Sciarid Flies

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by noisette47, Mar 27, 2021.

  1. noisette47

    noisette47 Total Gardener

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    A tried and tested tip for preventing an invasion of sciarid flies and larvae in your precious sowings. Take a box of matches.......and insert one match head-down (the match, not the gardener) in each cell or pot, or several spaced out in a seed tray. It really does seem to work! :)
     
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    • Janet mahay

      Janet mahay Gardener

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      Intresting keep that in mind thanks noisette47
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        I just tried your match idea @noisette47 - have you got any shares in Swan Vesta ?
         
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        • flounder

          flounder Super Gardener

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          Good one, I've not heard that one...is it the sulphur?(or whatever they use nowadays)
          Puts a new meaning to root burn as well!
           
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          • noisette47

            noisette47 Total Gardener

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            Not yet What's the betting that someone, somewhere will turn it into an expensive gardening product? Luckily, matches ( and wine) are still cheap here. The only things that are...
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              You haven't mentioned yet whether it also kills the plant. ;)

              We can probably get away with doing it over here, but I'm sure it can't have been passed as an insecticide in the EU so probably illegal. Tut tut. :biggrin:
               
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              • gks

                gks Total Gardener

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                Its the chemicals that are used to make matches. Phosphorous can add nutrients to the soil and potassium chlorate tends to be used in disinfectants, both these and other elements are used to make matches.
                 
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