Fungus Gnats~Cinnamon !!! Natural fungicide!

[SomeDude]

A friend of mine turned me on to a real simple way to get rid of fungus gnats. just apply a nice top dressing of cinnamon to your soil and it'll kill them all off fast and naturally..

[ileso]

your kidding!?

serious? do you realise the revolution that will be to indoor growing if its true?

[SomeDude]

i was having an issue with them and tried that yesterday.. this morning i haven't seen any of those lil bastards creeping around ...

keeping my fingers crossed :-D

[Mr.Moonbiscuit]

why havent i ever thought of this? i would love to see some pictures of this in action, are there any hazards to the plant?

[SomeDude]

Originally Posted by Mr.Moonbiscuit

why havent i ever thought of this? i would love to see some pictures of this in action, are there any hazards to the plant?

hazards: i can't really "see any" except maybe a cinnamon taste to your buds if it sat too long on the dirt..

i just kinda dusted the top of the soil with the cinnamon... when i was applying it, those lil bastards were not happy lol

ill have to break out the bionic cam later and get some pictures of the offenders and some of the dressing in action

[Mr.Moonbiscuit]

i knew insects didnt like certain types of spices, and hell cinnamon is one of the strongest on the planet.

[SomeDude]

UBC Botanical Garden Forums - View Single Post - Fungus gnats (post #36)


From: How to Get Rid of Fungus & Gnats
"The cinnamon isn't killing the gnats or their larvae. What is happening is the cinnamon is killing the fungus, which the larvae eat. If the food source dies so does the insect. Cinnamon is just one of many natural fungicides. You can also use chamomile tea, once it is cooled."

so with this therory, would it be safe to assume that hydrogen peroxide would do the same thing as it will also kill off bacteria/fungus in the soil?



From: Fungus Gnats, Shore Flies, Moth Flies, and March Flies Management Guidelines--UC IPM

" Commercially available Steinernema nematodes, Hypoaspis mites, or the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti) can be applied to control fungus gnat larvae in container media. "




fungus gnats - please help!!! - House Plants Forum - GardenWeb



fungus gnat cinnamon - Google Search

[SomeDude]

some pics of the cinnamon on the white widow babies & the dead offenders

[justanotherbozo]

Originally Posted by SomeDude

UBC Botanical Garden Forums - View Single Post - Fungus gnats (post #36)


From: How to Get Rid of Fungus & Gnats
"The cinnamon isn't killing the gnats or their larvae. What is happening is the cinnamon is killing the fungus, which the larvae eat. If the food source dies so does the insect. Cinnamon is just one of many natural fungicides. You can also use chamomile tea, once it is cooled."

so with this therory, would it be safe to assume that hydrogen peroxide would do the same thing as it will also kill off bacteria/fungus in the soil?



From: Fungus Gnats, Shore Flies, Moth Flies, and March Flies Management Guidelines--UC IPM

" Commercially available Steinernema nematodes, Hypoaspis mites, or the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti) can be applied to control fungus gnat larvae in container media. "




fungus gnats - please help!!! - House Plants Forum - GardenWeb



fungus gnat cinnamon - Google Search

the problem with H2O2 is that it will also kill any beneficial bacteria as well.

you can also use diatomaceous earth or even just a layer of sand on the soil.

also, if you use one of those HotShot NoPest strips to control mites, they
also get rid of gnats.

[johnleepedimore]

I ues these yellow stickys good for thrips and white flies aswell

You get an idea of whats in your garden before you see damage or get a major investation

There are also blue ones for spiders mites different insects attracted by different color

[DieAbetic]

Originally Posted by justanotherbozo

the problem with H2O2 is that it will also kill any beneficial bacteria as well.

you can also use diatomaceous earth or even just a layer of sand on the soil.

also, if you use one of those HotShot NoPest strips to control mites, they
also get rid of gnats.

thats what i used, and they worked very well. however jangel and others have told me that they also contain chemicals that are neurotoxins, so really should not be used in areas close to living spaces. but if you have your stuff in the basement or away from normal living areas.....these hot shot strips are AMAZING.

[The HSIC]

Keeping in mind that there are a few diff types of the little
Gnat Nazi's, another option is to plant one or more garlic cloves
in the grow area.(sep pots)
Garlic is a natural gnat-pisser-offer.
Garlic likes its soil WET, always. <---
Gnats like it wet, so they try to lay eggs in the garlic pots.
The larva don't survive the garlic roots.

Sand works but must be replenished as it settles through
the soil rather quickly.

Only thing I've caught with a pest strip is myself.

If you have a recurring problem, check the evaporator pad
in your humidifer, add one drop of bleach to the water.
Little commies luv humidifers.
A drop of bleach also in drain tank of A/C units, floors drains...

[smoking Joe]

I used sand about an 1/2 inch of sand as a top dressing and still have/had them. Also get a YELLOW cup fill it with water and a few drops of dishwashing soap. Place the cup near the grow. They get in the water and drown! Cheap and works great!

[jangel]

I will be trying this tomorrow! I saw a few flying around in my flower room today and I have already had one go round with those dammmmmmnnnnnnnn things... killed my bonzai's and a lot of my other plants as well before I got the little beestardssss.... Hate those damn things.

If this works somedude, You are my hero!!!!

[chuckd420]

Really good tip, I'm gonna have to try that if I ever have another infestation. Cheaper and safer than pesticide and easier to obtain in my area than Neem oil.

[SomeDude]

thanks all.. Im all for not having all kinds of poison in my cannabis and around my kids. Someone should try the chamomile tea 'version' and maybe we can do some comparisons on effectiveness.

I checked things out yesterday afternoon and there were some of those lil bastards flying around. This morning, I have only seen one (so far) so I am going to give it a few more days for the rest of the adults to die off and see how we are doing then. I have 2 bug strips hanging up so that will help with the adult population as well. :-D

My clones are pretty well rooted now, so i should be able to let them dry out pretty well to help kill off eggs/larvae too. I am letting everything dry out to the point where they are wilting and then bottom watering them just enough for them not to die

[justanotherbozo]

here is another all natural treatment for pests, powdery mildew in this case.

(although you may have seen this already, it is worth posting again)


Milk is a useful fungicide in the garden, and is more effective than standard chemical brands.


Researchers believe the potassium phosphate in milk boosts a plant's immune system to fight the fungi.

Where most organic gardeners use a baking soda, soap and oil solution, milk may be substituted to combat the unwanted fungus.

Preparing a Milk Solution and Spraying Schedule

The correct dilution and spraying schedule for garden plants depends on the situation and takes some trial and error.

A milk fungicide solution can range from 1 part milk to 9 parts water, to a strong, milk-only solution. A 1:1 dilution may work for a week, but a 1:8 solution requires spraying every 3 or 4 days.

Skim milk may work better than whole milk, as the higher fat milk may clog a sprayer; even reconstituted powdered milk works.

Uses for Milk Fungicide

Milk was originally used in the garden to treat powdery mildew on squash plants. It is now also commonly used on flowers such as rudebekia (Black-eyed Susans) and Begonias to cure powdery mildew.

Milk has also been used to cure Botrytis on a Cyclamen houseplant. This was applied full strength every morning (leftover breakfast milk). Rotten leaves were picked away and the plant pulled through with no more Botrytis.

Black spots and rust on roses can be controlled but not cured with milk. Fortunately, milk can prevent the spread of these fungi to other plants and new leaves. This can be very useful when bringing home a plant from the nursery and finding a black spot.


The copyright of the article Milk as a Garden Fungicide for Powdery Mildew, Botrytis, and Black Spots in Organic Gardening is owned by Deborah Turton. Permission to republish Milk as a Garden Fungicide for Powdery Mildew, Botrytis, and Black Spots in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


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by Arzeena Hamir
Powdery Mildew

Less than 3 years ago, researchers in South America discovered a new alternative to controlling powdery mildew. Wagner Bettiol, a scientist from Brazil, found that weekly sprays of milk controlled powdery mildew in zucchini just as effectively as synthetic fungicides such as fenarimol or benomyl. Not only was milk found to be effective at controlling the disease, it also acted as a foliar fertilizer, boosting the plant's immune system.

Powdery mildew in the cucurbit family is caused by the organism Sphaerotheca Fuliginea. It is a serious disease that occurs worldwide. For decades, organic gardeners had to rely on making a spray from baking soda to control the disease. Now, instead of measuring out the baking soda and combining it with a surfactant (a "sticking" substance) of either oil or soap, gardeners need only head for their refrigerators.

In his experiments with zucchini plants, Bettiol found that a weekly spray of milk at a concentration of at least 10% (1 part milk to 9 parts water) significantly reduced the severity of powdery mildew infection on the plants by 90%. While some gardeners may be tempted to increase the concentration of milk for more control, Bettiol found that once concentrations rose above 30%, an innoccuous fungus began to grow on the plants. How does milk control powdery mildew?

Scientist aren't 100% sure how milk works to control this disease. It seems that milk is a natural germicide. In addition, it contains several naturally occurring salts and amino acids that are taken up by the plant. From previous experiments using sodium bicarbonate, potassium phosphate, and other salts, researchers have found that the disease is sensitive to these salts. It is possible then, that milk boosts the plant's immune system to prevent the disease.

Milk used around the world
The benefits of using milk to control powdery mildew haven't been isolated to Brazil. Melon growers in New Zealand are saving thousands of dollars every year by spraying their crops with milk instead of synthetic fungicides. The melon growers in New Zealand have been so successful that the wine industry is taking notice and beginning experiments using milk to control powdery mildew in grapes.

What kind of milk should be used?
In Bettiol's original experiment, fresh milk was used, straight from the cow. However, this is obviously not feasible to most home gardeners. The research work in New Zealand actually found that using skim milk was just as effective. Not only was it cheaper, but the fact that the milk had no fat content meant that there was less chance of any odours.

Wagner Bettiol's original article was published in the journal Crop Science (Vol. 18, 1999, pp. 489-92).

[The HSIC]

A few others for those that are organically inclined..

Aphids and mites can be done in with a WEAK solution of
clove, rosemary and mint.

Other natural pesticides occur in garlic and thyme.

[siriguejo]

any chance you could define "weak" in that rosemary, clove, mint solution??

[The HSIC]

Originally Posted by siriguejo

any chance you could define "weak" in that rosemary, clove, mint solution??

It was an article about some studies on BBC's website, I'll try to track it down.