Cottage 420's Organic Perpetual Indoor Garden

[Tony Urban]

Salutations,

I am humbly inviting you to participate in an advanced cannabis photographers thread. I would like you to be a contributor and supporter of this thread if it interests you. All it requires is to submit a brief bio, quoting the second post, and helping out when you can or sharing information from time to time.

Cheers

The 420 Fotographer Collective

 

[Itibitiguy]

I got spider mites last spring.... 8 weeks into flower.... tried trimming and hosing off and then ladybugs (useless vs spider mites) ended up chopping. Then lots of cleaning and bug bombed tent

 

[Jack420]

Omg I freaking hate bugs omg I had same problem in hydro my first grow still harvested but f up my hole grow

 

[Mars Hydro]

Hope Pest Control could work soon

 

[TheFertilizer]

Hey B.Brown I tried surfing and finding which mites you said you have but couldent. If no Russets on the E.coast must be Spider and or Broad Mites your dealing with? I wonder if the Broad Mites are as hard to rid as the Russets? Ive found the "Nuke Em" worked the best for me with the Russets. Their website has 40% off coupon. I kept mine from hurting the tent. Completely eradicated them a few weeks ago. Im so happy I kept them from the buds. They completely ruined my 2017 yard grow. Not this year. Great Day, 4D

I knocked down broad mites pretty easily with neem oil, but I don't go the traditional route with foliar sprays ( which seems a little hard on the plants some people have said ) but I gave them neem-oil root drenches about ever 4 wks. I haven't really kept it up ever since trying to substitute it with neem cake in my soil, but that didn't keep the russets away. I'm trying to knock them out with spinosad, since I fear that having come to thrive on the plant that lives in neem-cake infused soil, that they may have built a resistance to neem.

Russets and Broad mites are very similar.

Biggest difference I see is detectability (not a word) and behavior as well as life cycles. Bob has gone into more details about it, I can't remember where, but I know he mentioned the life cycles of russets and they're much different sounding than broad mites I've dealt with. Plus broad mites you can spot the damage and the bugs themselves rather easily with a naked eye or a low powered loupe, but with russet mites I don't notice them until I see a kind of brown/beige dust and then when I take a 120x scope I can see the little larvae wriggling around. One tell-tale for me was when I would foliar spray with neem tea, the day after there was the brownish dust at the tip of the leaves where all the water had run off. Another reason I worry these ones are neem resistant, because they didn't seem to mind the neem tea too much at all.

They seem to die pretty easy, I smothered them in some soap and watched how many were still wriggling around, and it was pretty much total death, and that was just soap. But the trickiness seems to be in their ability to go dormant, and Bob was telling me they can even burrow into the leaf for shelter.

I think broad mites have their challenges as well but my neem-oil drenches seemed to keep them away swell. I think I might go back to that because I never had russets until this before now either. In fact the only time I ever found a bug was when it was a dead bug. But I switched to spinosad just in case they're resistant as part of good IPM.

 

[MagicJim]

These stories give me the creeps. I remember when I first read about russets and spider mites and broad mites. I searched here and all around. Then I went searching in my tent as I had discovered that what might appear as a nutrient deficiency could be these creatures.

Anyway...I have neem and spinosad and there is neem cake in the soil amendment I use. I have essential oils and I've read of all types of oil solutions but I'm fairly confident that I've buried those notes - somewhere?

What I came away with from all this if you get them, getting rid of them was difficult and must be persistent.

The only thing I read to use as a preventative was to add Chives in the grow room. I'm germinating Chive seeds now. I don't believe every thing I read but this just sounded like it made sense. I believe there was reference to the use of chives in family green houses in the post that suggested this as a natural defense.

If you have these things you have my best wishes of a swift riddance.

 

[bobrown14]

Had the Borg show up one time and it was a nightmare!

Pests & insects are part of the game .... If I don't have em, I'm about to get em. Try and stay 1 step on top of them is all I hope for.

Went to Homer Depot today they are having a sale on containers. They have some nice large 2'x3' ones that are like 6" deep. Perfect for washing some big ass colas.

Bought me a set of em.

Mites I caught them early but sooo much vegetation in there, I won't get them all until I do some harvesting. Then it will be full on assault. In a week they will be gone.

Woody:

Mites - on the east coast we get the 2 spotted fks... pretty easy to get rid of and pretty easy to get em too. I get then in January when the heat in the house stays on longer and dries up the RH, Then again in the fall when its still warm out and the humidity drops .. the mites like dry warm conditions with no wind. The plant that got em was the only plant I didn't have a fan directly on her.

Sometimes I only get em on a few branches of 1 plant cause I'm always on the lookout. This was my worst fear getting them now since its like a jungle in there now.

All good just moving up my harvest day. Prolly a blessing in disguise TBH.

Big picture, 2 spotted fks are not that bad as pests and disease go. They are impossible to get rid of permanently tho.



I've adjusted the fans now.. full on breeze in there.... and just tested. Mites b gone. knock wood and "for now".

I pulled a handful of leaves off the 2 plants that had em. Nothing but nuked mites and nuked eggs. 1 more IPM spray and in the clear. Not that many either so I caught them early. There was very little webs if any I could see @ x100 with my scope so thats a good sign they were not established.

My next post I think is gong to be a lopper post with chopped plants in hand!

 

[Blazinjones]

I got spider mites last spring.... 8 weeks into flower.... tried trimming and hosing off and then ladybugs (useless vs spider mites) ended up chopping. Then lots of cleaning and bug bombed tent

Really cause unless I was mistaken i cuda swore when I had spider mites i let loose like atleast 100 dam lady bugs i caught around the house and yes they where still alive when I wud put them into the room but one time I had mites so i rounded up atleast a 100 of them n released into flower tent and then later that week when I went to do my weekly ipm i noticed how the mite infestation seemd like it had slowed dwn alil wasn't completely gone but it wasn't gettn any worse actually seemd ever so slightly better lol but yea then with mister bb here he introduced me to that garden spray with the spinosad i it and man that shit works wonders i notice as long as i stay on top of my weekly ipm i dont seem to be gettn many pest issues its when I go away or forget tht weeks ipm i notice shit can get bad but yea other then tht ladybugs ftw.

 

[Itibitiguy]

Really cause unless I was mistaken i cuda swore when I had spider mites i let loose like atleast 100 dam lady bugs i caught around the house and yes they where still alive when I wud put them into the room but one time I had mites so i rounded up atleast a 100 of them n released into flower tent and then later that week when I went to do my weekly ipm i noticed how the mite infestation seemd like it had slowed dwn alil wasn't completely gone but it wasn't gettn any worse actually seemd ever so slightly better lol but yea then with mister bb here he introduced me to that garden spray with the spinosad i it and man that shit works wonders i notice as long as i stay on top of my weekly ipm i dont seem to be gettn many pest issues its when I go away or forget tht weeks ipm i notice shit can get bad but yea other then tht ladybugs ftw.

Hey blazin, I think ladybug will eat spider mites if there nothing else around to eat. I got 1000 and let couple hundred go inside the tent, there were still mites there after a couple of releasing but they didn't take over my plants. I think predator mites would be better than ladybugs when batting mites

 

[Pennywise]

I had what I thought was Broad mites and all I saw was bright shiny foliage and the foliage was twisted and deformed looking. I never did see actual mites. Neem oil took care of it but it took a few applications.

 

[Itibitiguy]

Did you foliage spray with neem oil or fee it to her? I need to get IMP in order, just in case i get some buggers again.

 

[Tomula]

I had what I thought was Broad mites and all I saw was bright shiny foliage and the foliage was twisted and deformed looking. I never did see actual mites. Neem oil took care of it but it took a few applications.

The best thing about Neem oil is that you use it on regular basis like preventive measure. Do you even need to spray it on the plant? Could it work in some way of smell barrier, like neem oil soaked materials in different sizes placed in close proximity to the plants and hide holes of those who oppose your plants!? Used in full strength only in emergency? I mean if you spray it on the leaves it could be evident in the taste and smell of the buds, have you ever noticed difference in treated and untreated plant? Could actually be an experiment to do I've seen ppl using tobacco tea against all bugs with success. Just an idea flying by (I admit it flies around so I catch it more easily).

PS.: The buds are looking fabulous, looking golden here. The colours and structure looks similar to Jack Herer I've grown, well, before it started foxtailing that is. Well she was not as much purple as yours on the stem. I just love the looks of yours, real looker!


Jack Herer:

 

[GodOfPot]

Looking for some info on soil testing....very new to this and even though at this moment if I don't understand how to read it completely....I think the info/data could still be helpful in the future since I document what's being used in each mix.....however not sure what needs to be tested.

I'll be using a lab close enough who's web address is alcanada.com - they offer a wide array of testing, with multiple different packages based on what you want...their basic package starts off with

A & L Labs Test PackageS1BDescription of Test: Organic Matter, Phosphorus, (Sodium Bicarb and Bray 1), Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, (Ammonium acetate), soil pH, Aluminum, Saturation of Cation Elements including Sodium, calculated C.E.C. saturation %P, %K/Mg ratio.A & L Recommendations or OMAFRA Recommendations.

then they have different "sub" packages to add to the initial one such as

S7Description of Test: with basic package (S1B)Zinc, Manganese, Iron, Copper, Boron, Sulphur *** Individual Micronutrient Elements (with basic test packages)

....you can add in things like Nitrate Nitrogen, C:N ratio, Nematode analysis, soil health etc....

So what are the important tests to focus on for us? Is biomass (F:B ratio) testing something useful to us?

 

[4Dutchess]

I worked so hard to keep the Russets from the tent. The MK showed some and so did the Bubbas. I completely got rid of them. Im so happy! So much dedication. I learned IPM this year. What a chore! I fought the Russets in my 2017 yard grow and lost most of the grow. I wasent going to lose the tent grow too. I hate failure. All the work, money and loss of medication, no way.
Heres the difference with the "Nuke Em" by Flying Skull. It kills all stages. eggs too. The only one that kills the eggs so no tolerance is created. Yes, the female will hibernate till conditions are favorable and you have them again. Thats when the IPM comes in. Weekly until a infest is noticed then 3 times in a week. This stuff is non toxic. Get it all over everything, no worries. Use up to harvest. This stuff really worked that much better than anything else Ive tried.
I have not tried the Spinosad yet but will. Its on the purchase list. Nuke em worked better than the green cleaner and the hot pepper. both work but complete eradication, no. Keeps them at bay.
In short, try Nuke Em for Russets if all else fails. After seeing what they did to my yard grow Im so happy with this tent harvest!!! Hard work pays off!!
Great Day 420

 

[TheFertilizer]

The best thing about Neem oil is that you use it on regular basis like preventive measure. Do you even need to spray it on the plant? Could it work in some way of smell barrier, like neem oil soaked materials in different sizes placed in close proximity to the plants and hide holes of those who oppose your plants!? Used in full strength only in emergency? I mean if you spray it on the leaves it could be evident in the taste and smell of the buds, have you ever noticed difference in treated and untreated plant? Could actually be an experiment to do I've seen ppl using tobacco tea against all bugs with success. Just an idea flying by (I admit it flies around so I catch it more easily).

PS.: The buds are looking fabulous, looking golden here. The colours and structure looks similar to Jack Herer I've grown, well, before it started foxtailing that is. Well she was not as much purple as yours on the stem. I just love the looks of yours, real looker!


Jack Herer:

You can apply it as a root drench and that's actually my preferred method of using it as a preventative. The plant uptakes the azadirachtin, and when the bugs eat the plant they take this in and it kills them. Spraying is needed for more immediate action, the soap and the oil kind of suffocate the bugs. You have to be sure to mix the neem oil up with a little soap or silica supplement so it "emulsifies" into a creamy white liquid, otherwise it will just stay in bug globs in the water and won't apply right.

 

[bobrown14]

Tomula... with neem we use neem cake and karaja cake when we mix our soil. That helps with pests in the soil and also promotes a lot of good bacterial growth as well.

I don't use neem oil unless I have an infestation that got out of hand, one I didn't catch early on. Not catching one early is not likely as thats the only thing I really worry about so I'm in the flower room every day looking. Then IF I find mites then full on with Spinosad which usually always works.

IF I use neem oil I will spray the plants down later with plain water and rinse off the neem residue. It has a nasty taste. No doubt about it. So it's either bud washing and/or plant rinsing.. It's pretty hard on the flowers too so try not to use it in flower at all unless completely necessary. I think I only used neem oil 1 or 2 times in flower then swore it off... unless absolutely needed.

On leaving neem cake out in say a dish or something ... that works too... for larger pests like mice. They eat it first tastes like ass even if they walk in it they will clean if off their feet. After that they will avoid it but too late. Once in the digestive track... sayonara, hadehose amigos. It puts the digestive bacteria on steroids.




GOP - I think you can get a test direct from A&L Labs... website here:

Soil AnalysisSoil Testing | A&L Great Lakes

I would get the S1 test... that has much of what we need. There's some forms and sample procedure on that page I linked. Looks like a good price, about the same as I pay here in PA.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Tomula... with neem we use neem cake and karaja cake when we mix our soil. That helps with pests in the soil and also promotes a lot of good bacterial growth as well.

I don't use neem oil unless I have an infestation that got out of hand, one I didn't catch early on. Not catching one early is not likely as thats the only thing I really worry about so I'm in the flower room every day looking. Then IF I find mites then full on with Spinosad which usually always works.

IF I use neem oil I will spray the plants down later with plain water and rinse off the neem residue. It has a nasty taste. No doubt about it. So it's either bud washing and/or plant rinsing.. It's pretty hard on the flowers too so try not to use it in flower at all unless completely necessary. I think I only used neem oil 1 or 2 times in flower then swore it off... unless absolutely needed.

On leaving neem cake out in say a dish or something ... that works too... for larger pests like mice. They eat it first tastes like ass even if they walk in it they will clean if off their feet. After that they will avoid it but too late. Once in the digestive track... sayonara, hadehose amigos. It puts the digestive bacteria on steroids.




GOP - I think you can get a test direct from A&L Labs... website here:

Soil AnalysisSoil Testing | A&L Great Lakes

I would get the S1 test... that has much of what we need. There's some forms and sample procedure on that page I linked. Looks like a good price, about the same as I pay here in PA.

Yeah, forgot to mention that's why I like using it as a root drench, it seems a lot easier on the plant, and I haven't ever noticed a bad taste from it accumulating in the plant matter. I first tried it because I didn't want to spray it on during flower and it worked great.

 

[Guy Cavallero]

Quicky here.....does Kelp go bad in a spray bottle with water, or does it always smell like ass?

 

[Itibitiguy]

It got a bit of a smell but not strong.

 

[Guy Cavallero]

It got a bit of a smell but not strong.

This is strong. Like decaying material. I just forgot what it smelled like when I mixed it.. I'll toss it to be sure and remix. I'm assuming its safe to store at room temperature once mixed?