I’m about 1-2 weeks from harvest and trying not to freak out right now!
Outside of Boston, 3 Orange Creamsicle girls from seeds from my first grow last year of clones that went hermie or got cross pollinated from a neighbor.
About 4-5 days ago I started noticing a few lil brown spots and caterpillar turds and have been plucking out 5-10 worms every day plus cleaning out the brown parts that got chomped. They just love the best looking buds too
I’m super busy with work but stayed home today to chop early but now it’s supposed to rain all day and would rather bud wash outside before I bring them to cedar closet to dry. Hopefully can squeak another day off tomorrow to do it then I don’t lose much more with the extra day.
Planning a 3-4 part bud wash - baking soda then lemon then Hyd Peroxide then rinse.
Any advice or suggestions on how I can salvage as much as possible? Y’all are the best!
If part is chomped and browned should I scrap whole bud or safe to clean it out and hope for best?
Definitely gonna step up my BT game next year.
Here’s some pics, you can see a lil bugger poking out of one of the buds.
I found some of the exact same little bastards on my little duckfoot yesterday morning and I stripped it down probably better than I do when I jar them and cut out any discolored spots alcohol cut alcohol cut then completely soaked the entire plant with a peroxide water mix (3tbs in a quart sprayer) here’s a pic of it
Edit = wanted to add the main reason I stripped the leaves is because it has been raining and is supposed to rain all week
Interesting thanks!
Alcohol should hopefully stop further infection but wouldn’t it kill flavor and potency where effected?
Better than smoking worm poop though haha.
Might try that technique on 1 of the 3 and try to ride it out to fully ripe in a couple weeks.
@Pet_de_Chien I did my Senior Thesis on BT bacteria for my Biochemistry paper. A interesting bacteria that acts as a natural pesticide.
I read a truck load of PhD thesis’s on it. I ran one experiment and the Professor thought I created a new Virus. I had to nuke it at 500 degrees Celsius. It looked like Sickle Cell.
So my inquiring mind had to know so I ran the same experiment again. I was using a $250k microscope and each lens cost on average $75k each.
I showed the Professor what it was doing. He said no one had ever captured the BT bacteria adapting to the chemical solution. He kicked himself in the arse for not having the Camera adaptor for the scope.
The bacteria comes out of China. My Professor was trying to get the Scientist that
to come to the USA so we could talk. But the USA changed the ■■■■ requirements at the time. So he was denied entry. I never got to talk with him which was a massive disappointment.
This happened at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. The catch with this bacteria is its good for up to 3 years. So you truly need to decontaminate the tent and gear. So the insects don’t adapt BT bacteria.
This was at the time I was studying it. I highly doubt its good for past 3 years.
Respect! I’m just an engineer, I’m no Biologist / Microscopist, although I do have a nice digital one that takes video for saccharomyces yeast wrangling and Lacto/Brett/Pedio identification/eradication for other hobbies. I might have to plate some BT to observe.
I only know they work, I use plenty of Bacteria/Nematodes for things like grubs in the veggie garden and fleas/ticks in the yard.
I used the alcohol to clean my hands and shears, if you want to use alcohol on the plant you will have to dilute it 50/50 with water. I sprayed mine with the peroxide water mix
I did 4 months studying this specific bacteria. The sad part is not every BT will have the natural pesticide in it.
I had to make agar and agar plates so I could concentrate the BT in a chemical solution. I forgot the name of the tool which has a round loop at the end. I sterilized it by a Bunsen burner.
Then I would scoop some out and serrate the agar plate. Then let it grow for a specific time period.
Its probably has changed since I studied it
back in 1999.
I retired when I was 32 and now 49. Its been that long.
Very cool and how appropriate now. right the 2 commonly recommended here are Isrealenisis (Bits) and Kurstaki (Safer). And who doesn’t think we should use less chemicals when there is a safer alternative, right. Inoculation loop, I make em as I need out of thin SS Mig wire. Lucky you on the early retirement, I’m same age, only still planning to work for 20 more years.
I was monitoring BT at -9 nanometer. The BT that had the crystal in it kinda looks like the white circle in the bacteria. It was not easy to see under the microscope.
It was a blast doing the research. This is why its critical to sterilise everything if you have a bug infestation because they can eventually adapt and the BT becomes worthless.
@Pet_de_Chien BT is awesome. Long as you sterilise everything. I can’t stress that enough. You can alternate BT with another safe one so
the insects don’t adapt as fast.
Sadly you can’t fully retire to you are 67. If earlier, SS will punish you. My mom was going to do 62 but she would have lost over $300 a month. She waited till 65 and died before her 66th birthday unexpectedly.
[quote=“MrPeat, post:13, topic:75925”]plenty of interesting stories to tell
[/quote]
I vaguely remember something about a boat, maybe 7/4? A fire or a storm? It was a good one.
Hey fellow MA grower, tough year for caterpillars, last year they were all green, this year I’m finding green, white, brown and purple caterpillars, nasty little creatures! Good luck with your harvest
I’ve pulled probably 20 worms off of one of my plants this year and only a few off the others. I’ve lost a lot of bud because of it. I’m sure I’ll lose some more. It’s an ongoing fight.
then completely soaked the entire plant with a peroxide water mix (3tbs in a quart sprayer) here’s a pic of it
