I recently tried using Supa Grow peat-free compost, but it turned out to be a disaster! It was filled with gnats and ended up killing my strawberry plants and a few others I had in pots. Thankfully, my tomatoes seem fine, but I just replanted my spider plant, which is now infested too. I'm so frustrated and won't buy that compost again. It also drains poorly and doesn't hold water well. I'm looking for recommendations on peat-free compost that's free from gnats because I'm worried about quality between brands. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
So, you’re in luck—peat-free compost doesn’t come from gnats! You should have better luck with another brand. I’ve used Aldi’s peat-free multi-purpose compost, and it worked great! My rule is to test new compost with fast-growing plants before using it on anything expensive or sensitive. You can also make your own mix with coco coir, perlite, and other materials. It’s a bit of work but worth it if you plan to pot regularly!
You might want to consider using some beneficial nematodes! They can really help control those pesky fungus gnats. I've had great success with them; they're definitely worth a try if the gnats become a problem again!
If you find yellow centipedes in your garden, those can help too! They’re great at cleaning up gnat and woodlouse infestations. Just make sure your containers are large enough to accommodate them. I've been using them in my greenhouse for years!
You can, in fact, buy them! That would definitely be a solid solution.
I’ve seen those when I dig, but I didn’t know they were helpful! I’ll try to move some next time I come across them.