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Nats in the soil!!!
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Posted by
wuggles CA/10a (
info@seedshack.com) on
Tue, Nov 3, 09 at 20:14
| I have had no luck on purchasing soil without nats then hatching eventually from the eggs that are already in there. I have tried expensive soil to no avail. My mother advised me to cook the soil in the over on cookie sheets for an hour at the lowest temperature and that seemed to work. Today I was fed up with the time involved in the cooking and I put it in a bowl and microwaved it, stirred and microwaved again. What do you think, is this stupid? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Nats in the soil!!!
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- Posted by morz8 Z8 Wa coast (My Page) on
Wed, Nov 4, 09 at 0:57
| No, not stupid but I'm not sure you had it hot enough: Microwave Oven Method- Colorado State Edu. - "You can sterilize soil in a microwave. Place approximately 2 pounds of moist soil in a polypropylene bag. Leave the top open and place in the center of a microwave oven. Treat for 2½ minutes on full power of about 650 watts. After treatment close the top of the bag and allow the soil to cool before removing. " |
RE: Nats in the soil!!!
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| Fungus gnats in planting soil is common and easily controlled with BT as a soil drench. Dunks used for mosquito control can be dissolved in water and the water applied to the soil will cause the death of the larvae in the soil. This larvae eats the roots of seedlings and should be controlled. Al |
Gnats in the soil!!!
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| Thank you for your help. I don't think they are fungus gnats, probably white flies that come already in the soil. I think the microwave may have done the trick, wait and see if they come back. |
RE: Nats in the soil!!!
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| also, when you water, water from the bottom, and make sure that the top is never wet. i use staygreen from lowes. its cheap and better than miracle grow feeds for 9 months, i rarely have that problem. i get mine from lowes because i can get the huge one, i think its a 2 or 3 cu ft for 9.99. but you can also get that brand at walmart. ~medo |
RE: Nats in the soil!!!
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| The Bt product is called Gnatrol. It works. I use it and keep a fan going in my propagating area. |
RE: Gnats in the soil!!!
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| Thank you! I will try that out...sorry for spelling "Gnats" wrong! |
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