im sure your sick of this question...

[volkskanzler]

8 yr indoor grower, had my share of lessons learned, and problems overcome. but i never had to deal with gnats... yes gnats. its winter now and i cant find anyone local that sells anything to specifically target the larvae in the soil. i wouldnt ask this age old question yet again, but i couldnt find an answer in here. so what can i use to kill the lil faqers? i cant even find play sand to put on the top of the soil to help the problem. i cant put these into the flower room untill i figure this out...thanks for any help

 

[Hick]

..a couple of inches of perlit "might" do it. ..watering from the bottom "might" help, if done spareingly..
Diatomaceous earth is "THE" stuff, but might be difficult to find, also."LINK"

Keep the top 2" of your medium..dry, that's where they hatch, and require moist warm conditions

 

[HGB]

inch or 2 of builders/mortar sand on top of the soil works a wonder indeed :hubba:

 

[screwdriver]

Welcome to the forum.

I have tried sand and the little buggers can still hatch and come up thru, but it will stop the lifecycle. I have used Bt (mosito dunks from a hardware store) and think that worked the best for me. I just sprinkle over the soil. Also, not a one time application and they're gone. Persistence and yellow sticky traps helps.

 

[jb247]

It has to be a sand with sharp edges, such as builders sand, it cuts up the little buggers as they try to climb up thru the soil...

Peace...j.b.

 

[Hick]

It has to be a sand with sharp edges, such as builders sand, it cuts up the little buggers as they try to climb up thru the soil...

Peace...j.b.

If so, then how is perlite effective?
I believe the sand/perlite eliminates the ideal breeding/molting conditions, and 'that' is what/how the population is controlled.
The Diotamaciuos(sp) earth, is microbial skeletons, that are very sharp and cut the soft bodies of the emerging larvae, but I've never heard of sand doing such.