The dreaded spider mite

Hello Folks

I gone and gotten spider mite. And so close to the finishing line.
I have a natural predator called Phytoline. However I bought this when I first started my grow. Which is nearly 5 months ago.
Q.. Will it still work or does it have an expiry date?

Thank you

BaROne123 said:

Hello Folks

I gone and gotten spider mite. And so close to the finishing line.
I have a natural predator called Phytoline. However I bought this when I first started my grow. Which is nearly 5 months ago.
Q.. Will it still work or does it have an expiry date?

Thank you

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PS no clear instructions on how to use. Asides pour gently on affected area/s

Those are all meant to be released when you receive them. It is doubtful many or any of your predator mites are still usable at this point.

How bad is the infestation? How far along are you exactly? Pictures of the whole plant followed by a close up of the problem areas would be helpful.

sensi8739 said:

Those are all meant to be released when you receive them. It is doubtful many or any of your predator mites are still usable at this point.

How bad is the infestation? How far along are you exactly? Pictures of the whole plant followed by a close up of the problem areas would be helpful.

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Thank you for the message.

I am in my final ten days before cropping. I started the flush today. EC . 500
No hydro shops open tomorrow.
I shall photograph in the morning.
I will try use a soapy water mix with oils etc.

Cheers Mister

BaROne123 said:

Thank you for the message.

I am in my final ten days before cropping. I started the flush today. EC . 500
No hydro shops open tomorrow.
I shall photograph in the morning.
I will try use a soapy water mix with oils etc.

Cheers Mister

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Hot pepper spray works ok in a pinch, Google organic spider mite recipes for more ideas. With 10 days or so left you'll be all right, but you should hit them with some kind of spray ASAP, good luck!

Beachwalker said:

Hot pepper spray works ok in a pinch, Google organic spider mite recipes for more ideas. With 10 days or so left you'll be all right, but you should hit them with some kind of spray ASAP, good luck!

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Thank you for the message and advise.
I shall Google. When you say hot pepper spray.... Are we talking tabasco sauce or police pepper spray? And I take it, that I must not get any on the buds?

Cheers Mister

Beachwalker said:

Hot pepper spray works ok in a pinch, Google organic spider mite recipes for more ideas. With 10 days or so left you'll be all right, but you should hit them with some kind of spray ASAP, good luck!

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Hey Mister
I have a question. You said with ten days to go I should be okay. Why is that? Is it to do with pace they breed or destroy?

Thank you for your help.

PS I Googled home made pepper spray. I have the ingredients.

sensi8739 said:

Those are all meant to be released when you receive them. It is doubtful many or any of your predator mites are still usable at this point.

How bad is the infestation? How far along are you exactly? Pictures of the whole plant followed by a close up of the problem areas would be helpful.

Click to expand...

I have looked closely at my mite predators phytoline using my loupe. Nothing moving. As you said... Intended for immediate use
*just thought to let you know that you are quite correct.

BaROne123 said:

Thank you for the message and advise.
I shall Google. When you say hot pepper spray.... Are we talking tabasco sauce or police pepper spray? And I take it, that I must not get any on the buds?

Cheers Mister

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you must treat the whole plant you will Bud wash when you harvest. Google the recipes for specifics, or search this site. some use hot pepper garlic tobacco, is a lot of different recipes you can search thats easy to prepare quickly, but their effective ;

if nothing else you can go to Home Depot or Lowe's and buy something off the shelf that will also work, which is what I would do.

Beachwalker said:

you must treat the whole plant you will Bud wash when you harvest. Google the recipes for specifics, some use hot pepper garlic tobacco, is a lot of different recipes you can search thats easy to prepare quickly, but their effective ;

if nothing else you can go to Home Depot or Lowe's and buy something off the shelf that will also work, which is what I would do.

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Thank you for the reply/advise.

Now to learn about bud washing.

Cheers Mister

A photo of plant where I noticed spider mites.
I have trimmed off quite a few leaves. Hope this slows the infestation. Now spraying with himalayan crystal salt. If that doesn't work... Then it's pepper spray. The problem is the only leaves I have are close to the bud. Once sprayed wait 30 minutes then shower these plants and clean tent etc., ( not that it's dirty )

Totally feel your pain. I seem to get mites in 50% of me grows, a fact I blame on having 2 cats & a dog, and live in a green wooded area. I can see them on the hedges around my house so i try be as careful as possible not to bring any in with me.
That's how I found out about bud washing- I'd recommend that to anyone, mites or not.

BaROne123 said:

A photo of plant where I noticed spider mites.
I have trimmed off quite a few leaves. Hope this slows the infestation. Now spraying with himalayan crystal salt. If that doesn't work... Then it's pepper spray. The problem is the only leaves I have are close to the bud. Once sprayed wait 30 minutes then shower these plants and clean tent etc., ( not that it's dirty )

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Try Frank's Red Hot, I put that **** on everything!

Beachwalker said:

Try Frank's Red Hot, I put that **** on everything!

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Thank you for the message and advise.
Will the bud not soak up some of the pepper sauce? I did try Himalayan crystal salt. Will check later to see if it's worked

Cheers Mister

facthunt said:

Totally feel your pain. I seem to get mites in 50% of me grows, a fact I blame on having 2 cats & a dog, and live in a green wooded area. I can see them on the hedges around my house so i try be as careful as possible not to bring any in with me.
That's how I found out about bud washing- I'd recommend that to anyone, mites or not.

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Thank you for the message and advise
I have started researching bud wash.

Cheers Mister

BaROne123 said:

Thank you for the message and advise
I have started researching bud wash.

Cheers Mister

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Hello Folks

Thank you all for suggestions etc regarding spider mites. I ended up using Himalayan salt crystals. Sprayed each plant with a litre of water and 6 tablespoons of the crystal salt which I had to crush and dissolve in boiling water.
Afterwards I put each plant under a luke warm shower for around 10 minutes. I then put them next to a window where the autumn sun part dried them.
Finally after hoovering, scrubbing, washing and change of water, I put them all back in the tent and set dehumidifier to 35%. Today I spent around 15 minutes looking for spider mites. I didn't find any. Now I'm not saying it's cured my problem. So don't rush off and nick your girlfriends Himalayan exfoliating crystals. I will check again tomorrow.
On a different note, my trichomes have jumped up. It's easily a quarter. It's time to pull the plug.
Q) Are my buds safe to chop down what with the possibility of stealth spider mites ( meaning mites I missed.. Easily done, I need an eye test )
Thanks All

spider mites are no biggy, just hit them with Mitey Wash, problem solved.

Bugeye said:

spider mites are no biggy, just hit them with Mitey Wash, problem solved.

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Thank you for the message and advise Question?, I an day's away from cropping as in its ready now to crop. Just flushing a bit. EC at. 500. Will Mitey Wash effect bud taste or other?

Thank you

BaROne123 said:

Thank you for the message and advise Question?, I an day's away from cropping as in its ready now to crop. Just flushing a bit. EC at. 500. Will Mitey Wash effect bud taste or other?

Thank you

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No it will not effect taste from my experience. But you'll want to rinse off all those dead bugs and shit anyway. The active ingredient has a very short half life and will be gone by the time your crop is dry.

Bugeye said:

No it will not effect taste from my experience. But you'll want to rinse off all those dead bugs and shit anyway. The active ingredient has a very short half life and will be gone by the time your crop is dry.

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Thank you for the message and advise.
I will check plants later and see if I can spot any. I shall also go to hydro shop and get some Mitey Wash.

Cheers Mister Grow Well