The problem with Phase 1 is that these mites could have been here a lot longer than I think, meaning they could already be through a handful of generations - I've been occasionally spraying neem but not like a person with spider mites lol...so I'm wondering if they could have started to become resistant to neem already, which would cause me to have to use an alternative method...Don't worry guys next time you see these poor bastards they'll be in better shape ...I'm fairly confident the adults are eradicated but I'm sure there's some larva and eggs hanging about that will need to be dealt with in round 2 of the battle...soaked the medium in a diluted neem oil concoction and then added a thin layer of fresh soil over the top to keep anything that was on the surface away from my Damn plants. Coated the ladies top to bottom in a slightly different concoction but still organic based with neem...potted up the critical sensi star - she was looking a little rough in that solo cup. I've cleaned everything thoroughly in the tent, around the tent, and around the room the tent is in. Those little fuckers never stood a chance lol
Phase 2 will be slightly more aggressive, and involves actually removing foilage that is infested (if it comes to that) and spraying with an alcohol foliar spray - I'll play it by ear n see what happens after today, but from what I've read these things aren't going to just go away...hopefully I've noticed them soon enough to come to a resolution before they really start causing some damage.
If they make it to phase 2 and aren't looking like they're going away, then phase 3 will be unfortunately what I'll resort to - this will involve non organic chemical treatment. I don't want it to get there, but I'd rather do that during veg with plenty of time to wash that shit away than have these motherfuckers crawling around in flower. This is the last resort and most likely won't occur. I'm still looking around for an alternative to phase 3 that involves no inorganic chemicals - any suggestions? Ideally the problem will be completely dealt with before I even have to consider this option.
Thanks man I'll def try the recipe next.Sounds like you're on it Ayr0n, keep a close eye on them. Fortunately never had to use it on mites but I used the following spray outdoor in the past and pulled it out this summer when I had some nasty little black bugs eating my outdoor leaves. One spray/soaking and never saw any bugs after that. It's a mix of Cayenne Pepper, Garlic Powder, Olive Oil, Dish Soap. About 3/4 tspn of each of the cayenne pepper and garlic powder per gallon, heat low and mix once in a while for couple of hours to dissolve it into something you can spray (otherwise the cayenne clogs your sprayer), mix in ~ 1/4 tspn per gallon of the Olive Oil and Dish Soap afterwards. Let it cool, shake and throw it into a spay bottle. Plants loved it, bugs didn't. There's nothing in it that would hurt putting some in the top layer of soil and would probably take care of any remaining critters in there. Cheers.
That's the crazy thing is that it's winter...Haven't been around any other vegetation in at least a month lol... No idea if the eggs can be in soil or what...I can't say 100% it's spider mites but based on the visible evidence and all the images I've seen of mite activity it really looks that way to me. I do have 3 dogs in the house - they aren't allowed in the grow room but I'm sure I could of picked something up off of them and drug it in there...I don't really have the capability to get a micro shot, but this picture from google is basically what I can see with my eyes (not as detailed but u kno...):Plants look really healthy man, surprised to hear that you've identified mites... macro pic by any chance? These plants started from seed right, so they came from outdoors...? Other gardens often are the culprit! The suckers catch a ride on your holiday sweater. Here's a few ideas, you're prolly aware of most so sorry if I'm being redundant.
you're going to want to pick up a bigger sprayer from the home center, the kind with the angled wand. you'll be able to get under the leaves easier as the plants get larger. for now just turn em nearly upside down for the spray down. use a few drops of no scented soap or a wetting agent with the neem, rinse w just water in between to avoid caking up the stomata w oil. trim and remove from grow area, all the extra lower scruffy leaves and branching that harbor those suckers. the just water rinses will also disrupt the mites. good luck
It would probably be best to take the cuts now like you said...It'll be my first time so I'd like to prep a little and have a decent amount of disposable time when I do take them so... probably not tonight..Gotta work some OT in the morning so I'm gonna retire early 2night. The other tent's ventilation and light is set up so basically all that's left is cutting off the clones and getting them into the hot house...Mites are a pain, sounds like you've got it under control though and good play on not starting the flip yet. I would go ahead and take cuttings now if I were you. That way you can give the ladies a week to recover from the haircut and you can fully eradicate those bloody mites. The only mites you should have at this point will be living in your medium. I suggest you thoroughly mix in some neem oil solution and DE to any extra medium you have laying around and that you continue to mix up the soil with a highly diluted neem solution until you start planting in there again.
Of course waiting to take cuts is an option, but if you do it now it will save you time and space.
Keep fighting the good fight Ron
Yes that is trichs, it's ready for harvest. cut it downIs that fucking trichs growing on my fan leaves lol? Anyone else experience that in early veg or am I just being overly optimistic? I thought they developed mostly on sugar leaves and buds but that sure as hell looks like some trichs n that picture...whatdya think? @polo the don @GroErr @Sativied
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The flip is coming my man...got a little bit of room to play with still if GG 2 is actually male. That one will be getting a private hotel room with a GG 3 cutting lol.Looking great Ayr0n, when are you thinking of flipping those? They look like they'd fill that space in after stretch.
probably a good time huhYes that is trichs, it's ready for harvest. cut it down
That's what I like to see, experimentation. That's what'll make you a good grower IMO.The flip is coming my man...got a little bit of room to play with still if GG 2 is actually male. That one will be getting a private hotel room with a GG 3 cutting lol.
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Cuttings chillin... lets see if I can keep em alive long enough to root lmao... Ended up not going with the heat pad. They were a little droopy by the time I got the dome on but perked back up after a little while. I tried to put a couple variances in the method so I can try and tune in on getting a good success rate. Tried to do the scarification a little different on a few, did some with gel and some without, cut the leaves off differently for some, snipped the tips off the leaves on some to reduce the surface area...Just want to see what happens to each one lol