Diatomaceous Earth (DE) All Natural Pest Control - What it Can and Can’t Be Used On

[@terrapin52]

"Errors" -Corrections: 1. "Diatomaceous earth is ground up sea shells." -It's the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae, that have been crushed or milled. 2. "You just completely wasted like $6 in DE." -A 20-pound bag is $13.99. 3. "It is not a broad-spectrum insecticide." -It's a broad-spectrum insecticide. It's less effective on some insects for various reasons. 4. "An arthropod is any insect with a segmented body and an exoskeleton." -Arthropoda is a phylum containing insects and other invertebrates. All insects are arthropods. 5. "These aren't arthropods: caterpillars, squash borers, moths, honeybees, and butterflies." -All are arthropods. 6. "Worms are arthropods." -Worms are not arthropods. Worms are annelids. 7. "It will kill the worms in the digestive tract." -It hasn't been proven to kill parasitic worms, just the insects that transmit them. 8. "Caterpillars don't have an exoskeleton." -Caterpillars have an exoskeleton. 9. "DE causes insects to molt." -DE causes abrasion, desiccation, and dehydration of the protective cuticle on an insect's exoskeleton, drying it to death. It's true that DE is less effective on certain insects like caterpillars which excrete a gooey substance which prevents the drying effect, or squash borer larvae which are safe within your vegetables, away from the powder. Basically, if the environment is wet, or the insect doesn't come into contact with dry DE, it won't kill it.

[@mattjans]

Can't trust a channel with this many immediate errors and corrections. Enthusiasm doesn't make up for inaccuracy.

[@DerekandTinaW]

Thank you for the numerous corrections. Please help with safe application method, Identifying correct DE products.

[@kimberlytrevino2210]

Well said!

[@SomeoneElse92422]

I was thinking about all of these corrections while watching, but I appreciate the enthusiasm!!!!

[@joeb8162]

Thank you! You saved me the time of correcting him on diatoms and you explained much more.

[@carolecoyote960]

DE is FANTASTIC for getting rid of bed bugs!

[@wrosin]

Years ago i was taught to use DE in the garden to amend it, great source of calcium. Never ever thought to use it as any kind of insecticide. This was a fantastic video.

[@GardensLadyBug]

I sware by D.E. I've used it in the garden against earwigs, in an apartment against roaches, on dog bedding against fleas, ticks and mites. I've read it's good against lice too. I use it as a safe dewormer for my dog. Humans can use it too, for a number of benefits. I bought a large container of food grade DE and use as necessary for whatever need. Please do your homework before using.

[@billyandrew]

I wouldn't use it on adult earwigs, as they're worth their weight in gold, eating other insects that feed on my fruit and veg, however it's result against their young, who attack young plants, given the chance, is 100% as an effective deterrent.

[@judypa38]

How often should it be re-apply outside and inside?

[@mildreddodd970]

​@@judypa38 h

[@100GTAGUY]

​@@judypa38 most packages say you can reapply outside once every seven days or after heavy rains, depending on the severity of the infestation. The more insects you need to control the more frequently you should apply, once mitigated you can apply much less frequently. Indoors you can probably get away with an application every three to six months.

[@Standard37]

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is just an average Ground attack, good for any Rock type pokémon, bad for Bug types, but Bug/Rock types, it's a decent attack.

[@bethshrock1120]

He should have said it this way and would have saved a lot of explaining 🤣

[@f612CreatorsPodcast]

@@bethshrock1120 can you make a whole video explaining this

[@bethshrock1120]

@@f612CreatorsPodcast it's already been explained...😶

[@Jenoveryonder]

Best reply ever! 🤣🤣🤣

[@anneh7725]

Thank you for this, made my day! 😂👍😎

[@barbellgardener]

I've used DE for 11 years in my yard and garden. It wont kill all the ants in a colony but does knock them down significantly if you poor it around their nest entrance so they have to crawl through it to get in and out. I also use DE around the base of squashes and sunflowers as crawling pest control. Great stuff!

[@jamescampbell720]

All DE will do to them is cut up their exoskeleton. the individual ants will lose moisture through their shell and they will die, but you wont kill the colony. liquid gel bait trays near the nest will allow them to feed and then take that back down to the larva inside the colony and will kill the colony without any affect to your garden.

[@essentialcomforts2166]

does it work for the squash BUGS? (not vine borers)

[@poeticpursuits1332]

@@essentialcomforts2166 It works on most insects. Contrary to this youtube video alllll insects are actually arthropods and most of them will succumb to de if the conditions are dry.

[@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson]

For ants, i just put a small pile of DE at the base of my plants instead of going directly at the ants. They’d have to walk through what to them, might as well be a mountain of DE before they can even start climbing the plant.

[@tnorth7090]

mix sugar and DE for ants

[@AaronWells93]

Hi! Diatomaceous Earth is in-fact, not ground up sea shells, but the fossilized remains of diatoms (a type of protist). Their usefulness comes from the fact that they are shaped in “jagged” formations, and surrounded by a cell wall made of silica. When they die and fall to the floor of the ocean as sediment, their little bodies form tiny little shards of “glass” that is not harmful to the human respiratory system/skin (in small amounts), but can wreak havoc when an insect comes into contact with it.

[@kingofthedots3835]

I'm glad that some body feels comfortable with exhuming these tiny little bodies for a weapon of mass destruction to the insect kingdom !.....how can you sleep at night ???😂😂😂😂

[@broodieivie207]

thank you!!!

[@larrywheaton7037]

Over dramatized dude , have you ever been chocked out ?

[@kingofthedots3835]

@@larrywheaton7037 that was a well crafted joke !....so I thought 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@madusonkeeper]

In small smounts do not routinely breathe in!!

[@chia_pet7121]

Just an FYI, there is a fresh and saltwater DE powder. The stuff you use for food, and in your garden is safe due to the shape of the freshwater diatoms. The saltwater type, that you use in filters (pool filters for example), is hazardous to breath in due to the shape of the saltwater diatoms.

[@EdieBabeMonster]

Thanks for this very helpful tidbit!

[@jjwideawake.9397]

Yep, we have taken it. Great for fleas on cats, they can lick and not get sick. Good wormer also.

[@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson]

100%. Plus, some of the industrial/pool DE also contains other, potentially dangerous additives. Just make sure the bag says “food grade” or something along those lines.

[@100GTAGUY]

Well they're both not good to breathe in, they're essentially both a form of silicate and can cause respiratory issues. Generally any fine powder regardless of chemical makeup should not be inhaled. Wear a particle/dust mask when handling and applying and try to stay up wind to keep it out of your eyes if you dont have sealed eyepro. Im looking into slurry applications to help keep the dust down, since i live in the desert things tend to stay quite dry and get kicked up by the wind. If we got some dew it would help dampen it and adhere it to the ground and my plants, which is where the slurry comes in. The lil bit of rain sprinkles we get every few days is generally enough to dampen it, without quite washing it away. But timing an aplication for after said rain isnt always convenient.

[@gilshelley9183]

Diatomaceous earth is composed of diatom skeletons not ground up sea shells.

[@kathryncastanares525]

They are shelled creatures.

[@bakedarea3885]

Yeah...it is not just sea shells. So maybe you should edit the video and add some text on that part of the video since you mention misinformation...

[@jeffreydeiuliis396]

Worms are not arthropods *eyeroll*

[@you2tooyou2too]

@@jeffreydeiuliis396 Per en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worm, "Worms are many different distantly related animals that typically have a long cylindrical tube-like body, no limbs, and no eyes." Generally, some worms are arthropods(centi/millipedes), annelids(earthworms, etc), ... & humans. ;-)

[@gilshelley9183]

@@kathryncastanares525 actually they are not. They are exoskeletons.

[@Evagealia]

I use DE against cabbage worms (actually caterpillars), and it works. Like you said, it doesn't kill the worms themselves. It does, however, create a powdery/ leathery texture on the leaves that deter the parent moth from lying its eggs there. It's not perfect, but the amount of eggs I have to pick off has reduced by maybe 90%.

[@schleig04]

I'm currently dealing with a cucumber beetle problem (just removed about 15 of them) which ultimately lead me to this.. you're already the top guy on KZbin I refer too and more and more becoming the only person I refer to period for my garden questions.. keep up the good work I aspire to have your gardening knowledge one day.. btw I love the passion and gardening is very therapeutic for me as well

[@tonimichellesmith9255]

MIgardener oh, you are awesome! Your video was right on time! I've been following you young man since you were in high school, and I've not been disappointed yet thank you.

[@Donna_G]

I've never used DE until this year. Ants keep in my home and this summer I found a whole string of them inside the back door below the baseboard heater. I had just bought a bottle of DE and decided to sprinkle some along the baseboard heater. I don't know that any of them were killed; but, I have not seen them since. I've been sprinkling DE on the leaves of my vegetable plants to curtail the chewing of whatever insect is doing it. The girl down at the garden center said that it's probably the earwigs. The DE has helped curtail the activity of whatever insect is chomping at the leaves.

[@selfhealherbs13ms]

Very interesting information I'm glad you specifically got into the specifics about the DE.

[@Donna_G]

John B, cinnamon has never worked as an ant deterrant for me. The ants would walk right over it like it wasn't there. I'm glad it works for you.

[@sheslikethewind8999]

For your home, try first Saturday lime!

[@GardensLadyBug]

I used it on earwigs in the garden. I sprinkled it around the base of my plants. The earwigs were coming out of the ground at night.

[@billyandrew]

@@GardensLadyBug Earwigs will eat very young plants, but tend to favour eating other insects that prey on your plants.

[@jamescampbell720]

14yrs in pest control here. You can pretty much use DE on anything, results will vary depending on the pest species. but the moment you water the area you've placed it... its worthless. You have to reapply it. Its works well in dry climates, and for folks who have chickens etc. as most pest control products are very toxic to birds. Another product which can work well is Borate powder. It shares the same weakness towards water, but it will work in various ways on the exterior of the pest, and in cases of things like roaches and termites its very effective when ingested. Its also a natural product, as a mined mineral, it has a similar toxicity level to table salt.

[@sherriesmith2587]

Hi! I hope you don't mind a question....but, you've hit on my problem...exactly. I have chickens....only three, and my garden is fenced off....BUT, those hens are wiley and they get in the garden on occasion. I have Japanese beetles...and ants like crazy. They're eating my green beans and I need them gone. My problem is that I would just die if I inadvertently hurt my hens. I water my garden EVERY night...late, after the Sun goes down. What should I do? I'm not rich. I can't keep reapplying DE over and over. My neighbors who have been gardening for decades tell me to dust the crop with Seven dust. I know it'll kill the bugs...really well. But, it can also hurt my girls! I don't know what to do. Any pro advice? I sure would appreciate it.

[@jamescampbell720]

@@sherriesmith2587 alot to unpack here... From the sounds of it, you dont intend your chickens to be in your garden, but they sneak in occasionally. For that youll just need to find their entry points and fix them. as far as pest control products go, your neighbors advice to use Seven dust isnt bad. It will help you control your beetles and ants, but it is non-systemic, meaning your plants will not absorb it and pass it on to you when you eat your veggies. It has the same fialure point as DE though, and any other dust, that once its wet, youll have to reapply. My focus on pest control wasnt in agricultural, it was in residential home treatments, keep that in mind, but depending on how you water your plants, IE drip system etc. if youre wetting the soil but not the plant itself, then Seven dust can sit on the plant and be effective even through your watering cycles. Seven will also work on your ants, or a granular product like Amdro will work as well. they will carry it to the colony and it will kill the larva which feed the rest, and it will take out the problem at the source.

[@sherriesmith2587]

You are awesome! I really am new at this, and I appreciate the guidance. Thank you so very much!

[@thereselamarche8745]

Thank you!

[@Greengirls991]

Food grade DE is used in chicken feed to help deworm them. Humans can also ingest to clean out parasites. Make sure you buy food grade and not the one used for pools. Non food grade is the toxic one.

[@Freedomofchristcente]

I've used it for years. It helps get rid of squash bugs. I've had great experience using this. As long as your constitant . I also have a bee hive. They don't touch it.

[@susanadotson9526]

I just planted pumpkins for the first time. Any advice on how you used it to fight squash bugs? I'm new to all of this.

[@jamesdaniels1088]

Nice shirt. I have the same. Good to see gardeners supporting gardeners

[@Torquemada688]

Diatomaceous Earth is made up of diatom skeletons which aren't really shells. Enjoy the videos though.

[@ellenkuang8853]

That hurt my soul a bit as a marine biologist. Totally different compositions there, silica vs calcium carbonate.

[@Torquemada688]

@@ellenkuang8853 haha I feel you. Geologist here

[@MIgardener]

They are crustaceans. Correct. I was more or less just dumbing it down because the topic was not about what it was specifically. 99.9% of people don’t know what a crustacean is.

[@nastydave6334]

Diatoms are a type of algae.

[@Harleyq2011]

@@MIgardener I understood that's what you were doing. The purists gotta speak though. That's why you tell your viewers to do their own research as well.

[@ShutchyerLips]

DE is also excellent for plant growth because when it is amended into the soil, it helps plants build stronger cell walls. The moist soil will keep it from hurting worms, if anyone was worried about that.

[@conniekeshet]

And in a mediterranean climate, dry summer, you woukdnt use it?

[@ShutchyerLips]

@@conniekeshet I would definitely still use it. It's commonly hot and dry where I live and it still does great. If you were concerned about the worms, I think the guy was talking about parasitic worms being affected by ingesting DE. I've never noticed a lack of worms in my garden, and I put a lot of it in the soil for plant health, and a lot on the plants for pests when needed. It's a miracle worker for what it does.

[@conniekeshet]

@@ShutchyerLips thank you!!

[@ShutchyerLips]

@@conniekeshet hey no problem! I'm happy to explain anything or answer any questions you may have as well.

[@etchman224]

Thanks, you answered my earthworm question! (I have chickens so i know & they love worms) My thoughts: #1: good info video! Opens beginners to a "better non chemical" choice. Is all the info 100% scientifically accurate or a broader version? "Keep it simple" or you'll lose people in seconds. Video sparks interest, gets people thinking & investigating. WIN WIN! Objective achieved. My rant: peeps, keep yur comments on topic! Who 'daF cars 'bout his grammar or is, but, woulda~coulda, shouda?!!! and you scientist "experts" from the University of Ki$$ my A$$ just go.... Y'all are trolls. Give him a break, be normal & start building people up again. Love & help each other again. Get back to "good" for God's sake! Build people up, not tear them down... YOU are the PROBLEM!.... not his speech or his info. GOOD JOB ON THIS VIDEO BROTHER!

[@deborahd64]

The food grade DE is also great for heavy metal poisoning. The molecules of heavy metals like mercury attach to the DE in your body and are eliminated. Great stuff!!

[@ElinWinblad]

Deb link to source? Sounds interesting

[@leannhoward7306]

It's also good for humans to aid in repairing tissue, skin, hair and nails, it's a wrinkle fighter and can help deworm dogs or any parasite as well as in humans. It can help you and your pets prevent muscle and tissue damage or aid in healing them. FOOD GRADE ONLY.

[@billyandrew]

How strange you should state that, as DE actually _contains_ levels of three heavy metals, namely Arsenic, Lead and Cadmium. I'll stick with activated charcoal, (removes many heavy metals) Potassium Permanganate (removes two heavy metals and also can be used to start fires!) and Iodine, (removes two heavy metals) but best to have your thyroid gland tested, before using it, because it can induce the gland to become over or under active.

[@billyandrew]

@@ElinWinblad I see you recieved no reply. Google for latest research on DE and heavy metals, then just trawl through the results. I rarely trust given links, preferring to undertake my own researches.

[@billyandrew]

@@leannhoward7306 Proven via scientific research or anecdotal, ie _"It's said...",_ I wonder?

[@gardenstatesowandsew]

Thank you. This is exactly what my dad taught me many years ago. It’s nice to have a review. Sometimes I forget exactly what he said. I wish I had written it down

[@ornelamecani3443]

I laugh at his opening line every time. It never changes from "welcome to another very exciting episode" lol Thanks for all the information you provide. I have been binge watching each exciting episode 😉

[@sherrysears122]

Good info. I put in my chickens nest boxes as a prevention so they will never have mites. I also mixed it in the duster that I fixed for them to dust themselves.

[@tonylorenzano1830]

I worry about the squirrels, possums and raccoons with fleas---Winter doesn't kill many fleas--They go dormant, until a warm day--hide under the warmer snow, too. These poor things can really suffer and dirt dust only helps a little with fleas. It can be tragic.

[@cathiegalbraith475]

Technically, DE is not ground up sea shells. It is ground up diatoms which are one celled aquatic creatures.

[@kathryncastanares525]

Which are shelled creatures...

[@geogal10]

@@kathryncastanares525 seashells are typically made up of carbonates, but diatoms are siliceous

[@trishfrench1927]

@@kathryncastanares525 shelled creatures eat plankton, which diatoms are.

[@sarahwong5592]

They are not ground up, because they're already microscopically tiny. That's the whole point of the stuff. DE is microscopic, spiky-shaped organisms that have become fossilized. No grinding required, and no shell on a critter that small. (Source: Went to school with a guy who grew up in the DE capital of North America.)

[@you2tooyou2too]

@@trishfrench1927 Plankton (all very tiny sea life) includes diatoms. Yummy!

[@johnkent2845]

Worms are not included in the list of arthropods because they belong to different phyla. Arthropods are characterized by their exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, while worms typically lack these features. Differences between Worms and Arthropods: Worms (such as earthworms, flatworms, and roundworms) are invertebrates but do not have exoskeletons or jointed limbs. They belong to various phyla, such as Annelida (earthworms), Platyhelminthes (flatworms), and Nematoda (roundworms). Common Worm Phyla: Annelida (Segmented Worms) Earthworms Leeches Bristle worms Platyhelminthes (Flatworms) Planarians Tapeworms Flukes Nematoda (Roundworms) Ascaris Hookworms C. elegans

[@modyosman5059]

Great information regarding DE, thanks for sharing. I get your point on how DE works, but the information on Arthropods is significantly inaccurate and one of the definitions of "Insects" is that they are all arthopods (including shrimp, arachnids, etc) Bees, and wasps for example are both arthropods, and are even both from the same order (Hymenoptera) which includes ants aswell. While worms are actually Anelids and not even arthropods. Please try to add some corrections in the description to avoid causing confusion. Don't mean to casue any offence just wanted to clarify some details.

[@1231dre]

Do you know if DE will kill my worms in my worm bin; I have ants

[@modyosman5059]

@@1231dre I'm not too sure actually. Never used it personally. Cheers.

[@FknNefFy]

I concur

[@leannhoward7306]

@@1231dre I did some research and everything I found says no it wont kill your worms but probably wont kill your ants either. Worm farmers do use it to fight fungus in their worm bins.

[@youtubewatcherdesi]

Correct - MIgardener has a very poor understanding entomology. Artho (joint) Pod (Leg/feet).

[@searose6192]

Here's a question. Why does it sometimes not work on fleas? I tried it ok my cats several years ago (for fleas) and it didn't work for months, so I did a test and caught some fleas, popped them in a jar with DE and they were fine. I don't recall how long I had them in there but they were alive and kicking the entire time. That was my last time trying it for fleas. 😞

[@billyandrew]

Superfleas? Poor batch of DE? I've never used it on an animal, so am not qualified to say, only ask silly questions. 😂

[@originalshredder34]

The only bad thing about DE that I have encountered, is that you need to avoid inhalation by staying upwind. DE can really tear up the microscopic alveoli structure in your lungs, and cause some really bad inflammation

[@billyandrew]

👏👏👏 Wear a mask, I'd strongly advise.

[@tonylorenzano1830]

I don't doubt this Josh or that it could cause cancer in human body over many years as did talc powder on surgeons gloves--But, I'd like to see a reference on this. [ Some people are eating this for the silicon... I might if I thought it was safe.]

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

DE is safe for earthworms. In case anyone else was wondering. When he says worms he referring to worms in your animals (pets) like the ones coming out their hind end.

[@debbiebell4598]

But how do you get your cat to consume it? LOL

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

@@debbiebell4598 mix with cat food, piece of cheese, anything they will eat.

[@poeticpursuits1332]

@@debbiebell4598 All the numerous studies that have been performed based on the urban myth that DE is a dewormer have concluded that it has shown no efficacy against parasitic worms. Also contrary to this video worms are annelids and not arthropods.

[@josephwatson3706]

My father had a tropical fish shop for about 42 years in Dearborn Michigan. Long ago he used to sell a diatom filter filter for filtering aquarium aquarium water.. It was basically a one gallon jar with AA motor and pump the screwed on top on top. It did have a filter cartridge in the jar as well. It did have a filter cartridge in the jar as well. I recall having to put in a certain amount of diet to macious Earth into into the jar for it to load up the filter prior to to using it to clear up a tank. It was extremely effective in fact they considered it a water polisher. My understanding for all these years is that the diagnosis Earth is basically made up of the skeletal remains of Diatoms.

[@billyandrew]

Your understanding is correct. The grade you used is classified as _feed,_ mostly used for filtering, usually pools which comprises of larger silicate particles, but frequently contains contaminants, such as Chlorine. The grade used mostly in gardening and pest control is confusingly classified as _food._ You'd think they'd get their act together and come up with better names that don't sound alike. 😂

[@TheSkiddum]

Thank you. I've told people anything that has a exoskeleton. I leave food grade de in a tiny line around the walls and corners of my home. That way if the spiders and such walk through it, it gets on them and will kill them. Its been a great way to remove our spider problem. We had a very big spider problem. Especially black widows. We called the exterminators a few times and it would remove them for a few months but then we had to call them again and it was costing us quite a bit. But since we started using this we haven't seen one in our house and I look very closely because we have our son. Our basement is super old and we used to get them down there something awful. But we dust an line our home every 3 months. Its saved us a bunch on exterminators.

[@maryanng6841]

I have had a big problem with "ghost" ants for years! Everything I tried did not work. Then I tried diatomaceous earth about 2-3 months ago. My ant problem is almost all gone! I'm a believer.

[@billyandrew]

I'm glad you got a positive result!

[@dalelusk2151]

Can we use it to make toothpaste?Thanks for your video

[@SeijuroRen]

I only use food grade DE. You can use it as a temporary barrier to mitigate ants like for a picnic or party. Also kills roaches it comes in contact with.

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

You should ONLY use food grade. Non food grade DE is very toxic to people.

[@janethcastaneda3810]

Do you know if the food grade works on spiders and how do you apply

[@arcturusbbqsausagemaking2435]

Great video, I learned alot, will it kill insects in the soil in my potted plants

[@denisehelmbreck1606]

I have 2 giant raised boxes that were infested with symphalans (pre-existing issue from previous land owners). Our plants were all stunted until we found out the issue. We treated the soil with DE and have had good results with plants so far 🤞

[@beea4456]

How did you treat the soil

[@brendajackson294]

I am learning how to garden and thank you for this information. Last year I had a great start but the pests came and ate everything. This year I will fight back.

[@KatherineRoseArt]

Very informative! Thanks for making this video. Have seen people constantly suggesting using it to control fire ants. Tbh I tried this and it just did not work. What did work for me was literally scooping up ants from a neighboring nest, tossing them in... and letting them have an ant war. Both waring sides leave the area in about 3 days. I saw another YT gardener's video on this and was doubtful... tried it... and would you believe it worked? This is how i deal with ants in my raised beds and planters ever since and it always works!

[@spicencens7725]

Excellent. I didn't knowbthis. I have used sugar mixed w boric acid for ants. It works too!

[@kizziah7777]

If it didn't work on ants you probably didn't get food grade. It works like a dream. The brown kind is worthless.

[@julienthomas3656]

Genius idea lol it is funny to hear that it always works from your experience. I believe dia. Earth is basically toc sick na no silica form and would not use or

[@moniqueloupe8867]

Fascinating story! I disturbed an unwanted ant nest several times just doing routine planting. In a short while, the entire nest relocated.

[@poeticpursuits1332]

It is informative, but sadly he got a lot of information very wrong. He says bees/butterflies are not arthropods, but in fact all insects are in the phylum arthropoda. Worms, which he claims are arthropods, are actually in the phylum annelida.

[@cherylhale5755]

Young man, you need to do more research. Worms aren’t arthropods , and D E is not ground up shells.

[@Brenryz]

cheryl not being a b. it is ground up shells. i dunno about worms that pretty nasty. don't eat worms, or sea shell powder.

[@misspeggy1771]

I don't know where you got your information either but d e is ground up seashells

[@kevinonearth232]

Diatomaceous earth: A type of silica-rich dirt which is soft, fine-grained, porous, light-coloured, and composed of the fossilized remains of diatoms, i.e. single-celled organisms. Diatoms are a major group of microscopic algae and are among the most common types of phytoplankton.

[@me-mj5dt]

Young lady. Thanks for your comment. You would be correct.

[@jeffreygillette7169]

D.E. is in fact ground up sea shells. Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Today, silica deposits are mined from these areas. Additionally, DE does kill worms….parasitic worms. Pretty sure he knows this considering this is his job and his life. They have a hard exoskeleton because….they’re parasitic. So maybe YOU need to do more research before jumping off at someone.

[@jrdalbec]

Rant away sir! This was really helpful. I knew most of what you talked about but there was plenty more that a learned from it. Your passion shows that you are a true teacher at heart. These types of videos are always helpful! Good job!

[@hummerlady54]

I was told the wrong things too when I first started using DE. Thank you for explaining how to properly use it.

[@dannycereal]

We are having a very bad problem in the south right now with stink bugs in our tomatoes. I know people who have literally ripped up their plants in frustration. I have been using DE on my tomatoes for the stinks bugs about 2 weeks now. They are not completely gone, but I hardly see any bugs in my tomatoes now. Thank you for the video!

[@TheMississauga333]

take the bugs you picking, mash them up in alot of water, spray this around the plant you picked them from, supposedly the bugs will flee, dont like the smell of their own dead bodies?

[@billyandrew]

Try the climbing varieties of Nasturtium about three or four feet away from the tomatoes. The stink bugs prefer them to tomatoes. Grow the Nasturtiums in batches two weeks apart, then, as the first batch becomes infested, it can be uprooted and removed (I throw them directly onto an already blazing fire and toast the critters) to be replaced by the new batch to catch any strays or even a new wave of stink bugs.

[@stephaniedangelo2329]

Wish I watched this in 2020. But what DO I use on SVBs Luke? Help a girl out.

[@mammastreed5070]

There are a few good videos to help with this. I had SVB last year and this year was set on not letting them get to my plants. I took strips (~4”) of foil and wrapped the base of my squash, zuc, pumpkin plants. I make sure it was about 3/4” into the soil and another 3”+ up the vine as it comes out of the ground. I’m happy to repost it worked on almost all of the plants and they are healthy not, as opposed to dead! Good luck, I know it is frustrating!

[@charleslease6328]

I don't think it is ground up shells.

[@candidethirtythree4324]

Microscopic shells of dead diatoms

[@melaniecarranza6189]

It's not.

[@littledrabbitry9410]

@@melaniecarranza6189 it is

[@frankvalenza7185]

Just wondering After applying DE to outdoor plants in the garden and it rains causing the DE to soaks into the ground will it kill off the microbiology in the soil along with the worms?

[@pizzazzsnudge7800]

Having studied Entomology in uni, I know enough to know that there is a lot of very incorrect information about Insects/arthropods/classification in the video : (

[@jdr9419]

Get your own KZbin and inform the masses.

[@karenwilhite8513]

Since you know about arthropods could you tell me whether grasshoppers are considered them? They're eating up a good part of my plants in my garden right now and I have to find something that's going to get rid of them but that's natural

[@pizzazzsnudge7800]

Arthropods are a larger classification/taxonomy group (parent group) which includes insects but also spiders , ticks, scorpions, lobsters, crabs, centipedes, and others. Since grasshoppers are an insect, they indeed would also fall under the category of Arthropods.

[@pizzazzsnudge7800]

Have you tried neem oil?

[@ADHDGG]

Are springtails bugs Arthropods?

[@angeliquefreeman8801]

All I know is that my pepper plants look a lot better after I use DE. My plants were being eaten up by insects. I put the DE in water, mixed it up, and poured it on the leaves. When it dried, it left a white covering on the leaves. A couple of days later, my plants looked better. So, I don't know if it made the leaves taste bad to the insect or killed them, but my plants do better, so that is a win for me! Love your videos. I do learn a lot from them.

[@barbkrienke8400]

I appreciate all of the science behind what you shared. If I can be so bold as to make a suggestion, in addition to what DE does and does not work against, it would be great to include “how”. I’m still not clear about how to use it - how much, how often, does residue on the ground help at all, and if so, for how long... This was super informative! Thanks for sharing the science behind DE!!!

[@billyandrew]

The packet or bag provides application directions. However, it has one major drawback and that's moisture. On the ground it will turn the powder claggy, (sticky) if the ground is moist or damp, which then hardens into a coating, because, being a powder, it leeches water from the soil. Light rain (just a few minutes) will produce the same result. That renders it next to useless. It surpasses useless when copious water is added, such as irrigation of plants and heavy or persistent rain, as this washes it away. Naturally, these circumstances would then require you reapply it. Personally, I'd advise using a mask, when applying, particularly if you suffer from any lung problem.

[@Shwee113]

Don't trust anyone who says worms are arthropods but bees aren't

[@janrankin2457]

I just listened to your KZbin channel here 2022. I had no clue about this d.e. thank you for getting down deep into the nitty gritty about it. You taught me a lot. Have a wonderful day

[@MrCdybvrs]

Love your videos. I've learned a lot about gardening, but as an entomologist, this video hurt my soul.. Its hard for people to unlearn things, so it's a tab bit harmful to name off a bunch if arthropods and label them as "not arthropods." Again, love your videos, just PLEASE double check scientific information (including classification) before sharing it. It is AWFUL trying to teach classes over insects when people come in "knowing" things that arent true.

[@Lizzamoverde]

ugh I am an entomologist too and I thought "this is too high energy for me but I can bear it because I think I need DE" until I got to the "arthropods are insects that..." ugh bye.

[@babykei0183]

Elizabeth D'Auria I’m totally clueless about insect and since it’s ur specialty, maybe you can help me out. I want to use DE for cucumber beetles, would it actually work on them. My biggest concern is harming bees that visit my cucumber plants to help with pollination. Do you think DE is a safe route for me to use.

[@asolano]

KZbin is filled with people with lots of confidence and lots of misinformation to share.

[@thefrems2650]

Thank y’all for speaking up. All insects are phylum Arthropoda! There’s plenty of arthropods that aren’t insects but if you have lobsters infesting your garden, I’d love to hear about it! 😂

[@user-ks5cg5cd7m]

Are those rolly polly bugs really crustaceans? Not actually sure. They dk look a bit like trilobites.

[@gwenmangelson]

HOORAY FINALLY someone giving great info about DE- WAY TO GO!!!!

[@jeffereyhopkins750]

Make sure it is food grade diatomaceous earth. They make a one for swimming pool which is not food grade. Love you Luke but diatomaceous earth is really not ground up shells. It is effective and the downside is that it has made my groundhogs healthier but ridding them of internal and external parasites.

[@Bellavanacoffee]

oh no the groundhogs! That is funny, not funny. happy growing!

[@bryanst.martin7134]

Have you considered the sonic pest methods? Basically sound emitters that vibrate irritating sound into the area around it causing critters to leave for quieter habitats.

[@bryanst.martin7134]

Food grade is only necessary if you plan on consuming it. It means that it was "mined" and washed using NSF standards. The bugs won't mind the difference, and we wash all our veggies, right? And it is much more expensive.

[@jeffereyhopkins750]

@@bryanst.martin7134 Actually the diatomaceous earth that I found that is food grade is cheaper. A 50 lb bag runs $12.99 whereas a 5 lb. bag of diatomaceous earth fir pool filters is 5.99 so much more economically cheaper for food grade. I work at a farm supply store so they sell it for cattle.

[@bettyprescott7]

Jefferey Hopkins I have never use food grade on my plants I’m not eating it I’m killing bugs with it. I have used it for 30 years I wash my vegetables before I eat them there’s no need to buy food grade.

[@thomaswright2614]

How fo you apply it? I have harvest mites (chiggers) in my garden.. Do I just sprinkle it over grass and bushes? Also should I wear a mask?

[@pamstout]

I bought it to stop the slugs from eating my plants. They don't like crawling over it.

[@sandy-rr1by]

earthworms too.

[@ulayee9927]

Does it work? Apparently you can just sprinkle crashed/ground egg shells. Slags won’t like crowding over them and they are also fertilizing the plants by slowly releasing calcium into the ground.

[@maryfalco9368]

Fantastic to know! Slugs eat my catfood😫👍

[@michellebarbour5777]

D.E. has kept red spider mite out of my coop. I want to know if I can clean out the coop and put all the detritus in my compost heap without damaging the 'little things' that do so much good when we spread it on soil. Please can you tell me, is it ok to put the cleanings from D.E. filled bedding for chickens on the compost heap?

[@doloresreynolds8145]

DE, the skeletons of microscopic diatoms, is used in food production as an inert additive to many things that producers want to prevent sticking together, such as grated cheeses. (As Luke explained, it is super fine powder). Because it is harmless, food grade and inert, the DE is not required to be mentioned in ingredients lists. Any bugs with soft body parts and snails will avoid it. The stuff is not good to inhale, so take the same precautions as with any dusty garden treatments.

[@estherfan4021]

Thank you. Can I use DE to treat termites in the soil, if so, how.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

I'm more confused than I was before. Does DE hurt/annoy/kill Monarch butterflies OR their caterpillars specifically?

[@amandacrews2279]

Yes. But, you are not generally applying it to milkweed plants, the food source for the larvae. Nor, are you generally applying it to flowering plants that are pollinator attractors. Primarily using it on vegetables crops to kill beetles of various kinds. Using it to kill insects that are eating garden plants (aphids, etc.) The insect must crawl through it.... that is when it perforated their exoskeleton, causing them to dehydrate. So, flying houseflies, mosquitos, etc are not affected.... unless they inadvertently CRAWL through it.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

@@amandacrews2279 OK, but "the experts" say Monarch catapillars can crawl up to 30 feet away (and I've actually seen them crawl further than that!) from milkweed plants to find a place to make their chrysalis's so people should be aware of that. There are certain other butterfly catapillars that eat plants that are commonly found in a garden as well, like Black Swallowtail catapillars that eat parsley and carrot greens. Just something that people should be educated on before using this product if they want to help the pollinators out. I know these are food crops, but some gardeners don't mind sharing a little! ;)

[@amandacrews2279]

@@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane i agree that understanding HOW it will affect our pollinators, is precious information. I used DE today on my cabbage plants.... no blossoms anywhere nearby. You are absolutely right, we need to think through the area being affected. And consider if simply collecting the offending insects by hand, or a dishsosp spray will be sufficient. Thank you.

[@tsensenig250]

Bees are arthropods, with exoskeleton and segmented legs. So, i assume DE will harm them, too, if applied when and where they go. Right? Beekeepers use them against bee pests (beetle and moth) at certain stages of pests’ lifecycle.

[@tanarehbein7768]

Best to use it sparingly, only if needed, around base of plants/trees and avoid blossoms if possible.

[@pepper9142]

This video is so helpful! I've been hanging onto a gallon of that stuff for about 7 years. Never knew what to do with it before today and I just saw it again in my garage after my garage sale last week! Thank you, for your time and knowledge! 🤗🤗🤗

[@billyandrew]

A gallon? It's a *powder!* 🤪😂😂

[@ale347baker]

I bought 2 gallons like 8 years ago. I forgot about it. I used it in an infested tree that had huge carpenter ants.

[@maryboyd4918]

I used it on cabbage worms not sure what they are but it stopped them from making my cabbage skeletons. I just need to know how long before you can harvest the veggies after the application.

[@Homebrew58]

Whether ground up sea shells, diatoms or unicorn tears does that change the core of his message? Thank you Luke. I learned a lot from this.

[@jefftparker]

This. Literally changes nothing about the use or its effectiveness. I can't stand those people.

[@getrekt3983]

yes it does change the core of his message because he comes of as a pretentious know it all when really he doesn't know the most basic thing about the product he is claiming other youtubers dont know enough about. you can put it in a mustard/ketchup bottle with a funnel top and lightly dust any plant you want. any one and it kills every insect. you will not harm your plant with this method because if you do it properly you cant even see the dust.

[@shag6414]

Right on!

[@matderseb]

Still not same material you know its fine to be wrong sometimes 🙃

[@simpinainteasyRHEC]

🙄🙄 lordy, 12 years old and im looking at an adult acting like little girls at my school.

[@tenmiltenmil1770]

Monday March 22nd , 2021 I have fleas on my cats , but I also have turtles on my land ! Will the DTE kill my turtles if the powder gets on them also could DTE kill my iguanas and lizards and chicken ? Thank you ! ❤️❤️👍👍👍♥️♥️♥️

[@Harleyq2011]

I just love your channel. Your mission is definitely shining through on my end. I learn new things from you all the time and find myself spreading the info confidently. So I use DE for my chickens, in their food for the worms and if they ever get mites. Because another youtuber Beckys homestead told me I should lol. After doing some further research after this video it's real nice to have those missing pieces of information. Now I know so much more about DE, what it is and how it's effective. Got my dose of empowerment with my cup of coffee bud thanks a lot I appreciate you. I am definitely going to start supporting this channel. Garden love from Colorado over here. Xo

[@billyandrew]

Have you seen the comment *terrapin52* posted last year? You'll find it interesting.

[@woodsie5796]

Perfectly said! Very good info for those who don't understand it. I use DE for my chickens and goats. Its excellent for that! I use it in my garden for mites too. People can also take it internally but I haven't had the opportunity to research that. I'd like to see an update to this video SOON (?) But then looking at the comments, it seems you don't read them. Thank you and Blessings y'all 🥰

[@billyandrew]

Very poor info, in fact, considering how angry he becomes at those spreading misinformation...while he is doing the _exact_ same thing! Hilarious irony/hypocrisy! 😂😂😂

[@ladytorres8323]

Dear Mr. MI Gardner, I appreciate the video. I also appreciate the scientists that commented with their own passionate comments. I think you gave a very good base to start us in the right direction for self education. That is always a great video when someone can say 'hey, look this up and go from here` basically. 👍 I will now look up what an arthropod is and that should tell me that "DE" is active in fighting it. Thank you! You probably won't say "dumbing it down" again 😂 ... But listen, that is a compliment , that you have so many educated people watching and enjoying your channel! That is something to feel very good about! Kind Regards, Mrs. Torres Post Script, (I am a nurse so my science classes did not include much about entomology. Mainly anatomy and physiology. I am sure this might have been LIGHTLY discussed in some paragraph in a High School Science book, but I wasn't listening) LOL.

[@wote3403]

I can’t exactly find the word for your comment but I would say classy and humble criticism. Thank you for putting the words just ever so politely we should all take example to be so kind

[@billyandrew]

You might care to read the comment from *terrapin52,* which I found to be quite informative.

[@susiestockton-link3902]

Would D.E. be effective against wireworms? The wretched things are in one of my raised beds and have destroyed my potatoes.

[@vickimoseley7434]

Luke, with all respect, you need to redo this video. I won’t go over the misinformation that others have already brought up. I appreciate your passion. The point I want to make is that DE is highly abrasive and WILL cause severe lung damage. If you looked at the precautions industry has to go through, it’s scary stuff. When you redo this video, please start with those precautions, actually tell people how to use it and fix the other errors. Do keep the videos coming!!

[@katherinedutill2115]

My daughter just used DE sprinkled on carpet’s over night to vacuum in morning, knowing it will kill them. Because we just finding out our 2 indoor cats have fleas ;( I have COPD, I’m realising shortly after it was sprinkled I couldn’t breath & had to step outside. A bit to late. I read your post & found that it can cause serious damage to your lungs. Needless to say I’m upset that there’s not a warning on bag that tells you. I mean even though it’s food grade, I absolutely would have left while she applied & she would have also taken precautions to wear a mask. : (

[@jasonrenaud]

@@katherinedutill2115 any really fine dust could be harmful minus flour 🤔I’m just careful about any fine dust... lime, DE, even perlite.

[@katherinedutill2115]

Jay Row. I Appreciate the info. If I only knew before it was spread around my home due to fleas (even though my 2 cats are indoor only). So having COPD it was really bad for me breathing. Using a mask is a must. I’m still dusting from the powder. But I’ve found a better use for it, in my garden. After almost killing my plants using DE (trial & error) I’ve finally have the right mixture & it works good keeping all those little bugs away. Know I have tomato plants that are 6ft tall & plenty of tomatoes lol. Thanks

[@Rupinderkaurrupi]

Thank you so much for your videos. I am in Zone 3. I just purchased DE recently as my strawberry leaves are all eaten by small caterpillars. The plants have small strawberries growing. Can I spray DE on the fruit as well?

[@jackierothwell5638]

Thank you so much for a very informative video. You are right because I have found it very confusing when I see all the conflicting videos on how to use DE. But after watching this I feel much happier about what it actually is, how it works and what it doesn’t do, all in one video too. Xx

[@lidip8700]

I've always provided a dust bath area for my chickens using DE. They love it & its actually good for them if they eat some.

[@swimmarfishy]

Thanks for this - I just had to apply food grade diatomaceous earth to my tomatoes, and bush beans of all things to get rid of black flea beetles - my neighbor's potato crop was decimated by them, and they moved over to my greener pastures. One of the tough parts of growing in a community plot where some of us take care of our issues right away and some don't :(

[@grantkruse1812]

Try to convince 50 million anti maskers to mask up....or 30 million anti vaxers to do the "neighborly thing", etc.

[@kathleenray1827]

TessaG, did it help against flea beetles?

[@aaliyahhenderson1888]

@@grantkruse1812 Not the same. move along

[@faithsfarmlife1424]

Yes food grade the pool grade can harm humans

[@annetteyoutube742]

@@faithsfarmlife1424 Pool Grade DE is much more concentrated.

[@LouiseMGrenier]

Wondering how to apply it in the garden. Do you sprinkle it on the ground between plants?

[@murasume511]

It may sound a bit nitpicky, but DE can actually harm pets if they inhale the dust. The stuff can get stuck in and damage the mucus membranes in their lungs if they are too close when you apply it. Once it settles it won't pose any risk, so I usually just play it safe and keep the puppers indoors whenever I dust my gardens.

[@fredvanolphen2953]

Not nitpicky. That's a major point! Never dust your chickens with DE. Any small amount inhaled causes permanent damage to the lungs and shortens the life of your animals.

[@MIgardener]

Well of course there are risks, but that’s not what I was talking about.

[@jacquelinewagner7160]

Thank you for the helpful information. I just received my delivery of DE today.

[@jesso1954]

It is safe for both animals and humans to consume. My family has used it for decades to get rid of fleas, ticks and worms in pets. My grandmother has used it for decades around windows and doors to keep insects out of the home. Stuff is amazing. Has to be food grade though.

[@brittgal]

it is?? GREAT!!! how about fleas and tape worms? ( i have cats and dogs) Please, what exactly do i DO with it now i have it?!

[@jesso1954]

Anjel Britt we add it to their food. Just a dusting in their food. Kittens 1/4 tsp mixed with food, normal size cats 1/2tsp and large adult cats 1 tsp.

[@jesso1954]

Anjel Britt must be freshwater food grade

[@jesso1954]

Anjel Britt and for fleas you can rub their fur with it for fleas.

[@pablomartinezone]

Great video. I have a black ant infestation attacking my fruit trees what do you recommend I use ?

[@KandBacres]

For fungus and mould you can spray on colloidal silver!!

[@gilshelley9183]

Never ever use heavy metals in garden including silver. Ingestion can destroy gut bacteria. Copper is OK because it oxidises completely. Silver oxides can make you very sick.

[@nicoledotson8946]

But colloidal silver is food grade medical product... How would this be harmful in stated form for protecting plants?

[@gilshelley9183]

@@nicoledotson8946 Colloidal silver is for external use only. Your logic appears very sound. However, internal use can be very bad.

[@gilshelley9183]

P.S. Copper is OK.

[@kathleenray1827]

@@nicoledotson8946 CS never leaves your body.... not for ingestion even though people do.

[@jamesryan5868]

I should of watched your video first ! I learned everything I needed to know about DE , thanks & subscribed

[@MyTNMtnHome]

Love my worms, this makes me pause on the DE. It tears my hands up so I’m very careful to never breathe it. Love your videos and appreciate your passion and willingness to share in detail. You make me a better Gardner.

[@jennybateacher]

Diatomaceous earth doesn't kill earthworms. They are arthropods. The are Annelidae. Unfortunately, this video is also full of misleading information. DE isn't ground seashells. It's the remains of diatoms which are a single-celled alga which has a cell wall of silica. They find deposits of them and grind them up. I don't consider shells as single-celled creatures. As soon as he equated DE with ground shells, I was suspicious of all of the advice he gave here. I'm doing more investigation myself. I suspect what he says about wasps and hornets is suspicious as well. Very disappointed in this particular video.

[@billyandrew]

@@jennybateacher 👏👏👏 You and many others, no doubt, myself, too.

[@billyandrew]

*MyTNMtn Home* Your worms will be just fine! It's hilarious that he slates others for misleading information on DE, then does the _exact_ same thing himself. 😂😂😂 Two years in and, as yet, he has done nothing to correct the many errors he made in this vid. You, like others, myself included, will draw your own conclusions. His channel, his decision not to address the issue. He has 1.06m subscribers. Over a quarter of a million folk have watched this video. Not all viewers have premium membership, like I do, although some will. That means we aren't subjected to constant adverts. Assume the majority of viewers are, that's countless adverts and he makes money on every single one. I believe, beyond a certain point, channel owners, in general, don't actually care what their viewers think. Financially, they're beyond caring. They lose a few subscribers, so what? Some, including a few of the entomologists among them, will unsubscribe. I'm sure he hasn't and won't lose any sleep over those few. More's the pity. He's armed people with misinformation, so it will be just that bit harder for those conscientious gardeners, genuinely trying to increase peoples' knowledge, for those entemologists to try re-educate those spouting nonsense, because they trusted this guy to do right by them, by why should he, because he's doing alright for himself and has forgotten where he started from. I strongly suspect he's a narcissist, but hey, we all have our troubles. Say hullo to your worms from me and mine. 😉🤭

[@tinascountrydoor]

Will it hurt hummingbirds? I can’t keep wasps and ants off my feeders.

[@BaltimoresBerzerker]

Love that you support other KZbin gardeners (the shirt). Stay classy dude!

[@cmmcdonald326]

I'm about to put down pavers and ants have taken over in the layers of sand and rock they will be resting on. Will sprinkling DE on the sand before putting the pavers down help the problem? Any other suggestions?

[@debnelson8127]

I use it by fluffing the powder around the base of the house for sewer roaches, common in Phoenix and Tucson. I don’t t think worms are genus Arthropoda but they could be damaged by something would cut it. Good to know it’s effective against wasps but not bees. I don’t understand why though. I thought it was good for adding calcium to the garden. Apparently not great if it’s going to kill the worms though. We need more info on this. Hmmm...

[@realitynineteen]

Thank you that's what I wanted to know! We get them in our garage after it rains.

[@pawprint8167]

Migardener another great viseo!😊 Ive used it faithly for yrs🥰 Learned about using it on coccidiosis in calves!! and its what I call a "God Send" ❤.

[@MonicaCradd1972]

I have used DE on my pets when there was a flea infestation one year. It was recommended by my vet. It did say pet safe and edible if licked by animals. It did help alot with my pets.

[@cgoodloe]

Pet safe but don't breathe it in or let pet breathe it in. Can cause lung damage. Also can put on carpet and under appliances and beds to keep pests gone.

[@RozeechildRN]

We had a bad infestation one year and it was my last resort out of desperation and put it around my yard put in on my carpet for a bit and it cleared it up right away! It was awesome!

[@GardensLadyBug]

I've used it safely on my dog and dog bedding for fleas, ticks and mites, even as a dewormer. I've read it was good against lice too.

[@billyandrew]

@@GardensLadyBug It's effective against parasitic worms, I'm told, but, I may have picked this up wrong, however, I was led to believe it targets whatever is inside the parasitic worm itself, the worm being the host for whatever carries the infection. DE is fairly harmless to earthworms and wrigglers, according to worm farmers.

[@jonbain9216]

Will de work for root maggots ? Or what will Iv never had them till this yr . I planted squash n peppers n tomatoes and they all turned yellow and wilted and i dug one up and it had root maggots bad so i dug up the rest and everyone had them What do i do

[@lucasgrowsbestyt]

Diatomaceous is made of shards of fossilized diatoms (hence "diatom" in the name) and works by cutting through the exterior of their bodies as they walk over it causing them to dehydrate. I have used it in the past but I feel kind of bad using it and try to use good practices in the garden to eliminate pests as much as possible. Caterpillars are actually considered arthropods, you said they are not. I appreciate your passion though, there are many popular gardening myths out there that are being proliferated by KZbin videos and websites and it frustrates me as well. Cheers!

[@lilyh.3557]

Can de kill cockroaches? If so, what's the remedy?

[@Labyrinthine_Complexities]

@@lilyh.3557 yes. But infestations require diligence and cleanliness.

[@secretlaw2007]

So what can be used on white fungus? My fave plant (Marvin), seems to have a case of it. Not sure how a plant even gets fungus… I’m new to gardening and successfully caring for plants. Any help will be appreciated. Many thanks!

[@lisafeck1537]

It's really great that some here are making comments that seem nicely, maybe factually, in disagreement with MI Gardener. It's really unfortunate, and actually disgusting, that so many just want to have the moral superiority of getting to throw the term misinformation around. MI Gardener has helped many gardeners, me including. He is encouraging and informative. People! Take the information and do more research, make your own assessment of the subject and do what you want to do. Useless bashing, its is sickening! You use up a great deal of energy judging others, but calling for censorship, now that disgusts me, and should disgust every American. My God people! We live in America. Freedom of speech. If you want to disagree then do so nicely. I don't know if MI Gardener got it wrong this time, SO WHAT! YOU WILL LIVE. MOVE ON TO ANOTHER CHANNEL, if you must, but you lose out on a lot of great content.

[@S.E.C-R]

Well isn’t this a hypocritical comment… It seems to me that you are the only one here bashing and judging the other commenters that are nicely disagreeing and adding more helpful information to his already helpful information. This is how it should be done, nice, healthy conversations all with the same goal to help everyone else out… and then there’s you with this comment bashing and screaming at everyone else because they are nicely adding helpful information to the conversation, unlike this comment that added zero helpful information to the conversation and was nothing more than exactly what you are accusing everyone else of doing!! Have a nice day, sweetheart!

[@ericsmith8129]

He’s literally wrong though. All insects are arthropods as well as spiders, scorpions, shrimp, crab etc etc

[@MadebyMe3]

Oh my gosh!!! Thank you So Much!!!! I had a stink bug issue last year that ended my garden way to early an I have been researching an researching for something , anything to help with these nasty , mean little nightmares!!! Since they do in fact have an exoskeleton as you said this should be perfect , less expensive and safer than most of the other things I have read to try or use. I have been following you for a couple of years now since moving to Maine 7 years ago and having to learn new ways to garden. I grew up farming my entire life but down south so almost everything I knew was useless here until I found your channel! And I totally love your store!!! I've been ordering once a month for the past couple of months an have another order to place next month. 🙃 So Thank you for all you do and your passion for gardening and informing us all!!!! 🇺🇸

[@manxkin]

I just found your channel and really enjoy it but there is a lot of misinformation here regarding Arthropods, worms vs insect larvae, diatoms, et al. I appreciate your passion and enthusiasm but you speak of due diligence. I'll keep watching. My tomato plants are gigantic this year. Hope the yield is as big as the plants.

[@deereign4373]

Will this kill fleas in my yard and on my porch steps.

[@hollydawsonjames1999]

I am having problems with Japanese beetles, on my cabbage squash it’s that time a year. So I can use DE on these plants??

[@arvinkim3037]

I’m starting to get confused because I was told that earthworms won’t die from DE. In fact, other worm farmers use DE to treat other bugs. Before I had seen this channel, I used them in my worm bin as well and my worms are fine and still eating my food scraps

[@zebeart8808]

Thanks for the information

[@juliemcgugan1244]

I think he was talking about parasitic worms, as he mentioned it when he was talking about how farmer feed the food grade DE to their animals. I just think he failed to specific. It is safe for earthworms, it kills parasitic worms.

[@billyandrew]

@@tannerfrancisco8759 Is it safe to sprinkle on cereals or will the milk ruin the taste? 😉😂

[@poeticpursuits1332]

@@juliemcgugan1244 That is more of an urban myth, no studies have been able to prove that it has any efficacy when used against annelids.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I have bugs eating my pepper plant leaves that are hard to find so I will try some DE to see if that kills them.

[@inthemoment875]

Thank you for showing me how to finally pronounce "diatomaceous" correctly.

[@chrisjohn6157]

Once, I used DE on my tomato plants. Over the next few days I began seeing bees that could barely fly and eventually they died. When they landed on my tomato flowers the DE stuck to their bodies and they eventually dehydrated.

[@sn232]

I started adding it into water and spraying it on the leaves when there are days where it can dry because I have found when it dries it has been effective (on flea beetles for example). I learned this from another youtube well-known gardener, and have done that ever since. Reduced the risk of breathing it in, and bees walking thru it with their furry bodies/legs. If it rains, you do have to reapply.

[@chrisjohn6157]

Thank you

[@jtamsmom5]

Thank you for this video. I used the food grade to get rid of fleas on my cat. We were having a horrible time controlling fleas. I dusted the carpet for about 2 months. I tried dusting my cat but she was like no way. Well just her laying on the floor helped. We haven't seen any fleas since.

[@JESSICA-jq4kj]

Vets best is a good spray for cats or dogs for fleas and ticks and it's not dangerous to breath like DE

[@billyandrew]

@@JESSICA-jq4kj I'll bet there's an astronomical difference in prices, though. 😂

[@l-y-n-n-c]

Will this work on wire worms? I'm planting potatoes and want to put DE in the rows when planting.

[@michalolszewski1315]

You got it all mixed up in the introduction: the arthropods are all insects, spiders and crustaceans (like crabs). Caterpillars are larvae of arthropods so they still belong there, but worms are not arthropods. It is true that DE destroys hard exoskeleton in some insects. It is bad for bees and other pollinators so I stopped using it.