neem oil soil drench?

[FireTheft]

can neem oil be mixed with water and given to soil?

having fungus gnat issues


thanks :)

[stinkyattic]

In theory, yes, but personally I don't like to add oily substances to the soil. Some people have perfectly decent results though so I'd google your subject for dosages.
If you have fungus gnats, the best way to deal with them is to start by finding where they live. Look under pots and in drip trays for standing water or soggy soil. Get rid of it- even if you have to put your plants up on racks, any standing water means breeding grounds for pests and disease.
Next, look into a pyrethrin bomb to kill exposed insects in your grow room. 2 bombs set off 3-5 days apart, plus removal of all your yucky wet areas, should completely solve your problem.

[mushaboom]

the sticky yellow things work fairly well for catching gnats flying around. you could also try a no pest strip. i found out about those from this site (iforgot from who sorry). you just hang it and there shouldnt be any more bugs in the room.

[grey1223]

I fought fungus gnats about a year ago. After trying the usual solutions without success I bought some Pyrthren(sp) concentrate. Added 30ml per gallon and applied once a week for 3 weeks. Haven't seen any since. I also use the the spray cans designed for automated application to spray my room regularly. About 10 'puffs' of this fills my room.

BTW, if you're worried about the dosage, don't. My plants acted quite normal when receiving this dosage.

[hanayama]

hey stinky, would a "pyrethrin bomb" work for spiders.
i havent seen any, but in a recent pic i can clearly see a spider web all up on one of nugs.
i dont really want to use need oil.
would that bomb work?

[FireTheft]

thanks for all the replies friends...

but are there any recommendations for a soil drench?

my plants seem to be mature enough where the plants are fine....its the soil and roots that I'm worried about since that's where they lay their larvae


thanks again

[Weedhound]

I'd like to know about the soil drenching as well.......

[BlueDevil]

Ooooo those godamn mother$#@*&%$! GNATS!

I feel your pain, had quite a case of them on my last "attempt." Infuriating little bassids... The cure that finally worked for me was the bright yellow sticky traps I got from eco in conjunction with FoxFarm's Don'tBugMe spray. I'd dose the top of the soil as well as the bottom of the pots, where the drain off holes are. If the problem is really bad, a bomb like stinky mentioned might be more in order.

I've found you can increase your odds of avoiding them by not using manure based compost in your soil mix. Eggs can survive the bovine intestinal track, as well as the subsequent curing and packaging of the compost. This time around I used only ProMix for my potting needs, and have yet to see any kind of pest near my *knocks on wood* girls.

Roots are funny things, I'd be careful with unconventional tactics, particularly if you're well into a grow and nearing harvest.


my $0.02....

[BlueDevil]

Hanayama-san,

Since you mentioned a web, it seems you aren't talking about spider mites. Not sure if actual spiders are cause to worry. I'm fairly sure they don't screw with mary, and I've heard they're good for gardens as the prey on other creepy crawlies. Due to their sensitive physiology they are a metric on the presence of pesticides and other chemicals.

And for the record, I'm pretty sure pyrethrin works on all insects, beneficial varieties like ladybugs and spiders included.


Ganbatte-kudasai! :thumbsup:

[hanayama]

Hanayama-san,

Since you mentioned a web, it seems you aren't talking about spider mites. Not sure if actual spiders are cause to worry. I'm fairly sure they don't screw with mary, and I've heard they're good for gardens as the prey on other creepy crawlies. Due to their sensitive physiology they are a metric on the presence of pesticides and other chemicals.

And for the record, I'm pretty sure pyrethrin works on all insects, beneficial varieties like ladybugs and spiders included.


Ganbatte-kudasai! :thumbsup:

well thats good news! im only a couple weeks away from harvest and this was causing some worry.
gracias:thumbsup:

[Storm Crow]

Put an inch of clean coarse sand on your soil. Fungus gnats can't reach the soil, so any eggs that do get laid, hatch only to starve on the sand! (If you use beach sand, wash it well first! Cannabis is not fond of salt.) The easiest way to wash sand, is to go out on the lawn, half fill a 5 gallon bucket with sand, and stick a running hose in it. The dirt will be washed away in the over flow. Just push the hose up and down through the sand. It can be kinda fun to do if you're stoned! :D

A nice little plus, if you use white sand, light will be reflected back up to the plant! A couple of sticky traps will get the adults.

And I don't know about your brand of neem, but mine STUNK! Clean sand doesn't smell bad!- Granny:hippy:

[BlueDevil]

Now that's a good idea! Thanks Storm, I plan to use that method as that makes perfect sense. And I'm with you on not caring for the odor of neem oil - tis funky, and not in the good way.

Win win. :)

[FireTheft]

thanks for all the great suggestions...

it's been a few days and the problem is waaaaay better now.
pretty much solved.

I let things dry out a little, been being more conservative w/the watering and increased the ventilation....

and I agree, neem oil stinks like really nasty peanut butter haha :rastasmoke:

[1olddog]

i have used Neem in the soil with no ill effect and killed every flying sucking rat around ,mix as directed even less if you are worried sprayt soil ever couple of days til bugs are dead.Neem is systemic.

[1olddog]

oh i have tried every thing to kill all sorts of dope chewing rat bug around Neem in the dirt is best, or sprayed under the leaves.neem residue is pretty minor compared to bugs.

[ilduderino]

Just reading this thread...I use "mosquito dunks" (home depot, around 10 bucks, available online) they are a kind of bacteria that kills the fungus gnat larvae and is harmless to everything else, impossible to over or under dose. Just put a little chunk in the soil and it reproduces...I haven't seen a fungus gnat since. Aslo available as "Gnatrol" but more expensive, same bacteria.

[demoreal]

the dunks do work real well.
i like the smell of neem oil...

[WashougalWonder]

Additional advantage of using neem in the soil (during veg only) is that the plant actually will uptake enough to keep bugs off, in particular spider mites and the season is just starting for them.

Look at What's his name's bible and he has a dose in there I think, not available to me at this point.

[yeeee510]

im three weeks into flower could i still drench with neem or spray on soil? why is it not recomended for flower? if it makes the bud smell or taste like neem i will definently not try it but i got gnats n they are making a come back from almost nothing after i put up traps now the canopy is thick and the traps arnt working as well. the yellow traps suck ass theyve caught like 5 those really cheap spirally ones work alot better but will grab onto anything and everything if they are hangin around in close quarters.
anyway should i use neem?? i dont have alota money for products n i already have it

[SuperMomOF2]

REAL spider mites DO have web. False spider mites don't. The web is the reason they're called spider mites. And yes neem works for them and gnats but you need to you it every 3 days for 2 or 3 weeks to tollaly get rid of infestation.

[Purple Daddy]

Didnt' someone suggest using dryer sheets around the plants to keep gnats away? I bought a box the other day and tied them off to my plant stakes, hung a pest strip as well.