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Post by caddie on Jun 24, 2020 18:40:36 GMT -5
Hi! I just got my Aerogarden and started the southern greens. Right away there were gnats. maybe fungus gnats. I'm not really sure. It's been about a week and 3 out of 6 germinated so far. One looks good (dino kale), one has black spots (kale), and the third just sprouting looks really poorly (collard). I kill the gnats as soon as I see them, but I keep getting more really tiny gnats now. I've never been successful with plants, it looks like the sponges must have come with the pests. Should I just start over or is there some way to get rid of them? I really don't want bugs in the kitchen.  Glad to join! Also, any thoughts on using old aquarium water? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2020 18:52:38 GMT -5
To me, old aquarium water is just poopy sewerage from fish! Many look at it differently and you may hear from them as well.. I personally would not use it.
As for gnats, you could try yellow sticky cards and put them around your machine. Do you have any soil plants nearby? That could be your source.
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Post by caddie on Jun 24, 2020 18:59:28 GMT -5
Nope, no soil plants and it didn't start until I set up the Aerogarden. I also saw some bugs in the reservoir.
I got the kit from Aerogarden, do they sometimes have bugs in them?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2020 19:43:39 GMT -5
I was just looking up fish tanks and larvae and that may be your culprit. Fungus gnats can't live directly in water, but they can lay their eggs around the damp walls , nooks and crannies of the tanks. I'd bet $$ that the tank is the source.
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Jun 24, 2020 19:58:32 GMT -5
I had a huge gnat problem before when I had soil plants around my AeroGarden - removed the soil, and the gnats disappeared as well.
They didn't breed in my AeroGarden, although I don't know if that was because they couldn't, or just because they preferred the soil.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2020 21:18:13 GMT -5
I had a huge gnat problem before when I had soil plants around my AeroGarden - removed the soil, and the gnats disappeared as well. They didn't breed in my AeroGarden, although I don't know if that was because they couldn't, or just because they preferred the soil. and....amazon reviews and personal experience can attest to the fact that they fly right out the bag of Miracle Grow Potting soil..a PRODUCT TO AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. |
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Jun 24, 2020 21:34:10 GMT -5
and....amazon reviews and personal experience can attest to the fact that they fly right out the bag of Miracle Grow Potting soil..a PRODUCT TO AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. Exactly what I gave me the issue!   I'm hoping that if I hold onto this bag for a year or two, then all of the gnat eggs will die. Worst case I can go with the time-tested methods of oven baking or boiling water sanitation. |
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,218 
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Post by Shawn on Jun 25, 2020 4:59:18 GMT -5
First let me say Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you with us. As for your gnat problem while you may have never noticed them before they could have been there but the plants and water are drawing them so you can see. Do you have any windows open? They easily fly thru screens. Also if you are out doing yard word they can come in on your clothes (and even without the work). Do you have any fruit in the house that could happen to coincide with the issue? Besides using the yellow sticky things I use a Gnat Juice solution to catch mine. As for starting over, that is a personal choice. Keep us posted! |
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Post by caddie on Jun 25, 2020 21:05:12 GMT -5
Thank you!
I suspect they are coming from the one plant that is doing poorly or at least that's the plant they are going after. I pulled it up to wash the sponge in case that would help and a bunch of them flew out. These look like tiny baby gnats.
But also, I have a sliding glass door in the kitchen and I see there's a tiny hole at the edge that little creatures could come in - it leads out to the lanai, which is screened. There are a bunch of bushes and ferns right outside. I live in Florida (95+ and very wet). So, it certainly is a great area for them.
I'm definitely going to pull up the one that's doing so poorly. - It's got black spots and significant portions of its leaves are really pale. My best plant looks so fantastic, I'd hate not to keep it.
Do I need some sort of spacer for removing a plant or can I just leave it empty?
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,218
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Post by Shawn on Jun 26, 2020 4:55:12 GMT -5
I would cover that hole up so no light is getting inside the bowl. Keep an eye out for all the plants as they can get to them too. Check under the labels to make sure. Hope that removing that one helps. Also cover that hole in the screen  |
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