Can you just dump the soil and start again with a new lot?
Visualize Whirrled Peas: A Perpetual Garden By 013
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- #282
Sure I’ve got plenty of soil on hand so no probs there and yes I can dump this batch once the grow is done but these are bought seeds so I don’t want to ditch the plants. Theres a couple hundred acres of woods backing up to this property and I’m out there all the freaking time plus I have dogs so I keep re-infesting my own garden. But the good news is I’ve read some better tips to ensure breaking their life cycle and I’m probably going to pull the trigger on nematodes and then a week or two later try to start a colony of rove beetles & worms in my soil but I need to figure out how to make it happen
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- #284
Yep I’ve buggered my grow with the perpetual pests but I’m deploying new tactics to claw my way back. The bad part is I’ve wasted time by slowing the plants down but that was by design so I’ve no one to blame but myself.... the good part is I believe we are turning the corner!!!
013, one thing I’ve learned in life is never blame yourself when you could be blaming someone else lolllllinggggggg
Shall I cheer you up with a hooray song?
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- #286
I’m going to tattoo that on the back of my eyelids as my new mantra. I cheered by your presence here!
Hooray for 013! Hooray at last!
Hooray for 013 he killed those bugs so fast!
Don‘t be mistaken! Don’t be misled!
013‘s grow will now hold fast and Tra gives awesome **** [removed by moderator lewd and inappropriate content]
Hooray for 013 he killed those bugs so fast!
Don‘t be mistaken! Don’t be misled!
013‘s grow will now hold fast and Tra gives awesome **** [removed by moderator lewd and inappropriate content]
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- #288
Awww Miss TraLa - I can always count on you, you bring the fun and crazy in a delightful way! Theres never a dull moment when you are around. Ha, that’s too funny, now I will have that tune stuck in my brain!
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- #289
The mite invasion continues, so far it’s STILL kicking my ass. For weeks I have sprayed, dusted and soil drenched with Neem, SNS, Safers soap, Spinosad, sulfur, yup oil dormant and a No Pest Strip for a necklace too. In desperation I shredded a $20 dollar bill and topped dressed with that, he, he, he - I told them to order some take out poison of their own liking. The real bitch is I’ve unloaded both barrels multiple times..... we have consistently sprayed 3 days in a row heck even did 4 days in a row to be proactive and then went to every other day sprays.
The sad news is the mystery strain Christmas surprise girl is tits up, so is the tiny Amnesia that never gots its feet under it, the whorrled 3 way Paki Valley chick is kinda hanging on by a thread. These were heavily abused with continuously wet soil from frequent sprays, heavy dusting and soil drenches. So that leaves one Blue Dream and one White Widow and the half dead Pakistan Valley. In a last ditch effort I let the plants dry out for 9 days and then hit them with water and H202 followed by Neem oil.
I dropped a few beans and realized it’s been non-stop fungus gnats or mites pretty much since this time last year. The fungus gnats are gone for now but with spring coming in fast I had better get control or it may become necessary to shut down and nuke the crap out of everything. Not sure what species the mites are / were, they were tiny white mites but when mature they look like 2 spotted spider mites. But the weird thing is most mites move very slowly a few of the larger white mites were speed demons, you could see them race across the surface. Maybe the were bleached out and burning from the sulfur dust IDK but they were fast AF.
I’m pissed the garden looks like shite - so no pics today, no sense wasting server space for regurgitated plants
The sad news is the mystery strain Christmas surprise girl is tits up, so is the tiny Amnesia that never gots its feet under it, the whorrled 3 way Paki Valley chick is kinda hanging on by a thread. These were heavily abused with continuously wet soil from frequent sprays, heavy dusting and soil drenches. So that leaves one Blue Dream and one White Widow and the half dead Pakistan Valley. In a last ditch effort I let the plants dry out for 9 days and then hit them with water and H202 followed by Neem oil.
I dropped a few beans and realized it’s been non-stop fungus gnats or mites pretty much since this time last year. The fungus gnats are gone for now but with spring coming in fast I had better get control or it may become necessary to shut down and nuke the crap out of everything. Not sure what species the mites are / were, they were tiny white mites but when mature they look like 2 spotted spider mites. But the weird thing is most mites move very slowly a few of the larger white mites were speed demons, you could see them race across the surface. Maybe the were bleached out and burning from the sulfur dust IDK but they were fast AF.
I’m pissed the garden looks like shite - so no pics today, no sense wasting server space for regurgitated plants
Liqurd4tay0z
Well-Known Member
Hey @013 Man I'm really sorry to hear about your pest problems, you just can't catch a break it seems buddy
I feel your frustrations man, pest control is a bitch at times. I really hope you get yours solved and can start having some great grows again man. Yes spring is coming and with that brings a whole new round of jumping, flying, crawling bastards to the garden I am trying to prepare for that mentally because it's always a hassle. Right now I have a 2nd grow going that I decided to post about in my journal and that one has been giving me headaches also but I think we got things back on track after nearly killing the seedlings via drowning it was amazing to see how close to death one was and then it bounced back pretty good. Anyway take-er easy, and if she's easy take er twice 
- Thread starter
- #291
Thanks for that encouragement, yeah the garden has been a pain lately with the critters but I’m oven sterilizing a batch of soil for the new beans that were dropped so we will see.
Liqurd4tay0z
Well-Known Member
I think from now on I am also going to do the same before planting anything. I still have fungus gnats but I have them somewhat under control now, but I would like to eradicate them all completely.
I’ve got, I think they are mites. Tiny little black dots that move. They don’t seem to cause my plants too much trouble thankfully.
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- #295
Yes indoors. I’m a killing them as fast as I can....
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- #296
Sorry to hear about the fungus gnats, that bites
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- #297
Help? I’ve asked a few to drop by to add input
I’ve lost the last 2 plants now, the White Widow and the Blue Dream. That’s 11-12 weeks of veg all wasted since after Christmas basically. I’ve got a plan and a few beans sprouting but a whole bunch of soil is going to be tossed out. The room will be nuked.
I’ve been hammered with fungus gnats and mites for a year now. Luckily the gnats are gone but these tiny freaking mites are ruining it, don’t know what species but tiny white soil dwelling mites. I’ve gone after them hard with chemicals but I’m leaning towards using rove beetles and worms. The good news is I’ve got shitloads of other soil cooked and ready to start a new colony of critters in.
I don’t know shite - What kind of worms? As in fishing worms from my local bait and tackle shop or some funky unicorn poop variety of worms?
Looking at Arbico for supplier on the rove beetles. Do I need nematodes too? What species?
What else do I need to know here? Any ideas or input is much appreciated!!
I’ve lost the last 2 plants now, the White Widow and the Blue Dream. That’s 11-12 weeks of veg all wasted since after Christmas basically. I’ve got a plan and a few beans sprouting but a whole bunch of soil is going to be tossed out. The room will be nuked.
I’ve been hammered with fungus gnats and mites for a year now. Luckily the gnats are gone but these tiny freaking mites are ruining it, don’t know what species but tiny white soil dwelling mites. I’ve gone after them hard with chemicals but I’m leaning towards using rove beetles and worms. The good news is I’ve got shitloads of other soil cooked and ready to start a new colony of critters in.
I don’t know shite - What kind of worms? As in fishing worms from my local bait and tackle shop or some funky unicorn poop variety of worms?
Looking at Arbico for supplier on the rove beetles. Do I need nematodes too? What species?
What else do I need to know here? Any ideas or input is much appreciated!!
Nunyabiz
Well-Known Member
I use Rove Beetles and Hyopasis Miles predator mites.
These two without a doubt will totally eradicate fungus gnats and pretty sure all other soil borne pest have no chance.
I ran my old pots for 9 grows so was about 3 1/2+ years on same soil.
The first few months I had tons of fungus gnats, I used Gnatrol which is just BTI for a couple weeks to knock them down and then bought 500 Rove Beetles to split between the two 25 gal pots and that was the last time I saw a fungus gnat for 3 years.
I've since changed out my pots and soil recently so of course fresh soil and no Rove Beetles it didn't take a week before the first fungus gnat showed up.
I bought 500 Rove Beetles and 12,000 mites as soon as my pots were hospitable, you need a good environment for them, cooked soil, proper moisture and thick mulch layer and they will be right at home.
Within a week not a single fungus gnat and won't see any until I change my soil again in 3 to 4 years.
They also have the added bonus of helping break down your soil, compost etc, they live 21 days so 1000s of little dead bodies each month supplying chitin to the soil, they create insect fras as nutrient.
These two without a doubt will totally eradicate fungus gnats and pretty sure all other soil borne pest have no chance.
I ran my old pots for 9 grows so was about 3 1/2+ years on same soil.
The first few months I had tons of fungus gnats, I used Gnatrol which is just BTI for a couple weeks to knock them down and then bought 500 Rove Beetles to split between the two 25 gal pots and that was the last time I saw a fungus gnat for 3 years.
I've since changed out my pots and soil recently so of course fresh soil and no Rove Beetles it didn't take a week before the first fungus gnat showed up.
I bought 500 Rove Beetles and 12,000 mites as soon as my pots were hospitable, you need a good environment for them, cooked soil, proper moisture and thick mulch layer and they will be right at home.
Within a week not a single fungus gnat and won't see any until I change my soil again in 3 to 4 years.
They also have the added bonus of helping break down your soil, compost etc, they live 21 days so 1000s of little dead bodies each month supplying chitin to the soil, they create insect fras as nutrient.
Nunyabiz
Well-Known Member
I get my bugs from Buildasoil.
Worms, ideally you want two types, one the regular Red Wiggler which is the vermicompost worms, and its also nice to have the large Nightcrawlers which will dive down deep, the red wigglers stay around from surface to maybe 4-6" down the Nightcrawlers can hit the bottom of the pot.
You only need just a few of each like 5-10 worms and they will multiply in the pot especially if you toss an avocado skin in there flesh side down and they'll have a worm orgy and create tons more.
And like the Rove Beetles they need a comfortable environment or they will bail, fortunately Living Organic Soil in large pots with a lite cover crop and thick mulch is like worm and bug Shangri-la.
If worms bail means your soil is off, either too acidic too alkaline too hot too cold or you're putting some shit in there you shouldn't like bottled nutrients.
Worms, ideally you want two types, one the regular Red Wiggler which is the vermicompost worms, and its also nice to have the large Nightcrawlers which will dive down deep, the red wigglers stay around from surface to maybe 4-6" down the Nightcrawlers can hit the bottom of the pot.
You only need just a few of each like 5-10 worms and they will multiply in the pot especially if you toss an avocado skin in there flesh side down and they'll have a worm orgy and create tons more.
And like the Rove Beetles they need a comfortable environment or they will bail, fortunately Living Organic Soil in large pots with a lite cover crop and thick mulch is like worm and bug Shangri-la.
If worms bail means your soil is off, either too acidic too alkaline too hot too cold or you're putting some shit in there you shouldn't like bottled nutrients.
Nunyabiz
Well-Known Member
What makes you think its the mites that are phucking you up?
What kind of mite are they?
I haven't read the journal just the last page here so don't know if you've covered that yet.
They might be totally harmless beneficial mites and all the chemicals you hit the soil with could be what screwed the balance of the soil.
Which sounds to me like you be better served by starting fresh, get like 20-30 gal Grassroots fabric pots.
Buy or build your own Clackamas Coots soil recipe.
Fill the pots, add like 3" of soil and then water with clean filtered chlorine and Chloramine free water with a bit of Yucca Extract mixed into water, moisten the entire pot that way, 3" soil then water, 3 more then water to make sure every part is moist to just about field capacity which is when you grab a fistful and squeeze you should see just a couple drops or so of water and if you squeeze super hard maybe a little tiny stream of water for a second.
Don't need to soak, need to add between 5-10% water and the Yucca will disperse it and allow the hydrophobic peat to soak up water.
Don't want any dry spots.
Get all your soil in there and hydrated, leave about maybe 2" of space on top to add thick mulch of barley straw or a good option is mushroom straw as its been sterilized and used for oyster mushrooms so there is mycelium in the straw and you'll usually get a few shrooms growing out of your pot to eat, the mycelium is also good for the soil.
Sprinkle a few cover crop seeds and put a thin mulch layer at first until the cover crop starts then you can add more straw in a week until you can get a good thick layer.
After a couple weeks when the soil has cooked a bit, the cover crop and mulch is all settling in you will see the first fungus gnat guaranteed. You buy your Rove Beetles and your worms now, the pot should be ready for them at this point, do not buy the worms and bugs until pot has had some time to do its thing, by the time you see the first gnat you know its ready so the bugs and worms will be comfortable and they'll just dig right in.
Keep your soil moist at all times, none of this drying out nonsense.
Properly done LOS requires moisture, you have moistened it well top to bottom on day one so for the first month just water enough to keep it moist to keep the bugs and worms happy.
I start my plant in Buildasoil Lite soil in a filled to the brim solo cup, its ready to transplant between day 7 to 10.
Dig a hole just slightly larger than the solo cup, dust the hole with a teaspoon of mycorrhazae inoculate and then a teaspoon of Optiveg which is chitin and enzymes.
Transplant into hole and water in with aloe vera and you're good to go.
In this set up you do not follow Emilyas watering stuff, you'll brutalize your worms and screw everything up. This is a living soil, the cover crop, the worms, the microbes and the beetles all need and use water.
Once its established its virtually impossible to overwater.
Water when it needs it, usually small amounts couple times a day maybe several times a day.
It's also a good idea to oxygenate your water, the more oxygen to the roots the better.
Do that and you should be fungus gnat free, never worry about pH, don't need to figure out what or how much to feed, just keep soil moist and watch it grow.
What kind of mite are they?
I haven't read the journal just the last page here so don't know if you've covered that yet.
They might be totally harmless beneficial mites and all the chemicals you hit the soil with could be what screwed the balance of the soil.
Which sounds to me like you be better served by starting fresh, get like 20-30 gal Grassroots fabric pots.
Buy or build your own Clackamas Coots soil recipe.
Fill the pots, add like 3" of soil and then water with clean filtered chlorine and Chloramine free water with a bit of Yucca Extract mixed into water, moisten the entire pot that way, 3" soil then water, 3 more then water to make sure every part is moist to just about field capacity which is when you grab a fistful and squeeze you should see just a couple drops or so of water and if you squeeze super hard maybe a little tiny stream of water for a second.
Don't need to soak, need to add between 5-10% water and the Yucca will disperse it and allow the hydrophobic peat to soak up water.
Don't want any dry spots.
Get all your soil in there and hydrated, leave about maybe 2" of space on top to add thick mulch of barley straw or a good option is mushroom straw as its been sterilized and used for oyster mushrooms so there is mycelium in the straw and you'll usually get a few shrooms growing out of your pot to eat, the mycelium is also good for the soil.
Sprinkle a few cover crop seeds and put a thin mulch layer at first until the cover crop starts then you can add more straw in a week until you can get a good thick layer.
After a couple weeks when the soil has cooked a bit, the cover crop and mulch is all settling in you will see the first fungus gnat guaranteed. You buy your Rove Beetles and your worms now, the pot should be ready for them at this point, do not buy the worms and bugs until pot has had some time to do its thing, by the time you see the first gnat you know its ready so the bugs and worms will be comfortable and they'll just dig right in.
Keep your soil moist at all times, none of this drying out nonsense.
Properly done LOS requires moisture, you have moistened it well top to bottom on day one so for the first month just water enough to keep it moist to keep the bugs and worms happy.
I start my plant in Buildasoil Lite soil in a filled to the brim solo cup, its ready to transplant between day 7 to 10.
Dig a hole just slightly larger than the solo cup, dust the hole with a teaspoon of mycorrhazae inoculate and then a teaspoon of Optiveg which is chitin and enzymes.
Transplant into hole and water in with aloe vera and you're good to go.
In this set up you do not follow Emilyas watering stuff, you'll brutalize your worms and screw everything up. This is a living soil, the cover crop, the worms, the microbes and the beetles all need and use water.
Once its established its virtually impossible to overwater.
Water when it needs it, usually small amounts couple times a day maybe several times a day.
It's also a good idea to oxygenate your water, the more oxygen to the roots the better.
Do that and you should be fungus gnat free, never worry about pH, don't need to figure out what or how much to feed, just keep soil moist and watch it grow.