Sciarid flies

rowlandwells · « **on:** January 18, 2024, 17:04 »

I was reading about Sciarid flies in peat free compost and according to the RHS Garden mag they could eat seedlings as they emerge so I'm unsure about using this compost with these flies in it are they encouraged by what this compost contains like green waste that is obviously still de-composing in the bag?

and they go on to say one could use nematode drench the compost to control these Sciarid flies so this is making me think do I need to use rubber gloves to pot on and seeding with this peat free as I've never used gloves before when seeding or potting on with peat based so any info on this topic would be most welcome RW

Subversive_plot · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2024, 23:24 »

you can get fungus gnats (Sciarid flies) in any compost if it stays too wet.

Here's hoping you can keep your compost on the (slightly) dry side!

I don't think a change in compost will require you to change to wearing gloves, but you certainly can if you think it will add a layer of safety.

AnneB · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2024, 07:44 »

I have occasionally had sciarid flies, but not recently. It didn't seem related to any particular type of compost.
They were just a bit of a nuisance. They never ate any seedlings in my experience.

Goosegirl · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2024, 08:45 »

I had them for the first time last year in my Sylvagrow compost. I only noticed when I re-potted some houseplants and they were all over the place.

Snow · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2024, 11:20 »

I've always had them, they don't seem to do anything other than be a bit annoying

rowlandwells · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2024, 13:08 »

I'm still not happy with these flies in my compost I think there the same flies that come out the darlick bin when you open the lid in there thousands so they seem to thrive on decaying matter so its likely there present in most composts although I haven't seem any in the peat based we've been using but they did seem more present in the peat free we used

sciarid flies are a question I'm going to ask the lady from the company who makes sylvagrow compost when she comes to our garden club meeting next month

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Sciarid flies

rowlandwells

Sciarid flies

Subversive_plot

Re: Sciarid flies

AnneB

Re: Sciarid flies

Goosegirl

Re: Sciarid flies

Snow

Re: Sciarid flies

rowlandwells

Re: Sciarid flies

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