Pest prevention protocol for NEW equip?

DrDukePHD

Well-Known Member
I just had some plastic plant risers shipped from a big hydro shop. I thought to myself, what if someone with an infestation of thrips/mites returned these last week?

I opened the box in garage, immediately took the risers into the bathroom where I sprayed them down completely with 70% ISOPROPYL Alcohol. Good idea? Or just overkill?

Any other steps/protocol you use to avoid unwanted passengers on hardware from cannabis/gardening shops?
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RIS

Well-Known Member
I say good on ya, I got my first tent used and ended up with pests.

Right now I have Broad Mites... FML
 

Boogierook

Well-Known Member
I had a some type of fungal infection come into my tent last grow and I can tell u that I Would much rather spend a little time upfront cleaning and disinfecting to prevent a possible problem then spending days if not weeks later on trying to correct them, if you even can.
I’m interested in how people clean and disinfect their lights after each grow if anyone can share?
 

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
Put every thing you bring into the grow in a garbage bag with a hot shot no pest strip "NPS" for a few days or more. Especially used gear that might have dormant mite eggs, etc.

You can keep the NPS in a zip lock bag (or the same trash bag wrapped up) when not in use, to keep it from drying out, and make it last years.

Nothing alive should live through that :)

It's one of my main quarantine protocols. I would even nuke clones I brought in thew same way, in a bag, if I ever did.
 

NanoGadget

Well-Known Member
my entire space gets bleached between runs. I haven't had the need to buy any new equipment for several years now, but if it came from a hydro store, plant nursery or pretty much anyplace with living plants they are getting disinfected before they get near my plants and equipment. I've never had a pest infestation and I put a lot of effort into keeping it that way. Random tip that is somewhat related... I don't wear anything I've worn outside/in public into my grow room. no reason to risk little mother fuckers trying to hitch a ride to your plants.
 

OM2

Member
I used a UVC lamp with ozone before starting my grow, it's 60 watts meant to sterilize a 60m2 room in 1 hour. I used it in the tent and all the equipment and tools. Every fabric pot gets treated with UVC before putting soil in it. All the water canisters get treated with bleach, and wires for LST are cleaned with alcohol. I also disinfect my hands with alcohol before touching the plants. I'm definitely not the cleanest person in the world but i do what i can to keep it as clean as possible.
 

Weedoguido

Well-Known Member
Put every thing you bring into the grow in a garbage bag with a hot shot no pest strip "NPS" for a few days or more. Especially used gear that might have dormant mite eggs, etc.

You can keep the NPS in a zip lock bag (or the same trash bag wrapped up) when not in use, to keep it from drying out, and make it last years.

Nothing alive should live through that :)

It's one of my main quarantine protocols. I would even nuke clones I brought in thew same way, in a bag, if I ever did.
Hot shot is da bomb!
 

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
I've tried them b4, and bought a few too. Even have the big grow bed and big grow bed junior from Smart pots. Even got a cool T-shirt from the smart pot inventor's smoking hot daughter after I asked for her number..

I would grow with fabric smart pots every day if she was my GF and I got them 4 free..

But she's not, and I'm a walmart grow bag cheap skate.
 

Weedoguido

Well-Known Member
I've tried them b4, and bought a few too. Even have the big grow bed and big grow bed junior from Smart pots. Even got a cool T-shirt from the smart pot inventor's smoking hot daughter after I asked for her number..

I would grow with fabric smart pots every day if she was my GF and I got them 4 free..

But she's not, and I'm a walmart grow bag cheap skate.
A few times I just brought the 2 quart bag of soil out in the forest and put the plant right in it. Poke a few holes in the bottom of the bag and your good to go.
 

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Wtf, It takes a real piece of crap to sell someone a tent with pests. Thats like selling a mattress/couch with bedbugs.

Hey at least with all these problems, your next grow is going to feel easy breezy beautiful covergirl ;)
That's why I avoid buying grow shit from Amazon. ISO wasn't a bad idea at all. I just ordered some risers too to try. I ordered the Gro Pro ones though.
 
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