Diatomaceous Earth

[blondiewonder]

does anyone have any experience of using this to control pests like flea beetle and leaf miner etc. found this article

Diatomaceous Earth Uses: Benefits Of Diatomaceous Earth In The Garden

I've ordered some anyway as it wasn't expensive and i can use it for other things, was just wondering about everyone else experience with it?

[muddled]

I use it to worm my dogs and to keep mites etc off my chickens.

There are two types, one is food grade and the other is primarily for use in swimming pool filters.

You want the food grade, the swimming filter one contains other chemicals.

Try not to inhale the powder...its not good for lungs.

[Lumpy]

Try not to spinkle it too thickly on any of your leaves as it climps together and gets quite heavy when it is wet,

[Penellype]

I use it to prevent clothes moths from eating my carpets under heavy pieces of furniture that are not frequently moved, and it seems to do a good job. Last year I had a dreadful flea beetle infestation on brassicas that I tried to grow in my fruit cage. I sprinkled the plants with diatomaceous earth, and it made not the slightest difference. The seedlings were eaten to destruction.

Insects 1 diatomaceous earth 1

[Snadger]

I've used it before for mites on chickens but stopped using it when I read about the dust inhalation. From what i remember, and I don't want to be alarmist, it settles in the lungs similar to asbestos and can cause breathing problems?

Just make sure you read up on it before use!

[blondiewonder]

thanks for the info guys, i did read that you can add it to water and spray it on your crops so non of the breathing it in problems, has anyone tried this?

[Penellype]

As far as I am aware the way it works is to dehydrate the insects, and to do this it has to remain dry. Therefore adding it to water and spraying it probably won't work.

[blondiewonder]

I just retread the original lol no I posted and it says you can do it both ways, I may do a bit of an experiment and try both and see which works best ��

[Mr Bones]

Haven't used it but thought it worked by making microscopic scratches in the insects hard outer carapace which causes the critter to dehydrate.

[Mr Bones]

Just found it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatom...h#Pest_control