Triple Blend Nematodes for Grubs, Fungus Gnats and Other Soil Pests
Sf, Sc and Hb nematodes · Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema carpocapsae, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
4.7 · 23 reviewsThree species of live beneficial nematodes, millions to a pack, shipped dormant on a moist carrier. Watered into damp soil, they cover three depths at once: fungus gnat larvae and thrips pupae near the top, fleas and caterpillars at the surface, beetle grubs and root weevils deeper down. Each species has its own temperature range, so at any one soil temperature only part of the pack is fully at work.
- Best for
- Fungus gnats
- Good to know
- The pack looks too small. That's normal. A nematode is microscopic, and that paste or powder holds millions of them. What to expect
When to choose something else
Not for earthworms, anything above the soil.
Shipping details
Shipping
| Est. ships | Est. arrives | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ||
| Overnight |
Raising a fresh batch for you? Add up to 7 days to both dates.
Estimates. Overnight speeds up the trip, not the packing: its one day on the truck starts once it ships.
- Monday to Thursday only. Nobody spends the weekend in a warehouse.
- Check your address at checkout. Bugs are brilliant at finding aphids and hopeless at finding a new front door.
Ordering with friends? Get group pricing
Everyone picks their own. It ships to you in one box.
Buying for a greenhouse, farm or shop? Ask about wholesale
Right for you?
Your pest, your growing space, how many you need
What it treats, and what else it eats
The main use is fungus gnats. They also eat thrips pupae and fleas and more when they come across them, but don't count on that for control.
| Pest | Treats or prevents | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fungus gnats | Treats | Main prey. It goes looking for these first. |
| Thrips pupae | Prevents | Also eaten along the way, which helps keep them from taking hold. A side benefit, not dependable control on its own. |
| Fleas | Prevents | Also eaten along the way, which helps keep them from taking hold. A side benefit, not dependable control on its own. |
| Cutworms & webworms | Prevents | Also eaten along the way, which helps keep them from taking hold. A side benefit, not dependable control on its own. |
| Crane fly larvae | Prevents | Also eaten along the way, which helps keep them from taking hold. A side benefit, not dependable control on its own. |
| Beetle grubs | Prevents | Also eaten along the way, which helps keep them from taking hold. A side benefit, not dependable control on its own. |
| Root weevils | Prevents | Also eaten along the way, which helps keep them from taking hold. A side benefit, not dependable control on its own. |
Not for earthworms, anything above the soil.
Or choose instead
When one of these fits your situation better than triple blend nematodes for broad-spectrum soil pest control.
-
Choose this instead
Sf Nematodes
If it is only fungus gnats.
from $15
-
Choose this instead
Hb Nematodes
If it is a lawn full of grubs.
from $45
Conditions for releasing triple blend nematodes for broad-spectrum soil pest control
The conditions, one line each.
Best soil temperature50–90°F
The full span of three species, never all three at once. Sf holds the cool end, Hb the warm end, Sc the middle.
MoistureMoist, not soggy
They swim the thin film of water coating soil particles. The soil must stay moist for at least two weeks after application — this is the requirement, not a recommendation.
RefrigerateYes immediately
38–42°F, and best kept out of the freezer. This is the fridge product; sachets and mite bottles are not, and a predatory mite colony in a kitchen fridge is the storage mistake to avoid.
Releasing
What to do, and what you'll see
What to expect
- The pack looks too small. That's normal. A nematode is microscopic, and that paste or powder holds millions of them.
- Gnats fly on for a bit. Adults already out of the soil keep going for about a week. What changes first is fewer new ones.
- Watch traps and new damage. Trap counts fall, grub damage stops, and plants wilting for no clear reason quietly stop wilting.
How to release triple blend nematodes for broad-spectrum soil pest control
You may need to retreat
Eggs and young pests you can't see yet keep hatching after the first release. A second round catches that next wave.
You're done when you're seeing fewer pests and new growth comes in clean. Still seeing them, or fresh damage on new growth, at the check? That's your cue for another round.
Put it on a schedule and the next pack arrives on its own, 10% off the first and 15% off every one after. If it turns out you don't need it, pause or cancel anytime from your account.
Reviews
What growers say
What people say
4.7 out of 5, from 23 reviews.
It was so easy to apply to all of my 37 plants! Started working within a week on the thrips. I saw a huge decline in fungus gnats activity within three days!
37 plants in one go is impressive, and a big drop in gnats within three days is even better. Thanks for the review and the photo!
Great Product! We had cutworms and this totally solved the problem!
So far they seem to be doing their job. I've seen a reduction in pests seemingly overnight. I
Worked amazing to get rid of the fungus gnats in my tent. I had em really well controlled for a while with good watering techniques and sticky traps, but wanted to do more and these did the trick!!! I haven’t seen an increase of adults getting stuck on my sticky traps for weeks now!!
Noticeable reduction in fungus gnats!
My garden came to life and the pests are gone.
Great!
Hi there! We're so glad you’re happy with the product. Thanks for your positive feedback!
I haven't seen them go to work yet.
I believe you mentioned in another review that you’re looking to treat ants? I’m sorry, we don’t sell anything that effectively treats ants. In fact; there really is not a beneficial that does a good job with them at all. Please feel free to email us with any questions.
Easy to order, helpful with product selection. The AI features is full of great information for proper use and application.
I purchased the triple blend nematodes in hopes I can get rid of the fungus gnats that’s been hanging around our fruit trees. We applied as directed and it’s been a few weeks and I absolutely have not seen any difference. As a matter of fact, they have gotten worse. I would not recommend and would not buy this product again as they are pricey.
Hi Tracy, thanks for the honest feedback, and we're sorry the gnats are hanging on. Nematodes work best when soil moisture is managed alongside them — fungus gnat larvae thrive in consistently damp soil, so without letting the top layer dry between waterings the adults keep regenerating faster than one broad spectrum application can clear. It often takes moisture control plus a repeat treatment, or the fungus gnat specialists (Sf Nematodes). If you haven't already, please reach out to the customer service team at info@fgmnnursery.com and we'll walk through it with you.
Just one treatment and i havent seen any of the pests I have seen. Side note. I did find a Hummingbird Moth in my garden.
It was very easy to apply, and tough because of periodic forecasts of heavy rain. Got it done, though.
It worked! No more grubs in my raised garden beds!
Has worked so far! Only think i need to figure out is how often i need to treat my plants
Arrived and user right away! Customer service answered my question and was very helpful. Happy
I ordered the Triple Blend Nematodes for Broad-Spectrum Soil Pest Control and it came pretty quickly. After applying to my seedlings, I noticed a significant decrease of new fungus gnats (it took only a few days to see a change, definitely worth it and I am ordering another batch now!)
Fast! Well priced and answer question quick!
Best way to naturally fight pests. My garden loves your products. Thank you!
Quick delivery and no issues with shipping. Already seeing an improvement with a reduction of fungus gnats. Much better alternative for a healthy ecosystem for my plants.
These were packed well and easy to apply.
If your having an issue with bugs this is the way to go to quickly take care of the infestation.
They really do work!! Thank you!!!! :)
Within a week its like all the bugs got up and left. I put 50 million in a 3’ x 9’ strip with 3” coco coir and 3” cedar mulch. Between the house and the patio. I will boomark these.
Thank you for the review! They're pretty amazing, right?! That's a perfect set up that you have as well. Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your pest solutions. Please let us know if we can ever help more in some way.
How many square feet will one package cover?
Great question -- complicated answer. I'll base it on averages, but do know this can change quite a bit based on your soil, environment and pest your treating or preventing. We're more than happy to help dial it in if you provide us with more information about your situation, but in the meantime:
Treatment: 1M nematodes covers about 40-50 sq ft (so if you choose the pack of 10M, that's 400-500 sq ft)
Prevention: 1M covers about 200-250 sq ft (and again, for 10M that's 2000-2500 sq ft)
You can keep left overs in the fridge for about a month. (Recent peer reviewed reports actually state that you can keep them room temperature and it won't affect anything, but I can't personally confirm that)
What blend do you recommend for termite larva?
Hi! Both Sc and HB nematodes will help with termite larva. They're both in the triple blend, or you could buy them individually or separately. Frankly the triple blend is your better economic bet. :)
It was so easy to apply to all of my 37 plants! Started working within a week on the thrips. I saw a huge decline in fungus gnats activity within three days!
37 plants in one go is impressive, and a big drop in gnats within three days is even better. Thanks for the review and the photo!
Great Product! We had cutworms and this totally solved the problem!
So far they seem to be doing their job. I've seen a reduction in pests seemingly overnight. I
Worked amazing to get rid of the fungus gnats in my tent. I had em really well controlled for a while with good watering techniques and sticky traps, but wanted to do more and these did the trick!!! I haven’t seen an increase of adults getting stuck on my sticky traps for weeks now!!
Noticeable reduction in fungus gnats!
My garden came to life and the pests are gone.
Great!
Hi there! We're so glad you’re happy with the product. Thanks for your positive feedback!
I haven't seen them go to work yet.
I believe you mentioned in another review that you’re looking to treat ants? I’m sorry, we don’t sell anything that effectively treats ants. In fact; there really is not a beneficial that does a good job with them at all. Please feel free to email us with any questions.
Easy to order, helpful with product selection. The AI features is full of great information for proper use and application.
I purchased the triple blend nematodes in hopes I can get rid of the fungus gnats that’s been hanging around our fruit trees. We applied as directed and it’s been a few weeks and I absolutely have not seen any difference. As a matter of fact, they have gotten worse. I would not recommend and would not buy this product again as they are pricey.
Hi Tracy, thanks for the honest feedback, and we're sorry the gnats are hanging on. Nematodes work best when soil moisture is managed alongside them — fungus gnat larvae thrive in consistently damp soil, so without letting the top layer dry between waterings the adults keep regenerating faster than one broad spectrum application can clear. It often takes moisture control plus a repeat treatment, or the fungus gnat specialists (Sf Nematodes). If you haven't already, please reach out to the customer service team at info@fgmnnursery.com and we'll walk through it with you.
Just one treatment and i havent seen any of the pests I have seen. Side note. I did find a Hummingbird Moth in my garden.
It was very easy to apply, and tough because of periodic forecasts of heavy rain. Got it done, though.
It worked! No more grubs in my raised garden beds!
Has worked so far! Only think i need to figure out is how often i need to treat my plants
Arrived and user right away! Customer service answered my question and was very helpful. Happy
I ordered the Triple Blend Nematodes for Broad-Spectrum Soil Pest Control and it came pretty quickly. After applying to my seedlings, I noticed a significant decrease of new fungus gnats (it took only a few days to see a change, definitely worth it and I am ordering another batch now!)
Fast! Well priced and answer question quick!
Best way to naturally fight pests. My garden loves your products. Thank you!
Quick delivery and no issues with shipping. Already seeing an improvement with a reduction of fungus gnats. Much better alternative for a healthy ecosystem for my plants.
These were packed well and easy to apply.
If your having an issue with bugs this is the way to go to quickly take care of the infestation.
They really do work!! Thank you!!!! :)
Within a week its like all the bugs got up and left. I put 50 million in a 3’ x 9’ strip with 3” coco coir and 3” cedar mulch. Between the house and the patio. I will boomark these.
Thank you for the review! They're pretty amazing, right?! That's a perfect set up that you have as well. Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your pest solutions. Please let us know if we can ever help more in some way.
How many square feet will one package cover?
Great question -- complicated answer. I'll base it on averages, but do know this can change quite a bit based on your soil, environment and pest your treating or preventing. We're more than happy to help dial it in if you provide us with more information about your situation, but in the meantime:
Treatment: 1M nematodes covers about 40-50 sq ft (so if you choose the pack of 10M, that's 400-500 sq ft)
Prevention: 1M covers about 200-250 sq ft (and again, for 10M that's 2000-2500 sq ft)
You can keep left overs in the fridge for about a month. (Recent peer reviewed reports actually state that you can keep them room temperature and it won't affect anything, but I can't personally confirm that)
What blend do you recommend for termite larva?
Hi! Both Sc and HB nematodes will help with termite larva. They're both in the triple blend, or you could buy them individually or separately. Frankly the triple blend is your better economic bet. :)
Pairs well with
Small things that help them work
-
Add alongside
Stratiolaelaps scimitus
What happens two weeks later.
from $50
-
Add alongside
Horiver Professional Sticky Traps
Most pest problems are found on a card a week or two before they are found on a leaf.
from $11
More to know
Ways to buy, questions and reading
Ways to buy
Once, on a schedule, with friends, or mixed with other predators.
- One time
- A single pack, this once. Free shipping on orders of $30 or more, $15 under that.
- On a schedule
- 10% off your first box, 15% off every box after. Skip, move, pause or cancel from your account.
- Group order
- Friends each pick what they want, and it ships to you in one box.
- Mix and match
- Buy several predators together and they get cheaper.
For the curious
Everything else we know about them. Tap a topic to open it.
Is this your pest?
This is the one for when you know something is in the soil but not what. Three species, three depths, one drench.
Soil pests do not all live at the same depth, which is why choosing a single nematode species means committing to a diagnosis. Fungus gnat larvae and thrips pupae sit in the top inch. Fleas, cutworms and webworms cross the surface. Beetle grubs and root weevils sit deeper, in the root zone, and barely move.
The signs read differently too: gnats lifting off a pot when you water, seedlings cut off at the base overnight, a lawn yellowing in patches and lifting like a carpet. If more than one of those is happening, or you are honestly not sure which it is, this pack covers all three without asking you to choose.
Then: is the Triple Blend the right answer to it?
Choose this if
Choose the blend when you have more than one pest, or no confirmed identification. Sf patrols the root zone, Sc ambushes anything mobile near the surface, and Hb cruises deep after grubs — so every depth is covered in a single application. It is the best general preventative we sell for lawns and gardens, completely harmless to mammals and earthworms, and there is no re-entry interval.
Choose something else if
If you have identified one pest, a single species puts every nematode you paid for on that job and usually costs less. The three species also do not share a temperature range, so at any given soil temperature one or two of them are working and the others are not — which is the honest trade you are making for the breadth.
What it kills, and what it won't
Earthworms are safe. Beneficial nematodes are specific to insect pests, and an earthworm is both far larger and biologically a different proposition — they are ignored.
How it works
What it does to the pest, what it does in the soil, and what that leaves you looking at.
Two ways in, one result
The two Steinernema species enter a pest through its natural body openings; Heterorhabditis bores straight through the cuticle. Either way they release symbiotic bacteria and the host dies within 24 to 48 hours. No poison on your soil, no residue, nothing to become resistant to.
Three depths at once
Sf works the root zone, Sc holds the top inch and thatch, Hb tunnels deeper after grubs. A single-species drench covers one of those three bands; this covers all of them, which is the entire argument for the blend.
What stops happening
Adult gnats keep flying for a week because those are already out of the soil. Grub damage stops before anything above ground looks different. The measure is trap counts falling and new damage ceasing, not a change you can see tomorrow.
The three species do not all work at once. Sf covers the cool end at 50–80°F, Sc runs 60–85°F, Hb wants 65–90°F. At any given soil temperature some of the pack is working and some is waiting — which is the cost of not having to identify the pest.
Will it work in your soil?
Three things decide whether this works. Dechlorinated water — chlorine and chloramine kill nematodes outright. An evening or early morning application, because direct sunlight kills them quickly. And soil you can keep moist for two weeks afterwards. No high-nitrogen fertilizer, fungicide or herbicide for a few days either side.
About the Triple Blend
Three nematode species in one pack, because soil pests do not all live at the same depth. Millions of live infective juveniles in something that looks far too small for the number on the label.
New to beneficials?
Five things that catch almost everyone the first time.
What arrives
Millions of live infective juveniles on a moist inert carrier, shipped dormant. It looks like a dusty paste or powder, and it becomes active only when mixed with water.
The pack will look far too small for the number on the label. That is normal — a nematode is microscopic, and there is nothing to see in there.
Into the fridge on arrival. 38–42°F, and best kept out of the freezer — that is the one thing to avoid. A warm package or a melted ice pack is not a problem; a carrier that has dried out, or gone the consistency of toothpaste, is worth telling us about.
When it ships, and when it lands
Shipping
We ship when they're ready to travel. Live orders go out Monday to Thursday. If a colony needs a beat to peak, or we're propagating a fresh batch, yours might hold up to a week. All mites and insects ship 2-day or Overnight depending on what's best for them.
When it lands
Fridge first, then an evening job. Water the soil thoroughly beforehand. Dissolve the carrier in a bucket of dechlorinated water and stir vigorously to break up clumps. Drench with a watering can or a hose-end sprayer set to free flow, every filter finer than 50 mesh removed, stirring every few minutes because they sink. Then water again immediately, and keep the soil moist for two weeks.
Why we pack extra
Two days in a van is a long trip for something this small, so we send more than you paid for.
A nematode is microscopic, and it ships dormant in a pouch, in a van, for two days.
A trip like that is hard on anything this small, so we price it in: the number on the label gets counted out, and then roughly 15% more goes in on top as a cushion.
Your 25-million pack leaves here holding more than 25 million. The cushion is on us.
If you can see them
Ladybugs, lacewing larvae, Orius — the minute pirate bug — and the beetles. These are the ones big enough to see.
Cold insects are very good at sitting still. That's normal. Release them as this page says, and watch the pest instead.
Something look wrong? Email info@fgmnnursery.com with your order number.
If you can't see them
Mites, nematodes, eggs — most of what we sell, and this one more than any of it. A pouch of carrier looks identical whether it holds 25 million live nematodes or none, and no photograph settles that. So we don't ask you to take one.
Email info@fgmnnursery.com and our entomologist takes you through the diagnostic instead — where the box sat, what your room was doing, and then what the pest is doing about ten days later.
Two things worth telling us about: a carrier that has dried out, and one that has gone the consistency of toothpaste. Either of those, email us with your order number.
Seventy-two hours from delivery, either way, with your order number. Replacement or store credit, your pick.
Questions about triple blend nematodes for broad-spectrum soil pest control
Will I have bugs flying around my house?
No. They stay in the soil, where their food is.
Can I see them?
No. Beneficial nematodes are microscopic. You will not see them in the package or in the soil. The carrier material (powder/gel) is visible, but the worms are not.
Will they survive the winter?
Generally, no. In most climates, nematode populations will drop significantly over winter or during hot, dry summers. We recommend seasonal applications (Spring and Fall) for outdoor lawn protection.
Can I use a hose-end sprayer?
Yes! This is the easiest way to treat lawns. Set the dial to a high ratio (like 1:15 or "free flow") and remove the internal filter screen. If you leave the screen in, you will filter out the nematodes and spray only water.
Will they kill my earthworms?
No. Beneficial nematodes are specific to insect pests. They generally ignore healthy earthworms, which are much larger and have different biology.
Can I use fertilizer at the same time?
Yes, standard fertilizers are fine. However, avoid high-nitrogen chemical fertilizers or pesticides (fungicides/herbicides) for a few days either side of application, as these can stress or kill the nematodes.
What if the package got warm during shipping?
Nematodes are tougher than people think, and a package that feels warm on arrival is common. A melted ice pack is expected — the pack is there for humidity, not cooling. Put them straight into the fridge and carry on.
What is worth telling us about: a carrier that has dried out, or one that has gone the consistency of toothpaste after sitting in high humidity. Either of those, email us with your order number.
How many Triple Blend nematodes do I need?
Sizes are by pot count, so count every pot in the room, not just the ones where you've noticed something.
- Prevention or light pressure: pick the size whose pot count covers your number.
- Active infestation: use the curative rate, the same pack over half the area. Double your pot count, then pick the size. If you’re torn between two sizes, take the larger: the blend splits three ways, so each depth gets a third.
- One pack is one application. Preventative: every 4–6 weeks through the growing season. Active: two or three rounds, 7–14 days apart.
- Check again about two weeks later: sticky trap counts falling and no new grub damage.
Keep reading
Field Notes from the FGMN Nursery team.
How Beneficial Nematodes Work: The Science of "Waking Up" Soil Predators
That packet of powder contains millions of living nematodes in a state of suspended animation — dried down,…
How to Dose Beneficial Nematodes (Without Losing Your Mind)
Not sure how many nematodes you need, or why your last application didn't work? This covers the dose,…
You Cannot See Them. You Cannot See Them Working, Either.
You watered in something you could not see, to kill something you could not see, in a part…
Sources
Published guidance from university extension services. The release tips on this page also draw on what we see shipping these every week.