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Hi Guys. So, this is a diary, of sorts, to help you get rid of fruit Flys and larva. So, if you suspect your soil might have larva. Like I did, I got 1 20L bag of all mix that spoilt 200+ L of soil.. As, once you get one simple clutch of eggs, and then you get damp soil, like I've had for the past 2 weeks. I made a great ground of them to spread.. and that they have. I only noticed them 3 days ago.. was in the middle of the night. So, I couldn't, or didn't do much about it. And if I had of done, what I did now..I doubt I'd even have that issue. So in future, if you feel your favourite soil might be have larva, and will only hatch when you get wet soil with high RH, and then throw some hard earned fungus, and well. You have em.... so, from now on. I think I will be heat treating my soil, if not all, then 100% the All mix. Cause out of 5 50L light Mix bags, I never had em. So, I take its the nutrients in the soil. Or, look, it just happens. So, now we have Em, let's move onto the fixes.
So, you have a few ways you can tackle it. Let you soil dry out. And pray like f..k you can catch em with simple fruit fly/Gnat traps. But then the Larva will give off males, and they'll lay eggs. And all this can happen from a tiny bit of larva. So, I got some pesticide grade DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, as I'm growing organic, and this is the best way to kill off any young larva as this stuff has stuff that shreds em. (ITS NOT THE PLANT NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT, THIS IS THE PEST ONE. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE) I have 60 fruit fly traps arriving tomorrow. And I found some Apple Cider Vinegar, and made a few GGS traps. Now, normally, you are meant to use a sheet of paper, make a cone with a small hole, place it in a jar, (or a bottle, anything you can DIY). I had some jars filled with runtz, so I took them, and made 5 different types with ACV and 4 different types of soaps and powder. So, will let my plants dry out to shit. If I have to, I'll feed from the bottom up lightly to keep them going, (just a small bit, you'd be surprised at how fast a hungry plant will drink from a spill tray) let my soil dry out. Then I'll give another heavy dose of DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (pesticide) and I'll lay 20-30 traps tomorrow. For tonight I've about 5 pads 2 are whole and the rest are cut up around the canopy and stuck to nodes. Also I have 1m long fruit fly sticky traps that normally hang down from the ceiling, (anything you can DIY). So with the 5 jars of mixes....4 with holes. 1 jar has no lid.. just have to be careful I don't spill any of this stuff on my plants. I got DE on some leafs. And I applied some to wet soil. I'll scrap all this away. But there really is no need. It fully dissolves in water. And it's water base made, (or something🤣 )
So, 5 days since I noticed. Took 2 days to get everything I needed. 1 day for the DE and I had some long fruit fly traps.. the pesticide DE took care of the larva. As there was about 50males and they lay about 200eggs in their life, or it's a week, something like that. I just researched how to get rid off, and I read that. I'll be heat treating the rest of my potting soil ill need to uppot the fems for their flip..heat treat in oven at 170degree for 30mins. You can put in put oven trays and just move it about with a spoon. As any larva will stay in your soil dormant until it gets wet. And then all it takes is 1 to lay all them eggs, but i think only a small % actually take off. As I had around 25adults I could see flying about. So, 5 days, took 2 days for soil to dry out for some plants, and then I had a few that were already bone dry that I had to feed up from the bottom. (Tat caused issues of its own, but I kept my girls alive) and defeated the pests. I'll keep the fruit fly traps about. Hope this helps ppl. You don't need to get the DE. Let the soil dry out, and apply fruit fly traps. If you have some alcohol (ethanol) mix a 50/50 mix with water and lightly apply it to the top. Don't agitate the soil. There's many ways to tackle them. Feel free to DM me, and we'll go through what you have in your house. I've read many many ways. And any household should have a few things you can use straight away.
nematodes works well for me. or BT bacteria. kills em all outright. I find the sticky traps only catch em but do not prevent them from breeding. still lots of them in the soil. Good luck on future grows!
gottagrowsometime
