I just found out that I have a spider mite infestation in my clone tent I think an originally came from a weeping willow bonsai that I had that got spider mites inside. They’re at a pretty advanced stage I’m about to check the fungicides and sprays that I do have to see if they’ll contain them but I don’t know if it’s even worth it. Should I get rid of the worst plants or should I just spray them all and hope for the best???
I’d douche them down; really wet them, with dilute peroxide. Leave overnight and start a program with “Safer Caterpillar Killer” which seems to do the job. Re-apply after five days. If you want ‘belts and suspenders’, follow the Safer with “Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew”. These two products contain different bacteria that are safe for people and pets but deadly to certain insect vectors.
Plan on doing a bud wash in peroxide at harvest.
They will need a bud wash even though they’re still in the veg stage? Some will end up outdoor also if they make it. One plant has a very advanced case I may just pitch it. I mean it has webs on leaves. Even after I eliminate the spider mites what the webs? Very upset about this situation.
I have crop defender 3 already at my disposal so I’m going to spray them down and do some cutting. I already tossed the worst one outside. Very upsetting but I have high hopes in saving the rest. This says kills eggs on contact ill apply again in a few days. I freaked out at first, still pretty upset. I have new cut clones I’ll have to spray too just to be safe. Oh boy. Could have done without this…
Horticulturists will tell you to take an infected plant outside and spray it down with the hose. Get the undersides of leaves etc. A lot of folks forget to spray the top surface of the media and the sides of any fabric pots. Then follow up with something cannabis safe. I’m not a fan of Neem oil but it can be used in veg. NOT in flower.
And yes; a bud wash is for the removal of accumulated gunk from everything in your environment and done just in case there are mite bodies still present. This was one plant indoor grow:
If you are going to put plants outside I strongly recommend using a ‘plant fabric protector’ which is nothing more than a big mesh bag with very fine mesh. It won’t hinder the plant at all but will keep almost everything off of your plants. @Caligurl uses them: maybe she’ll pop in.
You’ll also want to spray down the entire inside of your indoor grow space. I feel your pain. And if these are in your area you’ll learn to hate them:
Yes, take outside and hose down best you can. Let dry and spray with whatever you have. Mix it up because they become resistant to one pesticide.
I use PureCrop1, Captn Jacks Deadbug, and Safer brand Insecticidal soap. Neem ok but not into flower.
I’ve had mites right up until harvest. I cut the plant down and hang upside down. Believe it or not, they migrate to the top of the hanging stem where you can spray them and kill them.
Always do a bud wash whether you grow inside or outside
Oh and I hate ALL moths…. The insect fabric works well
Crop Defender 3 is what i use also. Its the only thing that finally got everything under control. Use every 2 to 3 days during infestation and then every 7 as preventative. Growers ally also has a spider mite treatment exclusively for mites.
Burn it and start over.
Peroxide 1-2 cups mixed in with 1 gallon of water. Spray tops and bottoms of leaves and stock and branches. Repeat for a couple of days. Make sure the lights are off! Then after you’ve seen the infestation is gone I’d use an emulsified mix of 1.5 tbsp neem oil and 1.5 tbsp of biodegradable soap added to a 1.5-2 gallon sprayer and soak the plant again with the lights off to prevent leaf burn.
Azamax will fix that issue for you 100%
I’ve also had success with other methods mentioned above (insecticidal soap, neem oil, lost coat plant therapy, Canntrol) but it will be a bit of a battle. You’ve got more options since they are not in flower.
Regardless, you want to be careful of anything that’s systemic (will be taken up by the plant) or products that will leave a residue.
Wow. Very interesting. Thank you for the info
Nonono. This isn’t the 70s
Okay I’ve been treating with growers ally crop defender 3. I’m pruning off the dead today and doing a final spray down tonight and then tomorrow I will order predatory mites and introduce them into my tent.
Good advice, always.
Spider Mites?
WTF is this?
Yes first two pics are spider mites
Last pic is some kind of wasp… There are good predatory wasps but I’m not the best at identifying them because there are so many… my guess would be in the trypoxylon sub species
Thanks.
Do they drown?
The ladybugs didn’t finish them off.
Mites are different than aphids. Aphids will wash off and they are lazy so they rarely go back up to the plant but mites move quickly. In flower, I recommend a product like PureCrop1. It is safe to use throughout flower. With any kind of spray, even if just soybean oil, I recommend a bud wash immediately after harvest. That will remove any residual spray and dead carcasses.