Neem works best as a preventative application during veg. Pretty much makes the plant taste bad to bugs and humans.
It was the only thing I had on hand that was organic just hoping to slow them down.
My buds are still doing good but the leaves look like hell. May have to try DE myself, though I'm really close to harvest any day now.
update:
so I tried my best to keep my girls alive after the thrip infestation that occurred during the last few weeks of flower and last night cut all 3 down. only managed to get Purple Haze trimmed before calling it a night BUT still managed over 15oz wet weight! Should dry out to around a half lb though (score!).
The CBD Therapy strain didn't do as well and will trim her up tonight, hoping to get a few oz off her and my bagseed plant was pretty much dead when I cut her down. Would've taken her down sooner, but she was in the back of the scrog behind my monster Purple Haze bush. Might just chop her up and make butter since the flowers were pretty stunted.