Thu, 2010/12/30 - 9:27pm
Hi, Beth, (or anyone who uses Knock-Out Gnats) :
I had a question - how much of this do you use (per gallon) on a fungus gnat infestation? My little bag suggests like 1.5 tsp per gallon for heavy infestation, so that's what I've been using. And the infestation isn't under control. But I found this page at GardensAlive that says 4-8 tsp per gallon for heavy infestation.
Which directions do you follow, that work so well?
Other thoughts:
- Maybe putting it in fresh tap water is killing the bacteria.
- Maybe it has no shelf life and needs to be made up fresh each time...
For now, at least I'm following #2 - the last batch I left in the jug for over a week, smelled terrible. And that batch I'd made with a jug of rain water, I think...
Fri, 2010/12/31 - 7:29pm
#1
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Hi Gisette,
I mix a new batch of Bt for each use (1.5 tsp/ US gal). I think it smells "earthy" but roomie Home Inspector says it smells like mold. Bt is actually ground up bacteria - not live critters like nematodes. I didn't learn this until after I had the Master Gardener Coordinator out to my garden and told the assembled group how I read the Bt stayed in the soil for a couple years. Duh, it may, but it is a toxin not critter. He didn't correct me but major embarassment.
The best way to use it is as a soil drench. Need to treat every plant you've got at once and really drench it. Then repeat the drench for every soil planted pot every seven days for at least three weeks to get every gnat. It only works on the grubs. It works for me and with my downstairs plantings. I went from many gnats to none. Again, YMMV.
Beth
Fri, 2010/12/31 - 9:02pm
#3
Hi Gisette,
Not out partying tonight? I gave that up a long time ago - I sometimes have to set the alarm for midnight! I should be OK tonight, enjoying a quiet house. Love the company - but really like when people leave! I'm an ogre I guess..
Anyways, I found if you don't treat everything at once or make sure the plants are drenched, the treatment isn't effective-they go from plant to plant. Again, that is just my experience. I HATE fungus gnats!
Beth
Fri, 2010/12/31 - 9:15pm
#4
Hi, Beth,
No, also gave up partying long ago. My daughter has a friend over watching a movie, but even the friend intends to leave before midnight. I always stay up past midnight anyway. We turn on the TV and watch the ball drop. That's about it.
I'm with you on hating fungus gnats. Ditto aphids. I wonder what it is about peppers and aphids. 
Fri, 2010/12/31 - 10:45pm
#5
Did I tell you the time I dug up a pepper plant from the garden and potted it up in the basement? Took two months before I noticed it was INFESTED with whiteflies! Ick. How did it get whiteflies in the outside garden? Could it be the lush green foliage that attracts buggies?
Enjoy your evening with your daughter!
Beth
Fri, 2010/12/31 - 11:09pm
#6
Yeah, this pepper plant lived outdoors, and brought its bug load in with it come fall. They just weren't out of control outside. Plenty of ladybugs and such to keep them in line. Alas, no ladybug has appeared indoors this winter. I did spray it with insecticide when I brought it in... But all it takes is one dratted aphid. And they just thrive on the pretty green pepper plant.
Thanks, Beth. Huh, I thought it was re-living bacteria too. (Some bacteria can be shelved dry and reconstituted back to life, no?) Huh. Well, good, then the tap water shouldn't be a problem.
Cool. I shall be good and try it on every pot, at 1.5 tsp/gallon, for three weeks straight. Because I'm really sick of this, and my not-very-consistent treatment sure isn't working. And the gnats must be eradicated before the spring seeds are planted - real soon now for the pansies.