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Earthtainer mosquitos
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Posted by yrdling U:8A A:9 S:33 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 3, 09 at 19:38
| I built 12 earthtainers this year for my tomatoes, and they have worked well. However, they have provided a breeding ground for mosquitos. Lots of mosquitos.
I didn't really think that mosquitos would find their way inside, but I guess they went down the watering pipe or in the drain holes in the side. If I water to excess so that a lot of water pours out the drain hole, the mosquito eggs come pouring out too, so I know I've got a lot of them.
What can I do to kill the colonies of mosquitos that are breeding in my earthtainers that won't harm my tomatoes? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Earthtainer mosquitos
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| Are you using an old aerosol can cap to keep over the filler tube? Also, you can take small pieces of window screen to place over the overflow holes (which I suspect is how they are getting into the 'Tainer). Use tape to secure the screen "patch" to the outside of the container walls. Before you do this, purge a good deal of water out of the water reservoir to try to flush the mosquito eggs out of the 'Tainer. I would hesitate about using an insecticide injected into the water reservoir, unless it is a totally safe product. Not an expert in this area, so hopefully, others will give you guidance. Raybo |
RE: Earthtainer mosquitos
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| Taping screen material over the drain holes sounds like a good idea, Raybo. I'll do that. I don't have a bunch of old aerosol can caps, but I got plastic dixie cups. That should do the trick too. Yes, I hope someone can weigh in on a safe treatment for the water, but I'm not going to use a pesticide. |
RE: Earthtainer mosquitos
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| 'Mosquito Bits' http://www.azponds.com/mosquito_products.htm Raybo's solution is better, but this is simple if the problem is already there. |
Here is a link that might be useful: mosquito control
RE: Earthtainer mosquitos
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| "Mosquito Dunks" are a non toxic remedy which, when put in the water reservoir, kills mosquito larvae. Available at Wal-Mart, Ace, nurseries, everywhere. They look like little donuts. The granules mentioned are the same thing just granular form, but I have seen the "Dunks" available more widely so may they be easier to find. I put landscape fabric (the black mulch stuff) over the hole and tape it with a fat rubber band to keep the skeeters out. |
RE: Earthtainer mosquitos
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| Great feedback folks. Thank you all. I'll have this problem licked tomorrow when I get to the store to get some of those non-toxic mosquito dunks / bits. |
RE: Earthtainer mosquitos
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| If you are going to drop the dunks down rhe filler tube, pull up the tube one inch, put them in, then squirt down the filler tube with a hose to disperse them throughout the water reservoir. Be sure when finished to push the filler tube back down in place. Raybo |
RE: Earthtainer mosquitos
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| I don't have this problem in my Earthtainers, but in some of my other SWC (Garden Patch), which have a big opening in the bottom to allow for watering from the roots/wicking, I have seen a lot of mosquitoes fly out when I water. I know ideally you're not supposed to let the water well dry up for wicking, but if I allow it to go completely dry for 1-2 days, would it kill the mosquito eggs in there? And if I did this and then re-watered the well, would it hurt the wicking? I don't think that the soil would go dry in the 1-2 days that the well is dry, so that's why I'm thinking this should be okay. Thanks! |
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