After learning the hard way last year with a bad fungus knat problem in the grow room and trying just about everything I could, then a bad aphid attack I settled on a modified organic method that work well.
This year I have all of my starts on a large rolling set of SS shelves with the back and the ends covered in mylar. On the top shelf is a plastic tub connected to a hose with a SS air gun attacked. Fill the tub with water and nutes and every month toss in a partial Mosquito Dunk. Each time I water I give the tub a quick stir and simply squeeze the trigger on the air gun. Plants are watered while also getting dosed with BTI so fungus knat larva are toast.
For the aphids and other critters I keep a small spray bottle handy, its actually an old perfume atomizer so the spray is very fine and precise. Its filled from a 2 liter bottle of the following mix.
Toss 2 cloves of garlic, one small onion, 1ts red pepper and some water into a food processor and liquify as best as you can. Bring that to a boil with additional water as needed, then simmer for 30 minutes. Filter into a 2 liter bottle after cooling through a coffee filter, add 1 teaspoon of dish soap and then add the not so organic parts of 1/2 ts Ortho Flower Fruit and Vegetable insect killer and 1/2 ts of Neem oil.
I've tried so many DIY ones and tried to stay away from the chem's but sometimes you can't beat them. Aphids can be a bitch, this stuff kills them and keeps them away. Also smells like your a great Italian cook.
This year I have all of my starts on a large rolling set of SS shelves with the back and the ends covered in mylar. On the top shelf is a plastic tub connected to a hose with a SS air gun attacked. Fill the tub with water and nutes and every month toss in a partial Mosquito Dunk. Each time I water I give the tub a quick stir and simply squeeze the trigger on the air gun. Plants are watered while also getting dosed with BTI so fungus knat larva are toast.
For the aphids and other critters I keep a small spray bottle handy, its actually an old perfume atomizer so the spray is very fine and precise. Its filled from a 2 liter bottle of the following mix.
Toss 2 cloves of garlic, one small onion, 1ts red pepper and some water into a food processor and liquify as best as you can. Bring that to a boil with additional water as needed, then simmer for 30 minutes. Filter into a 2 liter bottle after cooling through a coffee filter, add 1 teaspoon of dish soap and then add the not so organic parts of 1/2 ts Ortho Flower Fruit and Vegetable insect killer and 1/2 ts of Neem oil.
I've tried so many DIY ones and tried to stay away from the chem's but sometimes you can't beat them. Aphids can be a bitch, this stuff kills them and keeps them away. Also smells like your a great Italian cook.
