Grrr, mites

[Phlash]

Just needed to vent a bit perhaps gain some insight. Last bloom ran longer than expected, no big deal but I got busy and let the plants in the veg tent get a little bushy, figured just trim them a bit, give em a week and the switch to bloom. So I pull them out this morning and I’m clipping away when I notice something off with some of the leaves, close inspection I see mites. Wtf, I’ve been so careful about cross contamination with the outdoor grow, I always tend to the girls inside prior to making the rounds outside, always wash tools in alcohol. No pets in the grow, I haven’t seen any evidence on them on the outdoor ones either, but I know they are definitely harder to spot outside. I’m at somewhat of a loss, perhaps I did something out of sequence during some harvesting, not sure.

Well needless to say the slight trim became a vigorous defoliation, and then a follow up water/alcohol wash then close inspection along with a thorough straight alcohol tent scrub. I’ll pull them out in a couple days with a follow up with a spinosad. So I’ll have to add a few weeks but as long as they’re eradicated I figure it's a lesson learned. Just wish I knew exactly how I introduced them.

[PLreef]

Before you spray with Spinosad read up on predatory mites. They work better than any chemicals I know of. 100% safe. Once they eat all the bad mites they simply die. I use Arbico-organics.com but there are many places online where you can get them. Good luck

[Rwise]

I'll second not using spinosad products. Outside you may have predators that take care of things, however they dont often follow the bad bugs inside, and they will find your plants. I have more bug issues inside than out.

[Phlash]

Just wondering why the aversion to spinosid? I wasn’t going to utilize it outside as I don’t want to apply something that could indiscriminately target beneficial insects that live in the garden. The plan was just to use it in the tent, it is my understanding it is a naturally occurring bacteria with a fairly short half life. The plan was to do the alcohol/water wash and then utilize the spinosid as a secondary measure to counter the pest continuing alternating treatments for a few weeks before I switch to bloom.

I do really like the idea of the predators for outdoor and plan to increase plants that attract them naturally and appreciate the link for sourcing them.

[Rwise]

1 It kills bees, so use it at dusk when the bees are in the hive. (of course this would be for outside)
2 There are no studies that say it is safe (or unsafe) to smoke, so best to not use it on buds (and be safe), at least until the proper studies have been done.
3 Either the ISO or spinosad needs to be redone every 3 days for at least 3 treatments as both are contact killers. For this neither has the advantage.

[Going2fast]

Bad mites or good mites you still got bugs in your house and on your weed. Spray them down and again in three days and your fine. As long as they are not in flower.

[Phlash]

Lol, that was my thought exactly hence the drastic chop and remediations.