CX Horticulture Tanlin 20ml - Biological Control for Fungus Gnats and Sciarid Flies
Best for: Growers dealing with fungus gnats or sciarid flies around the base of their plants, especially in soil or coco.
Our thoughts
Those small flies hovering around your pots aren't just annoying, their larvae feed on root material and can do real damage if left alone. Tanlin goes after the larvae in the root zone rather than just catching the adults, which is the part that actually protects your roots.
Tanlin is a biological treatment that targets root-feeding pest larvae, specifically fungus gnats and sciarid flies, before they cause damage to your root system. Rather than working on the adult flies you see buzzing around the pot, it acts in the root zone where the larvae actually feed, stopping the life cycle before it does harm.
It works across soil, coco and hydro systems, and doesn't rely on harsh chemicals or strong smells, which makes it a low-disruption option to use around plants you're already growing.
How it compares
There are a few ways to deal with fungus gnats, and they don't all work at the same stage of the problem.
- Beneficial nematode drenches such as Growth Technology's Nemasys also target fungus gnat larvae biologically, working on the same principle of attacking the pest in the root zone
- Yellow sticky traps catch adult flies for monitoring purposes but do nothing about the larvae already feeding on roots
- Tanlin's root-zone approach deals with the life cycle at the larval stage rather than only managing the adults you can see
Traps are useful for spotting a problem early, but a biological treatment like this is what actually stops the damage.
Usage guidance
Getting the timing and application right makes a real difference.
Application
Apply as a root-zone drench, watering it in so it reaches the larvae feeding on root material rather than just settling on the surface.
Timing
Treat as soon as you spot adult gnats, or use it preventatively when repotting or introducing new substrate that may already be carrying eggs or larvae.
Combining with traps
Pair with yellow sticky traps to monitor and catch any remaining adults while the biological treatment deals with the larvae in the root zone.
Technical specifications
- Type: Biological pest control
- Target pests: Fungus gnat and sciarid fly larvae
- Format: Liquid concentrate, 20ml
- Suitable media: Soil, coco and hydro
- Chemical profile: No harsh chemicals or strong odour
- Brand: CX Horticulture
Who this is for
- Growers spotting small flies around the base of their plants
- Anyone who's had root damage from fungus gnat larvae before
- Growers wanting a low-odour, low-chemical pest control option
Best used at the first sign of adult flies, before larvae have a chance to establish.
Our take
Fungus gnats are more of a root problem than a flying-insect problem, and Tanlin is built to treat it where the actual damage happens.
Worth picking up if you want equipment you can rely on.
