Spidermite Warz! Mostly organic combat

[rolanterroy]

OK then, gonna cover a lot of ground here and I will try to be as succinct as possible hahahaha....

First thing you will want to do, indoors, is move your lights farther away by at least 6" and a whole foot if you are heavily infested. Then you will want to water your plants twice, with straight Reverse Osmosis (R/O) water or distilled water, first time until you see any drainage, then wait about an hour and water again until you see drainage.

The following is a mellow mix and you can go as high as 1 tablespoon of Neem and Soap if your spidermites are particulary hard to kill, or your infestation is massive!

Get a gallon of distilled bottled water, pour about 32 oz into pot on the stove and mince up a few cloves of garlic really small and add them, apply heat, then take about 1 small pinch of crushed red pepper and add it. Boil this for about 15 minutes (simmering-boiling) and then, strain out all the stuff and add the garlic-pepper liquid back into the gallon of distilled water.

Add 1-3 teaspoons of Neem Concentrate and below is my favorite OMRI cert stuff...

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4830&stc=1&d=1152590517

Then add 1-3 teaspoons of Doctor Bronner's Peppermint Hemp Liquid Soap, seen below and available all over the place in health food oriented stores...

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4827&stc=1&d=1152590517

Then shield the soil from drip-off with a paper towel, styrofoam plates, whatever, but if organics this will kill the good micro-organisms in the top layer of soilmix so just guard against that.

Spray the plants up and down, all along the mainstem and undersides of leaves until you see some dripping then stop.

Once it has dried somewhat, you will need these two things (below) Diatomacious Earth and a Makeup brush...

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4828&stc=1&d=1152590517

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4826&stc=1&d=1152590517

Dab the brush into the DEarth, tapping it off lightly so it's not too full of the powder, and the Neem Oil and Soap will have left the plant surfaces a little tacky, dab the DEarth all up and down the mainstem, twirl the brush under leaves, get any axial branches too.

3 days later, repeat the Neem & Garlic spray as above followed by touch-ups to the DEarth on the mainstem mostly.

3 days later same thing, and on the 12th day you will be almost totally mite free, I say almost but it's really totally. Just where I live they are SO DAMN rampant that you need to change clothes and never let anything come into the grow from outside etc to maintain a "sterile" environment.

The DEarth is just microscopic little razor sharp animal skeletons that litterally cut the shit outta any mite that comes into contact with it. So it's absolutely 100% organic and on the 12th day you simply rinse (rain) everything off giving the plants a good cleaning as soon as the lights come on and vwalla! Mites are history bigtime!

OK, part Two.....

Lets say you are into flowering aand you are wicked heavily infested.....

Below you will see a product called End All by Safers, followed by some info on the product and a link with some data on the active insecticide it uses (Pyrethrins 0.5%)

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4829&stc=1&d=1152590517


Pyrethrins

Pyrethrins are natural insecticides produced by certain species of the chrysanthemum plant. The flowers of the plant are harvested shortly after blooming and are either dried and powdered or the oils within the flowers are extracted.

Overall, pyrethrins and pyrethroids are of low chronic toxicity to humans and the most common problems in humans have resulted from the allergenic properties of pyrethrum. Patch tests for allergic reaction are an important tool in determining an individuals sensitivity to these compounds.

Rats and rabbits are not affected by large dermal applications. On broken skin, pyrethrum produces irritation and sensitization, which is further aggravated by sun exposure. Pyrethrin compounds may be used in grain storage and in poultry pens and on dogs and cats to control lice and fleas.

Natural pyrethrins are highly fat soluble, but are easily degraded and thus do not accumulate in the body. These compounds are toxic to bees also.



A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, and University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program.


________________________________________

Safer's End-All kills all stages of aphids, mites and whiteflies and stops the life-cycle of insects. This natural pest control can be used up to the day of harvest on fruit trees and vegetables. Does not contain piperonyl butoxide (PBO). Concentrate.

link to purchase:

https://www.veseys.com/store.cfm?product=1905&CFID=9666918&CFTOKEN=32160899


A professor of BioChem that works for the Dept of Agro. told me that this was his number one insectiside choice for as close to a natural without truly being one; due to the nature of this formula, it breaks down rapidly leaving no trace of itself in like 24-36 hours especially with heat and light present. But not before it TOTALLY kills all mites, larva, eggs, everything totally and completely!

This is like your Spidermite Nuke only for serious infested stuff and I find mixing it at a ratio (far less that recommended) works great if need be, I mix it at 5 ml. per quart of distilled water. Often times when I troublshoot peeps med grows I will walk into what looks like a spider domain LoL, and as long as you are at least 10 days (i would recommend just to bve safe) from harvest and you can "rain" on your plants a couple days after application, it seems to be no longer present at all in any plant tissues or anything. Even the rinsing of it is a just in case cuz it breaks down so rapidly and totally.

After you are done with the application(s) you can bring the light back in close again.

- REv :smoke1:

[gorilla]

Great post Rev. Glad to have this around, should I ever need it. :: knock on wood ::

Keep up the good work bro.:cool:

[midwestbluntman]

Rev
I notice there is only a link for the end all,does that mean that all the rest is obtainable locally in most cases?Local growing resources are slim around here,I got a walmart and a few nurseries,other than that its an online game for me.oh just a one more question rev,does these items come in various sizes?

[Fred Lemonjello]

Outstanding REv :dapimp:.... an excellent Organic 'How-To' on ridding yourself of those dreaded mites! I like the DEarth stuff... it's like throw'n up miniature Constantine Wire. :flog:


Fred

[Mel]

For what it's worth. DE is obtainable through swimming pool supply places. It has been used for years as a filtering agent. For what one little one pound bag costs at a garden store you can get a 40 lb bag at the pool supply store. It is not as fancy packaging usually just a plain brown heavy duty bag. Any pool supply place should have it, just tell the folks you have an old fashioned DE filter. The diatoms are so fine (actually little glass skeletons) that all the precipitaes are filtered out. DE filtering is how we get all those cool under water shots from Hollywood. The Tarzan movies (remeber the old Johnny Wiesmuller black and white films?) we one of the first to use DE in filtering.

Outside, a ring around your veggies keeps slugs from getting into the garden. They slice their bellies open crawling to get the veggies.
DE is very good stuff, and cool to look at under the microscope too! But try pricing it at a pool supply place. Or just try asking the local pool operator for a cup for your garden. (to kill slugs).

I worked in Aquatics for 25 years. I promise it is the same DE as the over priced Garden Store DE.

[rolanterroy]

DO NOT USE THE POOL DE!

That DE is processed different and will not break down in human or animal lungs! ALWAYS get the gardner's grade DE! The stuff is very very fine and powdery.

Yeah, the only hard thing to find on my list is the End All :) Everything else is easily obtainable, the DE, Brush, and Neem concentrate can normally be found at like a Home Depot, or Wal-Mart. The DR. Bronner's Liquid Peppermint Hemp soap can be gotten at many health type oriented stores.

Thanks you guys ;) and just remember to be very thorough, especially with that first application, and sometimes in the hotter months I will just do like a double application (maintenance application) of just the Neem & garlic-soap 3 days apart, then a couple days later rinse them off; and I have no mite prollems beyond a couple here and there because my stoopid cats like to go from outside into the grow sometimes.... Damn cats LoL!

- REv :smoke1:

[rolanterroy]

Oh yeah, and the mainstem application (and axial branches) is very very impotant! Especially get it all around the base of the stem too cuz those little bastards are like Hitler's Marching Armys man and they will just march from container to container or from plant to plant to find one that is not covered well heh heh. That stuff on the stems stops them from being mobile and there is no tolerence building to razor knives LoL!

They also can't build a tolerence to the soap & Neem oil because it kills by contact, clogging up their breathing pores along their abdomens. ;)

- REv :smoke1:

[Mel]

I worked in Aquatics for 25 years. I promise it is the same DE as the over priced Garden Store DE.

Okay professsor Knowitall I yeild to your superior knowlage on all things.

You know more, you are a better teacher, probablly smater too , you are my superior. I supose my ignorance and poor communcation skills are why I do not post more often. When there are experts like yourself why have an interactive discussion board?

I know let's start a ask REv thread and you can answer all our ? about everthing, no need for discussion or other ideas, just ask REv he has all the answers no disscussons

BTW use your micro scope DE is DE, it is dug from the earth after the little diatoms have died. It is skeletons of small organisums. The only processing done to it is what bag to put it in and what size bag. Spend your money as you please.

Me I do not use the stuff except for slugs on my hostas

[rolanterroy]

Well, I was informed of the difference twice, once using some kinda gardening magazine my buddy showed me these results; I can't remember the mag though now. Another showed me a link online to like OSU (Oregon) or mebbe Cornell, it would be an easier thing and far more benificial if you could back up your shit amigo. Prove me wrong?

Sorry your ego halts you in your steps. I'm here to try and help some peeps, not try and amaze anyone with how great I think I am, or whatever your opinion is of me. It's irrelevent. What are you doing?

- REv :smoke1:

[Mel]

I am humbled by your intellegence. There are two kinds of DE we use both grain sizes in pool bussiness. However the "food grade" is used for keeping weavels and such out of stored grain. There is no support for either being harmful to humans. The rougher or horticultural grade would kill bees and worms too, so horticultural is what to use on MJ. I will not go any father with this excxept to site
Troubled times a gardening site

from Troubled times:

http://www.zetatalk.com/thub.gif
http://www.zetatalk.com/food/ticonf36.gif Diatomaceous Earth


Diatomaceous Earth is the hard shells of sea creatures. These shells have sharp edges and tend to tear an insect up from the inside out. Diatomaceous Earth is not harmful to humans or other large animals because they can not do enough damage in our mostly liquid bodies to harm
When Diatomaceous Earth is sprinkled on the ground, on an ant mount, or mixed with grains, legumes, etc., it slices and dices the insects that walk through it. If you're planning to can or bucketize your own food, mixing in a cup of Diatomaceous Earth will help keep it pest-free. And it won't hurt you when you ingest it, 'cause the 'sharp pieces' are too small to cut you, you lucky guy. (In fact, many farmers deliberately mix Diatomaceous Earth with animal feed to kill internal parasites in farm animals. The Diatomaceous Earth in the animal feces even kills the fly maggots that invariably appear in the patties.)
Scientists estimate that there may be as many as 12,000 species of Diatoms, each identifiable by their delicate, ornate shells. Diatoms are a dominant species of phytoplankton, ... This fine, crumbly substance is used in insulating materials, abrasives, ceramics, and in filtering and filling materials. More than 270,000 metric tons of it are extracted annually from a quarry near Lompoc, California.
Diatomaceous Earth comes in at least two grades: Horticultural Grade and Food Grade. It's important to use only Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth if you're using it to store grains. If you want to use it on plants, don't get any on the flowers. It'll slice up the few honeybees we have left. And I don't recommend incorporating mass quantities into the soil. Earthworms are good things: You don't want to hurt them until you put 'em on your fishhook. Diatomaceous Earth is also effective against fleas, but again, take care not to let your pet breathe it.
Diatomaceous earth has both a drying and irritating effect on many insects, including ants, roaches, fleas, snails, and slugs. It is composed of the skeletons of sea diatoms.
There is quite an impressive list of uses for diatomaceous earth, among the ones we already know. It seems to do everything from genetic engineering to flea powder to water purification to colon cleansing.

[rolanterroy]

Heh heh, I'm not really too intellegent LoL! More of a dork really, just been doin' this for so looong that sometimes I have to ask myself.... How DO I know that? LoL!

I was hoping you would post something that would state it one way or the other cuz for the life of me I can't find it anyplace and I can't recall exactly what it said the diff was, but something about the lungs, if you got it in your lungs. Mebbe regarding the size or process, honestly not sure it's been so long now. :)

I have always believed it since then, but I sure can't seem to back it up at this point. If you have a bag of it handy (the pool DE) see if it says anything about inhaling it on there would ya? I will read mine too.

I'm here to learn too, and I could easily be wrong about what I thought... Very curious now hahahah! :cheers:

Sorry if I came off like a dickhead or something amigo, I wasn't trying to really! :)

- REv :smoke1:

[rolanterroy]

Not really anything near what I was looking for and at this site link:

http://www.internet-grocer.com/diatome.htm

They warn against inhaling any type of DE! However here's an excerpt that applies to effectiveness amigo...

Under NO circumstances use pool filter DE for anything except your pool filter. It won't kill insects because it's been heat-treated to form larger clumps. Our Diatomaceous Earth will not do a good job filtering because it's too fine.

This is also taken from the site in the link above.

- REv :smoke1: