:29 AM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
I expect in your search you also found that the active ingredient in many products called "Sevin" has recently changed from carbaryl to a pyrethroid/s, so depending on the age of an article and the particular Sevin being discussed, it might not be comparing the same product:

https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2018...
Avatar for josieskid
Nov 20, 2019 7:23 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Crown Point, Indiana (Zone 5b)
Thank you, Sue. Interesting info. I believe the chemical companies try to make something that works and is as safe as possible, if you read and follow the directions. Where would be the profit in killing off your customers? Hilarious!
I are sooooo smart!
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Nov 20, 2019 8:49 PM CST
(Zone 5b)
See this link.
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTN...
There a number of suggested non chemical alternative in this link above. The nematode mentioned is just one. There are others that can expand the range of their predatory effects. It takes only one nematode to kill an insect.
BTI will persist, it does not need to be reapplied as suggested. It was originally found on the shores of
a desert oasis. An extreme environment where nitrogen was locally deficient.
Like other Bacillus they all wear space suits so they
are very durable. Depending on what you are growing but the fungus gnat habits are very
wet and if a peat mix is your medium or in part
this holds the right kind of moisture. Since insects are
essentially leaky bags of water.
Drains are niches for other organisms and form communities of bacterial consortiums, fungus,
nematodes, algae, virus and insects etc. The bacteria can form plaques
similar to dental plagues on your teeth on the drain pipe surface. These form catchalls
for a mixture of debris composed of organic and nonorganic materials
moving into the drains. In horticultural areas great or
small, peat mix, fertilizer, paper, wood, plastics can make their way into the drains and accumulate.
providing enough infrastructure for capturing food for the drain biological community, including drain flies, fruit flies and fungus flies. Both having wings will venture out from their preferred habitats of origin to secondary locations
such as potted plant, hydroponics growing systems, kitchens, bathrooms and toilets or drains in the case of fungus gnats. They can carry
pathogens and introduce them from the drains into your uncovered
planting media and plantings. These microbial pathogens can damage
the roots of plants confined in the relatively small volumes given to
seedlings. It is a harsh environment in both locations, like an estuary, the drains and
seedlings growing media can be subject to periodic drying, overwatering and temperature fluctuations which can damage roots, compounded further by over fertilizing a common occurrence since the manufacturers of fertilizers make the recommendations.
A stabilized plant medium is not favorable to fungus gnat colonization and the secretive insectivorous nematodes are entertained by the great surface area and hiding places offered by this medium. Plants will survive better, the human errors and environmental extremes above. Average success rate will be in the 90 percentile. If you want to avoid damping off, I suggest using a stabilized media for your seedlings and cuttings. Stabilized media was developed for growing plants at zero gravity.
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Nov 20, 2019 11:04 PM CST
Name: Mike
Hazel Crest, IL (Zone 6a)
"Have no patience for bare ground"
Frogfan do you have any suggestions for " stabilized media "?
robinseeds.com
"Life as short as it

























is, is amazing, isn't it. MichaelBurton

"Be your best you".
Avatar for Kaylily
Nov 21, 2019 8:06 AM CST

josieskid said:I'm having a hard time with fungus gnats again this year. Not as bad as winter 2018/2019, cause I still use the mosquito bits and yellow sticky traps. But I have a bunch of them and they are KILLING my seedlings!

Found out about this - Hot Shot 100046114 No-Pest Strip, Pack of 1 Price: $5.96 FREE One-Day. I'm glad I got it on Amazon, cause I was in my local hardware store later and saw the exact same item for 8.99!

Here is where I was reading about it. And even tho it's about aphids, it gave me the best ideas about how to use the product safely.
https://northernhomestead.com/...

And here.
http://insectsinthecity.blogsp...

Here is what I actually did. I popped the plastic covering open, cut the strip in half, put one piece each in small kitchen garbage bags with one seedling tray, twist tied them shut. Will this kill my seedlings? I don't know, but they're dying one by one anyway! And I don't even have half of them potted up yet! My precious (some of them expensive) seedlings!
Thumb of 2019-11-12/josieskid/54bb00


I did this yesterday at noon. I'm leaving it for 24 hours. This is supposed to kill everything, except I don't think it will bother the eggs. So I gotta do it again in like 3 or 4 days!

Meanwhile, I'm researching this.
HIKENRI Bug Zapper Light Bulb 15W 2 in 1 Mosquito Killer Lamp 1200LM E26 Base Bug Zapper Light Indoor Outdoor
by HIKENRI
2.9 out of 5 stars 95 ratings | 13 answered questions
Price: $6.50 FREE One-Day & FREE Returns

Now I'm gonna go down there and see what happened.


I use a general purpose lawn insecticide with grub control. I sprinkle a little over the soil and water it in. Works great. I received this tip from a daylily hybridizer in Mississippi several years ago.



Thumb of 2019-11-21/Kaylily/0d4790
Avatar for josieskid
Nov 21, 2019 8:41 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Crown Point, Indiana (Zone 5b)
Thank you, Kaylily. I will check it out!

You have a very pretty name! Lovey dubby
I are sooooo smart!
Avatar for josieskid
Nov 23, 2019 1:23 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Crown Point, Indiana (Zone 5b)
Sprinkled sevin on the seedlings last night. Kinda like putting powder on a baby's patootie! Hurray! Hilarious!
I are sooooo smart!
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Nov 23, 2019 1:33 PM CST
Name: Robin
Southern Michigan (Zone 6a)
Cat Lover Daylilies Region: Michigan Seed Starter Seller of Garden Stuff Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Hilarious! Crossing Fingers!
God blessed me with dirt.
('Mipii' on The LA)
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Nov 24, 2019 4:59 PM CST
Name: Sue
Vermont (Zone 5a)
Daylilies Dog Lover Hybridizer Canning and food preservation Garden Procrastinator Seed Starter
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Vermont
I tried gnatrol for the first time, because they got one of my first-year seedling prolifs, unfortunately it was this one:

Thumb of 2019-11-24/SueVT/b6d5bd

So I mixed up a "heavy infestion" dose of 3/8 tsp gnatrol to 2 cups of water, and put it on my other prolifs. A day later, and I no longer see any gnats on these at all......
Crossing Fingers!
Suevt on the LA
Avatar for josieskid
Nov 24, 2019 8:00 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Crown Point, Indiana (Zone 5b)
Oh, man, that is a beautiful flower! You have the mother plant, though. Right?
I are sooooo smart!
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Nov 24, 2019 8:06 PM CST
Name: Sue
Vermont (Zone 5a)
Daylilies Dog Lover Hybridizer Canning and food preservation Garden Procrastinator Seed Starter
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Vermont
Yes but it was a baby, hope it makes it through thw winter!
Ouranos X Venetian Pools I believe. Glare
Suevt on the LA
Avatar for josieskid
Nov 26, 2019 6:28 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
Crown Point, Indiana (Zone 5b)
I'm so glad I sprinkled the sevin on the seedlings! So far, I see nothing going on, and the seedlings are looking great! I left it on them for 4 days. We'll see if that is enough. Sticking tongue out

I took them outside today, since it was kinda nice, and rinsed them off. I didn't deluge them, wanting the sevin to sink into the top inch or so of their soil. Crap D'Oh! I forgot to take pictures (so much going on)! I will next time (if I have to do it again)! Hurray!
I are sooooo smart!
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Nov 27, 2019 1:14 AM CST
(Zone 5b)
A good outfit for stabilized media. Lots of experience for decades.
Used to be Grow-Tech now it has merged and changed name.
https://na.quickplug.global/pr...
The base medium was used for surgical instruments operating theaters.
It was mixed with peat and sometimes milled wood to make a growing medium for plants. Extremely versatile. Have grow over 2000 plant cultivars and species in this kind of medium successfully since the early 80s and now you can too. It beats all other options with a stick. Gives you more control over the plants fate. Most horticultural sources, in practice, supplying or consulting, are ignorant for lack of experience. In this better informed century it will I think find wider greater acceptance and application.
Image
Nov 27, 2019 9:40 AM CST
(Zone 5b)
Following the label when applying pesticides is the whole point of having them registered for use. Many are mutagens. The MSDS and the Label state clearly your limitations for use and disposal.
Do you have a half million dollars under your pillow? That is what it can cost for chemo and you will still die.

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