First Timer - Troubles with Soil/Insects

umchic · #1 (**permalink**) 01-25-2009, 11:37 PM

Hey Everyone, and thanks for reading. First time grower and first posting. I have been reading up on how to get rid of insects. I have the little flying gnats. I have been using insect killer for fruits & vegetables spray since i first noticed them when they were in vegetation. The plants are now flowering and should be good to go soon. I just put sand onto the soil to hopefully suffocate the gnats...hopefully this works. My question is...while taking off about an inch of the top soil to put the sand down...I noticed I have a earthworm. I never have seen a worm before in my pots and was extremely surprised. Is this a bad thing? Wouldn't a earthworm be good for the soil and plant? The leaves on this plant are curling under but the buds are still growing just fine. I just want to make the best environment possible...thanks for the feedback!

cantharis · #2 (**permalink**) 01-25-2009, 11:55 PM

Earthworm good, fungus gnat grubs bad.

toastybiz · #3 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 02:48 AM

Gnats. If these are indeed fungus gnats, you've got the right idea. Fungus gnats potentially need to be dealt with on three different levels -- eggs, which can be suffocated with a layer of sand (good call on that one), larvae, for which put some potato slices on the soil, the larvae are drawn to it, then in 4-5 days throw away the potato slices, and flying adults, for which neem oil, tobacco juice, or just sticky fly traps will work.

Worm. If indeed a garden-variety earthworm, yes this is good for your soil. Earthworms aerate the soil and keep it from compacting. Don't expect much benefit from worm castings, though -- it would take a bucket of worms to produce enough castings to make a difference.

umchic · #4 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 04:51 AM

The earthworm really freaked me out, I'm not gonna lie. But it's nice to know that it is good...how do they just appear like that?!?! I put the sand on top...I should get some of the sticky fly trap stuff to kill the adults. I just get tired of them flying around...<br>Maybe my plant leaves will recover...the other ones are fine...

Thanks for the fast comments!

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#1 (permalink) 01-25-2009, 11:37 PM
umchic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 2	First Timer - Troubles with Soil/Insects Hey Everyone, and thanks for reading. First time grower and first posting. I have been reading up on how to get rid of insects. I have the little flying gnats. I have been using insect killer for fruits & vegetables spray since i first noticed them when they were in vegetation. The plants are now flowering and should be good to go soon. I just put sand onto the soil to hopefully suffocate the gnats...hopefully this works. My question is...while taking off about an inch of the top soil to put the sand down...I noticed I have a earthworm. I never have seen a worm before in my pots and was extremely surprised. Is this a bad thing? Wouldn't a earthworm be good for the soil and plant? The leaves on this plant are curling under but the buds are still growing just fine. I just want to make the best environment possible...thanks for the feedback!

#2 (permalink) 01-25-2009, 11:55 PM
cantharis Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Costa Blanca, Spain Posts: 6,491	Re: First Timer - Troubles with Soil/Insects Earthworm good, fungus gnat grubs bad.

#3 (permalink) 01-26-2009, 02:48 AM
toastybiz keep it green Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6,534	Re: First Timer - Troubles with Soil/Insects Gnats. If these are indeed fungus gnats, you've got the right idea. Fungus gnats potentially need to be dealt with on three different levels -- eggs, which can be suffocated with a layer of sand (good call on that one), larvae, for which put some potato slices on the soil, the larvae are drawn to it, then in 4-5 days throw away the potato slices, and flying adults, for which neem oil, tobacco juice, or just sticky fly traps will work. Worm. If indeed a garden-variety earthworm, yes this is good for your soil. Earthworms aerate the soil and keep it from compacting. Don't expect much benefit from worm castings, though -- it would take a bucket of worms to produce enough castings to make a difference. __________________ toastybiz Grandpa's grow guide ~ Vokal's grow guide ~ Diagnosing problems ~ Purilite's basic light guide Germination ~ Sid's do's and dont's ~ Buying seeds online head-to-head test Glossary of grow terminology ~ unoit's bubble hash method ~ Another hash method GC Forum Rules ~ NORML: MJ and the law

#4 (permalink) 01-26-2009, 04:51 AM
umchic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 2	Re: First Timer - Troubles with Soil/Insects The earthworm really freaked me out, I'm not gonna lie. But it's nice to know that it is good...how do they just appear like that?!?! I put the sand on top...I should get some of the sticky fly trap stuff to kill the adults. I just get tired of them flying around...<br>Maybe my plant leaves will recover...the other ones are fine... Thanks for the fast comments!

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