So now I'm like 99% sure I'm infested with them. I noticed them like 10-14 days ago at the base of my Jalapeno, had no idea what they were, someone mentioned fungus gnats
However last night I noticed my huge watermelon tote had many of them, they are all over, flying just inches off the soil, a few walking on the soil, etc. I tried digging about 2 inches down near the edge of each container, and I couldn't see any "larva", but the flying ones are hard enough to see by eye, so I'm sure larva is even harder to spot? Just a few minutes ago I placed a cut potatoe on the soil to see what happens here in an hour or two......
So now, for trying to rid this problem, here are tips I've gathered online.
1st quit watering so much, peppers can take very dry conditions between waterings, but damn they grow so well currently! The only thing that worries me is the fact that when I do a soil check (rip up about 1 inch of soil at the edge of the container) I see roots, so I've been scared of letting them dry out. When I do water, I always deep water.
2 I'm running a box fan angled at the soil right at this moment in an attempt to dry it out a little as the surface is soaked. I just flushed my plants 2 days ago, and now temps are a lot cooler and muggy (rained last night, rain doesn't hit my plants, but makes it humid clearly)
3. I've read people saying to remove the top 2 inches of soil from the container and replace with fresh soil, as most the larva are there, but I'm worried about ripping tons of roots out.
4. sprinkling cinnamon over the top of the soil once its dry
Now when it comes to the soil and drying. My buckets have at least 15+ holes in the bottom, water drains out easily when I water, and if I don't water for 2 days in warm dry weather, while the top inch will get dry, it almost seems as if lower than that always stays soggy (although I can't verify this fully). A couple weeks ago I did go out and put around 15 holes towards the base all the way around the containers (half the holes about 1" from the bottom, the others around 3" from the bottom) I did this to help aerate the soil better. The holes are only about 1/4-3/8" in size. Even when I flushed my plants with WAY to much water the other day, water does not come out the side holes, so the bottom holes must be doing a plenty good draining job.
One idea I had in my mind, not sure if it would be good or not, so definitely need input on this. I was considering cutting holes around my buckets, anywhere from like 1"x2", up to like 2" x 4" or something, and using window screen to cover the holes. I was thinking about doing them varying from near the bottom, to either 1/2 way up the container or maybe a little higher (but no where near surface soil, as the surface soil already get oxygen and drys. I know people grow in "grow bags" or other types of things that breath all around the soil, and I think this would help give oxygen, and help all the soil all get somewhat dry between waterings and help problems.
However last night I noticed my huge watermelon tote had many of them, they are all over, flying just inches off the soil, a few walking on the soil, etc. I tried digging about 2 inches down near the edge of each container, and I couldn't see any "larva", but the flying ones are hard enough to see by eye, so I'm sure larva is even harder to spot? Just a few minutes ago I placed a cut potatoe on the soil to see what happens here in an hour or two......
So now, for trying to rid this problem, here are tips I've gathered online.
1st quit watering so much, peppers can take very dry conditions between waterings, but damn they grow so well currently! The only thing that worries me is the fact that when I do a soil check (rip up about 1 inch of soil at the edge of the container) I see roots, so I've been scared of letting them dry out. When I do water, I always deep water.
2 I'm running a box fan angled at the soil right at this moment in an attempt to dry it out a little as the surface is soaked. I just flushed my plants 2 days ago, and now temps are a lot cooler and muggy (rained last night, rain doesn't hit my plants, but makes it humid clearly)
3. I've read people saying to remove the top 2 inches of soil from the container and replace with fresh soil, as most the larva are there, but I'm worried about ripping tons of roots out.
4. sprinkling cinnamon over the top of the soil once its dry
Now when it comes to the soil and drying. My buckets have at least 15+ holes in the bottom, water drains out easily when I water, and if I don't water for 2 days in warm dry weather, while the top inch will get dry, it almost seems as if lower than that always stays soggy (although I can't verify this fully). A couple weeks ago I did go out and put around 15 holes towards the base all the way around the containers (half the holes about 1" from the bottom, the others around 3" from the bottom) I did this to help aerate the soil better. The holes are only about 1/4-3/8" in size. Even when I flushed my plants with WAY to much water the other day, water does not come out the side holes, so the bottom holes must be doing a plenty good draining job.
One idea I had in my mind, not sure if it would be good or not, so definitely need input on this. I was considering cutting holes around my buckets, anywhere from like 1"x2", up to like 2" x 4" or something, and using window screen to cover the holes. I was thinking about doing them varying from near the bottom, to either 1/2 way up the container or maybe a little higher (but no where near surface soil, as the surface soil already get oxygen and drys. I know people grow in "grow bags" or other types of things that breath all around the soil, and I think this would help give oxygen, and help all the soil all get somewhat dry between waterings and help problems.
