OOOF!
The flower tent has had a small explosion of gnats (since the SB came out - not that I think they’re connected - but...). Overnight I caught about 20 On some fresh sticky traps. NOt outrageous but a lot and many more than I’ve had all year (often one or two here n ther).
And the Panama upper fanleaves have gone completely necrotic and show signs of advanced potassium and manganese deficiencies. They are pretty much dead leaves so I’ll pull them off and get some pics. Obviously its been coming but these leaves went south pretty much overnight. They were fading a bit, and then...
Panama still has plenty white pistils so I hope it gets a move on and finishes. I gave it a seaweed fert yesterday. It didn’t want all the water it usually gets which could mean it;s slowing down or that the gnats are causing some issues. A bit hard to tell. I watered it from the bottom becasue i had sprinkled DE on top.
So, on DE (Diatomaceous Earth). I have never used it before. I understand from some reading that I sprinkle a layer on the surface and keep it dry.
I see some folks around here talk about mixing it into their soil etc. ANd other recommendations to also lib=ne the base of a pot with it.
So, does that work? Because most of what I read bout using it says that one it gets wet it isn’t useful for the gnats anymore.
So there are some contradictions in what I have found out about using it. Not unusual (the contradictions), I’m just curious what folks who do use it have to say about how to ...
FYI - I have perlite/vermiculite on the way for putting on the surface of my pots and I always keep a mosquito dunk (containing BTi) in my 25L water reservoir in my room so I have ongoing gnat mitigation practices - they just got away on me! Maybe the dunk in the res ran out... better check!
And i will inspect the necrotic leaves to see if i have some other issue...
Suddenly a busy morning
Better make coffee first!