Oh shizzle, I feel for you. I just beat down an infestation myself. There are some good threads here on gc, but here is a good article with everything all on one page: http://www.growweedeasy.com/fungus-gnats
The gnats I have found that spawn from healthy soil have no negative effect on the plants in my opinion. I also believe they help provide co2 in the grow area and they will feed on any smaller mites or spiders also! They will burrow into the soil and once it it watered they will dig out and fly around to avoid drowning. But fyi they are of no harm. Tuckerjonesisreal The gnats I have found that spawn from healthy soil have no negative effect on the plants in my opinion. I also believe they help provide co2 in the grow area and they will feed on any smaller mites or spiders also! They will burrow into the soil and once it it watered they will dig out and fly around to avoid drowning. But fyi they are of no harm. Tuckerjonesisreal But to answer your question a fly stop will do the deed perfectly. Tuckerjonesisreal
"also believe they help provide co2 in the grow area and they will feed on any smaller mites or spiders also! " Where are you getting your information from? How do they generate CO2? They feed on smaller mites and spiders? I learn something new every day. J
I assumed both the oxygen they breath out and Thierry feces excreted co2. I also assumed it was common knowledge that flies ate mites. Tuckerjonesisreal
I read that they eat dead plant materials an the roots the soil I bought had a couple flying around in the bag but I didn't think nothing of it Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
On another thread they said if u put a layer of sand over the soil it will kill them but is that'll to do will it still drain properly Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Gnats and flies are two different animals. Gnats lay eggs in your soil and the larvae will eat roots and can kill your plants. Read the link i posted before ignoring the gnats. Flies eat mites? Bullshit. Ladybugs eat mites but flies won't help you. Just fyi, choose your own adventure..
Just read it thanks I'm going to try an put a plastic tarp over the spil Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Fungus gnats are super easy to control (so long as you’re not overwatering). Just put in Stratiolaelaps scimitus mites at seeding/propagation which are a natural predator to them as well as tons of other pests like pupating thrips, root aphids, springtails, etc. They’ll last for the life of the crop and keep your roots protected. Big bang for the buck. Don’t waste time trying to do barriers or money on pesticides that don’t work. and don’t waste money on nematodes which don’t persist like the mites do.