What would you do with old soil with gnats in it?

So, I went to pull the roots out of the two potters with the plants that were just harvested and noticed a bunch of what I assume is fungus gnats. I have been battling fungus gnats for a little while now but when I looked in the soil it seemed to be more than what I thought. Anyway, I was planning on reusing that soil on the next grow so I’m wondering with somebody else would do in my situation? Should I maybe rinse the soil with some peroxide solution to get rid of the larvae or or should I just get rid of the soil completely? Thanks

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If it were me, I would dump that soil. Sure, there may be ways to save it but why chance it. Why risk a future issue with bugs over a bit of soil that is easily replaced. That’s just me though.

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Just put 4 inches of sand in top of the soil, It will stop tur larvae tô get out and the adults tô get into the soil

2 weeks your soil is ok for use

You can also use the yellow trap for the adults

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I dump mine outside for my wife’s tomatoes

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I would save it for something less important outdoors bc fungus gnat infested soil is no bueno for cannabis. Yeah you could drench with BT and do the usual sticky trap chasing your tail around in circles but better to just move on.

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I believe you can do the same thing with steel wool.

I dump my coco every run into my garden as well. I know I can reuse it but I like to start fresh each run. Just personal preference though, many reuse their medium over and over.

That’s how I look at it too. Sure, it can be saved. But when you want to get rid of fungus gnats in your soil, the quickest way is to dump the soil. Then you know 100% that they are gone. Too much effort goes into growing to take chances IMO.

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Fungus gnats? If you’re sure its gnats water in mosquito bits or another bti product. Soil improves over time so throwing it out is a no no. Many ways to get rid of gnats. Nematodes are another way. Do you have worms?

You see the larvae?

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@DougDawson yeah I was thinking the same thing and was going to use it for my outdoor plants but then when I went to thinking about it then nats came with my soil from the store, I use ocean forest and Happy frog and every bag I have ever got had fungus gnats in it

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Fungus gnats are more nuisance than problem.

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I have only used those a few times for outdoor plants at my cottage but never had gnats in it. I am in Canada but do buy the USA versions due to them having different ingredients than they have here in Canada. Seems odd to be getting gnats in every bag? There are many methods for dealing with gnats and a few were mentioned here already. You can cover your soil with very fine steel wool to deal with gnats. They get shredded trying to get to the soil and any emerging from the soil get shredded trying to get out. I have recommended this to others who have had success with it. But that’s just one method.

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@DougDawson hey I am trying to sign up for your giveaway but it won’t let me reply on the post because I guess I’m still too new so I was wondering if you could put my name on the list? Thank you

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like a pinch n puff of permethrin dust n solved… less ya dont roll such.
on fence after seein a ddt thing called 5 billion n counting, now i sprinkle a teaspoon on my wheaties most mornins, to see for my self.
a bit more "we are stardust, we are golden
we are billion-year-old carbon
And we got to get ourselves …heheh back to the garden…
Its compost eh…
give good chop n add whatever else organic…
wet n chop n cover or bag it …i like the kinda mixin tub ya see tile setters use for blending dirt for batches… lol personally never made same twice, just use what there is.
ever so often chop n wet it like say week or two between n cover
It’ll cook the ‘whatever’ out n just black gold left.
eventually gonna post bout it… we make soil n have plenty… logistics is chores but say if you wanted a few skids of red dirt amended w perilite and chicken manure… or cotton and alpaca beans on a blend of sands… lol it happens i am building a few hundred yards just now.
pretty much if its organic its waitin to become humus.
we compost livestock as well in a separate kinda cook that copes a bit more as ceptic disintegration.
we dont really do business as soil or composting, just byproduct of havin critters n a lil pasture. all the things seem to become kinda ritual n addicting everthing is ingredients. hmmm. good hybred can ya tell?

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Sorry @Jayjay504 but I can’t do that. Basic members are not allowed to participate in the trading post section of the site until they reach TL2/Member status. That only takes 15 days and you have only been a member for 4. Hang out and you will be able to enter giveaways soon. This is a site rule, not my rule. :v:

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If you have access to sierranaturalscience.com products (SNS 203 and SNS 209), dump your old soil on a tarp, spread it out, spray EITHER, will kill all soil-related Pests, prevent egg/larva from maturing. NO HARMFUL CHEMICALS!! SS/BW…mister :honeybee: :100: :pray: :heart_eyes:

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I would toss it outside unless i couldn’t afford new soil. If i couldn’t afford new soil i would pressure cook it.

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BOTH producers source their ingredients from multiple sources. Nothing is uniform with OF OR HF. You are practically guaranteed Bugs in EVERY Bag. The “sand on top”, sprinkled with DE is a very good method. Good Luck, SS/BW…mister :honeybee: :100: :pray: :heart_eyes:

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It’s great to see you back around🙂

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Get yo feet off my couch.

Oops i meant to say save the soil

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Fungus gnats can be dealt with by using predatory mites and/or nematodes.

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THANKS, trying to get reacclimated. Will surely find more “OG-Time” in the near future. SS/BW…mister :honeybee: :100: :pray: :heart_eyes:

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