Clean out spider mites before next grow

Hi everyone, up until my last indoor grow I have been pretty lucky to have avoided spider mites. However, I got them on my last grow and got them bad. I have a few questions on moving forward to my next grow.

My box has been empty for about a week. How long can they persist in there without anything to feed on? I already have a plant i’d like to get in there but will wait a while longer if I am close to a window of reduced chance of reinfestation. I’m guessing the first thing to do is shopvac my grow box thoroughly. I’m sure I need to do more after that but i’m not sure what. My box is osb board lined with sheets of reflective insulation. Should I remove the insulation so I can clean under it also? Should I also be spraying down the inside? Which organic pesticides are the most effective or should I nuke it with all kinds of organic stuff? Anything else I should do before starting the next grow?

Once I start the grow what are the best steps to prevent another infestation? I feel like the air exchange is decent in my 24”x24” box with a 171cfm 4” inline fan venting my box and several holes in the side for air intake. However, I am wondering if a low power fan directed at the plant would help deter them? I will also keep a closer eye out for them now that I have experienced it once, maybe even hooking up my digital microscope from time to time to check. If they do show up I will get the shop vac back out to prep for spraying but what organic sprays should I use during veg and which during flower if different? How often should I use them once an infestation is detected? Any other advice to prevent or treat them? Thanks.

Austin

Austinb82 said:

How long can they persist in there without anything to feed on?

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For ever.


After vacuuming dump the contents......eggs.
Eggs can last for a long time, waiting for the right conditions......I used soap & water, then bleach, soap & water again.
Next grow I used insecticidal soap just as a precaution.

If you want to get rid of them for sure there's always chlorine trifluoride.

Good luck

A month. They can live for as long as a month unless they are going dormant in winter which will not happen indoors.

I've had recurring spidermites since last November, I just bought a thousand ladybugs and am releasing a few each night, fingers crossed they're supposed to eat em right up.

Make sure to clean your light, too. Unscrewing the casing, if needbe. Good luck!

MarijuanaGuides said:

Make sure to clean your light, too. Unscrewing the casing, if needbe. Good luck!

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So I am finally getting around to the cleaning and have done everything but the light, I have led lights that are still under warranty and say opening voids the warranty any ideas how to clean without? Maybe air compressor with trigger nozzle through vents?

Also guessing air filter should be changed and fan cleaned as well?

it should be fine man. i wouldn't worry about that. sure you can clean out the light with compressed air if you want. i highly doubt theres any eggs in your carbon filter or fan.

clean the floor/walls thoroughly with bleach.

as for what to spray preventative next grow i recommend Capt Jacks Dead Bug Brew with spinosad and safer insecticidal soap alternating throughout veg phase.

Just another suggestion....
You can also raise the temps up to optimum for spidermites - 30°C in the empty grow area, for a couple days, that'll hatch the eggs in the area hopefully. Then a smoke bomb, then, as already said, wash everything with bleach etc
I've used Mighty Wash on the plants to good effect and then introduced Phytoseiulus predators to mop up any stragglers.