Spider-Man
Well-Known Member
But they dont.
Help! Caterpillars make a grown man cry!
- Thread starter MatthiaZ
- Start date
Spider-Man
Well-Known Member
Spraying with apple cider vinegar is okay. That really helps keep the powder mildew off. If you have signs of worms, you really have to go through the buds good. Once you find all the worms and remove them start covering with tulle.
When you find a bud that has brown or mold in it. You have to separate the buds on the whole Branch to look for the worms, or little brown turds.
ArrOgNt RocKstAR
Well-Known Member
Both BT & GrowSafe combined will handle just about all your issues from insects to fungi, and both are used by industrial farmers.
They work awesomely, and once ya start implementing both, a lot of fall-time anxiety goes away.
The critters that hatch wont stand a chance. I used to spray each separately, but ill combine both from now on.
This is from GrowSafe customer service.
2% means 4 Tablespoons of GS per gallon of water.
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September is caterpillar season around here. The out of place brown sugar leaf is usually the first indicator of their damage. Remove the entire affected nug from the stem and pitch it. Then inspect the surrounding nugs for caterpillar poop. These will be the next to start molding. Any nug with any poop in it must be removed.
I start spraying BT (Monterrey brand) once a week at first sign of flower. At first sign of caterpillar damage I up the frequency to 2x a week. The problem is once the eggs hatch the caterpillars will bore into the buds while we are spraying the surface of them. Some loss of harvest is inevitable. I'm happy if it's less than 20%. I call it the caterpillar tax. It's the price of doing business when growing organically outdoors. The fabric covering mentioned above is another good tool to use in the fight against these pests. A bug zapper placed near the grow is another option. Minimizing damage is the goal; 100% extermination is not possible.
I start spraying BT (Monterrey brand) once a week at first sign of flower. At first sign of caterpillar damage I up the frequency to 2x a week. The problem is once the eggs hatch the caterpillars will bore into the buds while we are spraying the surface of them. Some loss of harvest is inevitable. I'm happy if it's less than 20%. I call it the caterpillar tax. It's the price of doing business when growing organically outdoors. The fabric covering mentioned above is another good tool to use in the fight against these pests. A bug zapper placed near the grow is another option. Minimizing damage is the goal; 100% extermination is not possible.
MatthiaZ
Active Member
Thank you. It seems like mold is becoming more of an issue now. Some strains more than others. I am just getting cloudy shit weather right now and it’s been a daily thing to cut out the mold and spray with vinegar. It’s really all I can do. It might be an early harvest this year but I’ll make a bunch of hash and press it. Would prob be great to have young trichomes from a landrace sativa. Gotta look at the bright side. The gg4 is done and drying so at least we have that for fresh meds.
Sir Napsalot
Well-Known Member
I haven't sprayed any BT yet this year
but I may start
but I may start
Paranoidandroid42
Active Member
My best tip to you is next year make sure your soil is healthy, you use lots of 20-20-20 during grow season and use worm casting tea to keep your soil microbes healthy.
I haven't had a single pest or mold problem all year and even have had a few branches break or the kid spraying water on it right before a still humid night.
Also have a very nice natural insect killing crew out there.
Healthy plants need no help from humans other then feed
I haven't had a single pest or mold problem all year and even have had a few branches break or the kid spraying water on it right before a still humid night.
Also have a very nice natural insect killing crew out there.
Healthy plants need no help from humans other then feed
Spider-Man
Well-Known Member
I could be wrong, I would say your not in ohio. I did everything you said, still had a fight on my hands.
MatthiaZ
Active Member
This soil is healthy as a muther! I’ve paid good money and made sure it’s a diverse ecosystem of root orgies! I just recently found out that in my area. A small coastal town in southern Cali, every single grower I talk to has told me you will ALWAYS get mold here unless you are indoors or have a greenhouse. I get it every year and lose about half my plants but this year I am hoping for a little less damage. Thanks for your tips and good luck with yours.
brogro
Well-Known Member
I've been a subscriber to mother Earth News since 1977. They tout that. I've been organic ever since. I wanted so much to believe. But it's BS in fact I think the healthier a plant is the more attractive it is to a pest.
Chief_Broom
Well-Known Member
Outdoors every year is different. What works one grow may not be as effective another.