Dear all, a while ago the group discussed methods preventing root/tuber/bulb damage by sciaridae. During the last years, I have tried to use as much peat-free potting mix as possible, and my impression is that all brands I tried are heavily infested, likely because the source material is much more yummy for the flies than peat. For small batches e.g. for sowing seeds, I sterilize or thoroughly dry my potting mix, and use yellow stickers to slow sciarid population growth down, which works ok but is a lot of effort during the most critical time for me, which is when many pots are indoors during winter (Also, those pots which are not hidden away look much better without yellow stickers with hundreds of dead flies attached). Uli mentioned nematodes, which are readily available from (online) stores here in Germany (called nemabest, nemaplus and the like). I used them before, but last autumn, I was more systematic and I am very happy with the results. The treatment has to be timed well to treat all pots at the same time, but the dry nematodes keep for some weeks in the fridge, and the final solution seems to keep for some days - the instruction leaflet leaves you with the impression that they are very fragile, but my experience this last winter suggests they are a bit more robust than I assumed. When most pots were inside, I dissolved the powder in a large watering can, and each pot already in the house got a shot, and all pots entering the house over the next week or two were treated the same. I still had almost half a can left, so a little goes quite a long way. I used the leftovers to inoculate the remaining bags of potting mix left outside to unknown effect. The reason I report this now is that I just spotted my first Sciarid since autumn (in a pot with vegetable seeds sown some weeks ago), so I think the method worked extremely well. I can highly recommend it. Nils (in central Germany, where sun, heavy rain and hail take turns and six rainbows were spotted during the last two days. Galanthus nivalis are dropping their flowers, yellow trumpet Narcissus start flowering in the lawn, and the first tulip buds are emerging. In the woods, a lot of Arum maculatum are breaking through the dead leaves) _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>