Spider mites 😐

[Conanwarrior]

Hi all

I have had a constant battle with spider mites throughout entire grow . I have kept them at bay but they are slowly winning the battle . I am about three weeks of harvest .

My question is what do they do when you harvest ? Do they disappear when plants begin to dry ?

TIA

[PLreef]

Nothing about spider mites disappears. Those little bastards are the devil! If you still have around 3 weeks to harvest I might suggest you look into predatory mites. They ship overnight. Give these guys a call, they will walk you through the whole process.

https://www.arbico-organics.com/category/spider-mite-control

[Rwise]

They are going to hide out until your next grow, some will die of course.
What are you using to battle the borg with?
(With the lights off) I use ISO 91% mixed 50/50 with water, spray the under side then the top and soak 'em! The alcohol kills the adults on contact, but not the eggs. So re-spray every 2-3 days without fail so the new hatch does not lay more eggs. I spray the plant, soil, floor, walls everydamnthing! Also should be a ventilated area as alcohol evaporates fast and is explosive, so no open flames. One can cut the mix to 1 part ISO and 8 parts water.
Spinosad should not be used in flower just as Neem oil should not.
Ladybugs are the absolute best thing you can get, but trust me when I say Moma does not want them in Her house!
Praying mantis would also be good.
Also check into "bud washing"

[grouchyoldman]

I had a *really* nasty spider mite infestation during my current grow and I tried the Grow Safe product for the first time.

The first application killed all the live spideys on contact, stopped them cold. I re-sprayed every three days four times then did a lower concentration "maintenance" treatment once a week for another two weeks. Haven't seen one since.

People seem to have variable experiences with Grow Safe but it sure did the trick for me. The active ingredients are vegetable oils and the company claims it is safe to use right up to harvest.

Prolly worth mentioning that I have a small electric "Fogger" that turns the liquid into a swirling gas that penetrates everywhere and dries almost immediately. I use it in the orchard and it seems like the most effective and fast applicator.

Here's a link to the model I use:

https://www.amazon.com/OdoBan-700069-Commercial-Fogmaster-Jr/dp/B00MU1ZK3E/ref=sr_1_68?crid=WHJSAHOL08T&dchild=1&keywords=electric+fogger+sprayer&qid=1615208764&sprefix=electric+fogger%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-68

[Conanwarrior]

Thanks guys , was using Neem oil for start of grow which was keeping them at bay just. Have ordered around three batches of predatory mites but they aren't working . I think as it's an outdoor grow the predatory mites are buggering of.

[dilvish]

If its an outdoor grow ( assuming good sunlight at least 6-8 hours per day) then get a pressurized aerosol garden sprayer. The manual pump kind. They are cheap... and then get some Diatomaceous Earth (Food grade). Mix 2 tablespoons with a gallon of warm water in the sprayer and spray around the base of the plant and from the underside of the leaves upward.

Leave it on the plant overnight and then spray the plant the same way the next day with just warm water. Rinse off as much as you can. Sprinkle a thin layer around the base of each plant as wide as the plant is. Within a few days your problem should be gone, if not, repeat every 3 days or so. Totally organic solution!!! just make sure you don't inhale the DE dust as it screws up your lungs as bad as smoking really shitty weed!!!

[Rwise]

Also DE when burned becomes crystallized and deadly to everything, so do get it all off, if you use it! I would not put it on the plant in flower.

[dilvish]

Rwise can you please let me know where you are getting that information. I have seen no reference to it being any worse (or better) than inhaling a bud that was sprayed with a fungicide or herbicide or any pesticide like neem oil. FYI it this form (food grade) it is already crystalline

As far as I have read the only danger in DE is if it is inhaled in large quantities. Even at that there is nothing to suggest it is any more harmful ignited with cannabis.

At the very least I will agree that it should be thoroughly rinsed off just in case. FYI food grade DE can be consumed by humans and pets without any trouble.

more here http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html

[Rwise]

http://earthwiseagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Earthwise-web-info.pdf

Start about half way done the first page if you want to get to the crystallized shit.

[quirk]

Natural Guard Insecticidal Soap. Done.

[Rwise]

Last year I would have said spinosad also, but many have banned it for our plants. So maybe not in flower.

[quirk]

Rwise, you're right. I corrected the error.