Spider Mites?

[johnb1963]

4th week of flowering and I noticed some tiny white spots on some leaves. Looking at plant problems here, it looks like spider mites. Any advice. First time growing with out a tent. Never had any bug issues indoors.

 

[Gator]

Yeah,id say that's an egg of some sort , unfortunately I don't know what to use for spider mites, have you done a thorough inspection of the plant??

 

[Chipmunk]

I imagine there are some homemade brews for spider mites. I like to use Captain Jacks Dead Bug. Also, I would recommend washing your buds at harvest if you decide to use any insecticide. Good luck!

 

[Orggrwr]

I used predatory mites from Nature's Good Guys in my greenhouse this summer with good results. After 10 days I could only find the predators and no plant eaters. I would still recommend a bud wash at harvest though. I'll post some videos i took this year. The small fast moving ones are the predators.

 

[Chipmunk]

I forgot about a hydrogen peroxide mix in water. I use it mostly for fungus gnats, but it works on spider mites. It just kills the adults, so you have to continue the spray until you break the cycle. Also, no residual left over, and your plants might like the extra 02 molecule

 

[Allotrope1000]

I like Chipmunk's H2O2 solution.
I might dilute the standard 3% store bought hydrogen peroxide to 50/50%.
(Chipper, do you dilute yours?)
I had some white flies my first grow.
A 50/50% solution, half water, half 70% isopropyl alcohol got rid of most of them. Could work on mites. Orggrwr's predatory mites was an excellent idea, if sprays won't work.

Both H2O2 and isopropyl leave little, if any, residue. (H2O2 is used as a bud washing ingredient.)

 

[johnb1963]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback I haven't seen anything like the videos but I we spray with the hydrogen peroxide. What is the ratio?

 

[johnb1963]

Got it 50/50!

 

[Chipmunk]

I have just used it on the fungus gnats, but I know it's supposed to work on spider mites. I use a 1:4 dil for the gnats

 

[Chipmunk]

A Chipmunk trick. My 1st indoor grow gave me the fungus gnats. Now, before my soil ever gets to my lung room, I fill the grow pot about 1/4 the way up with soil then spritz the soil with a 1:4 dil h202 and water. Then fill the pot to halfway and repeat and so on. I have never had a gnat problem since

 

[johnb1963]

Sprayed twice with 50/50 H202 with a day in-between. I cant find any live critters. This is what I see?

 

[Chipmunk]

I can't really tell from the pics. If your critters are gone, they could have left behind some eggs. So, watch out for more live critters again. If you see more adults then spray with the h202 since it killed what bug you had, then repeat till you break the cycle. I think spider mite eggs are usually on the underneath side of the leaves. Good luck

 

[Chipmunk]

It could be the dead bugs outer skeleton left behind I guess

 

[Smallgrow]

Ya if you seem to be winning keep it up till your sure a few more sprays is good insurance, and definitely don’t let your gard down

 

[johnb1963]

Will do, thanks guys! FYI, those pics were from the top of the leaf. I haven't seen anything on the under side.

 

[Chipmunk]

Just keep it up. It could be the outer shell of the critters you're seeing. A 50/50 dilution of h202 and h20 will destroy cell membranes and dehydrate the critters thru oxidation leaving the outer skeleton behind. I also suggest using a fresh h202 and h20 suspension often when spraying for critters because it will degrade back to water if the suspension is exposed to light very long, thus the dark bottle the h202 comes in. Good luck!

 

[Allotrope1000]

Good advice from the forum!Remember to get the 3% standard concentration grocery/drug store H2O2.
Chipper likes 1:4 dilution, JohnB1963 1:1. I am thinking that 1:1 would be a good dilution for an active infestation.
Stronger and killing more mites faster. Don't forget to spray over a couple of weeks to kill new hatchlings or the mites will repopulate.
From an IPM point of view, Chipmunk's 1:4 dilution would be a good preventive spray to help ensure you do not get mites in the first place.
I also like coffee grounds sprinked
on top of the medium, adding diatomaceous earth if other insect critters appear.
Newer gardeners get exposed to too much grow company advertising - "got ABC, buy our special product A, got XYZ, buy our product X". Good old-fashion gardening cures from years back still work! And much less expensive.