Wish I saw this sooner. Lost almost all my plants before I figured the soil I bought was infested. Will do this . Thanks!!

@PetalsAndMetal

2 жыл бұрын

Isn't that so frustrating?! If you still find you need more treatment other than sterilizing, do mosquito bit soaks. If you have a really bad infestation like I did, make the tea stronger and water with it more than the recommended amount on the bag.

@jotex54

5 ай бұрын

Me, too. I was so disgusted, I gave up starting seeds. Might reconsider now.

Awesome!! Thank you for simplifying these different methods. Appreciate it! ❤️

@PetalsAndMetal

5 ай бұрын

You are so welcome!

Thank you for several solutions. 2 growing seasons and the yellow cards by Themselves are not enough. Fogger would kill most adults but obviously not the larvae in the soil.

I know my microwave needs 11 min before my bowl is at 185 degrees f. I use it to avoid centepedes in my worm bedding. It works miracles and i just started using my microwave again as i have centepedes again. Nice video, keep them coming

Thank you!!

@PetalsAndMetal

12 күн бұрын

You're welcome!

Thanks for this, fungus gnats are the absolute worst! I've only used the hydrogen peroxide method but it has worked great for me. Of course there is always that one that seems to survive so I also use yellow sticky cards as backup, works well too.

@PetalsAndMetal

2 жыл бұрын

I wish the peroxide would have worked for me, I tried for 5 weeks and they just got worse. Timing is key and that's how I finally got them under control.

Great idea!!

Thank you for such a wonderful info!!

Thanks for tutorial

So helpful! Read so much stuff for years about sterilizing soil and this was the best video. Thank you!

@PetalsAndMetal

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

I shared this a while back when i 1st found your video. But its been a minute or 2 since then, soooo.. imma share it again!😁😁😁! Tagging you of course beautiful human!😊✌🏻tysm for sharing this. For those of us who are newbeez/clueless, this not only comes in handy& teaches us 🙏🏻 YOU are out here saving lives!!😊

@PetalsAndMetal

5 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing!! Def not try to save any gnats lives, lol

Yes ❤ March 1st bought 5 pound bag of starting mix..... FUNGAL GNATS 😢 I did everything but my Early seedlings where goners so I used heat is what I used💚💚💚💚💚

Thank you so much for this info and for getting right to the point!

@PetalsAndMetal

Жыл бұрын

You are welcome!

I started using the same potting mix last year. It’s wonderful! I’ve found the rest of the soil at big box stores garbage and full of wood chips.

Thank you!

@PetalsAndMetal

8 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

I'm currently using mosquito dunks to try to get rid of the few fungus gnats I have left after just keeping cuttings from my plants, and ditching all the soil and pots, and starting over with Miracle Grow Indoor Potting Mix (which still resulted in some fungus gnats). Before, I had so many gnats that they'd even fly into the microwave when I was making dinner. One was on the plate when I pulled it out after reheating it on high for three minutes. I saw its body when I pulled the plate out, and thought, 'Great, one less fungus gnat to deal with.' Then it shook itself and flew away. *Three minutes on high,* and it still survived. I have no idea how. I mean, that dinner was _hot._ I figure it was a mutated super-hero fungus gnat that can probably withstand nuclear war. I hope it didn't reproduce. 😱

@PetalsAndMetal

10 ай бұрын

Lol that's crazy that it lived through that! Must have been some super ninja gymnastics to miss all those waves.

Last yhear it was such a struggle to get rid of the gnats! I also sterilized the soil even if it was a bit too late for some of my plants!

I am dealing with this issue now

@PetalsAndMetal

10 ай бұрын

I'm sorry 😔 I dislike those things sooo much!

Can/should this method be used for a small outdoor garden bed? What about the PH that outdoor and indoor plants need? Thank you for the great information in your video!

Saw a fungus gnat while watching 😢

Thanks very much for sharing these 4 methods. Just a quick question about temperature - the soil should heat to 180 Fahrenheit, right?

@PetalsAndMetal

4 ай бұрын

Yes, Fahrenheit

Thanks for the tutorial. Never knew about this. How do u spell that fungas?

@PetalsAndMetal

2 жыл бұрын

Fungus, I misspell it a lot with the a! Damping off can be caused by many different kinds of fungus. Fungas gnats are in the Bradysia family of insects.

@jampackedfamilycountrylivi8022

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetalsAndMetal oooo...ok I understand now. Thanks so much for the clarification

When I was young, my family had a medium sized greenhouse for growing vegetables, and my dad used the oven method to sterilize the soil before it went in. That's a lot of soil and many hours baking dirt, and the house stunk as a result for a very long time. Do you use an air purifier nearby when baking it in the oven or microwave?

@PetalsAndMetal

10 ай бұрын

No but I do turn the exhaust fan on. It still stinks though!

Will this work for mold? I left an open bag of potting mix on my balcony all winter. Planted some carrots that started to sprout and it got moldy.

@PetalsAndMetal

Жыл бұрын

It should take care of it. Cinnamon or peroxide will work too

Question for you. I bought some potting mix I want to sterilize. I do not want gnats or other critters. In the past all new mix I have bought has been contaminated. So returning and buying another isnt ideal. What do you do to readd micronutrients to your soil after sterilization? I worry I will kill all benificial nutrients.

@PetalsAndMetal

9 ай бұрын

I don't do anything after I've microwaved it.

If I’m working with a small bag of potting soil, is it safe to put the whole bag in the microwave or oven? Will the plastic melt? It would make it a lot easier than finding a container (and I really don’t want to use my good baking dishes). I’m using 8qt bags or smaller.

@PetalsAndMetal

8 ай бұрын

Do not put plastic in your microwave.

1 and a half minutes per pound after you wet it. Or dry weight?

@PetalsAndMetal

Жыл бұрын

I initially weighed mine wet but I don't think it makes that much difference. The important thing is that it reaches temperature.

If you have fungal gnats or white mildew on top of soil in house plants how do you get rid of them all

@PetalsAndMetal

3 ай бұрын

If you have mildew, the soil is too wet. Let it dry out, that will help with the fungus gnat larvae. You can try mosquito bits also. If it's a bad infestation, change your soil.

Do you sterilize the potting mix for all your plants or only for your seeds?

@PetalsAndMetal

Жыл бұрын

For anything that I grow/start in the house because that's where I have the biggest issues with fungus gnats.

If you're using a soil like Miracle-Gro are you going to damage the nutrients that Miracle Grow puts in their by microwaving?

@PetalsAndMetal

7 ай бұрын

I do my own fertilizing so that's not something I've been concerned about so I can't really answer your question.

Is it okay to seal the ziploc bag as soon as it cools? Will it still feel moist? Will it get moldy? I wanted to make shower favors with seed packets and bagged soil in a pot but now I’m nervous. Thanks

@PetalsAndMetal

5 ай бұрын

Once it's cooled, yes. I would keep an eye on it if it's super moist. Maybe open the bag once in awhile if it's going to be a long time.

@PetalsAndMetal

5 ай бұрын

It's shouldn't mold since it's been sterilized.

@maryannl9321

5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for the quick reply!