Munki's Ebb n Flow 3 x 3 SCROG 400W HPS Grow

Sorry about not having pics yet. My white balance was off so everything appeared with a green tint. Anyways, I have spotted a pest. :bitingnails:

I tried to take a picture but was unsuccessful. During close examination of the canopy last night, I saw movement. A tiny, pinkish tan creature rapidly moved up along a leaf, deftly maneuvering between trichomes. It was at most 1 millimeter long and very narrow. Reading has led me to suspect thrips. Now, I have only been able to see 3 of them and in only this shape. Nothing that seemed to fly either. Also, I am using hydro so where would the thrips pupa grow as there is no soil?

I do suspect thrips though as inspection of leaves have shown some signs like some silvery trails like a snail on a few leaves. Thinking back, I may have had this going on for a while now but just thought the leaves were traumatized by the wire screen when pulling the buds in and out when I was training them.

Damage is very minimal so far. Considering how I am in the last stages of flowering, what if anything should I do? Considering a product that contains the below product as it is acceptable for organic growing and the compound breaks down pretty quickly and has low mammal toxicity.

Spinosad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Other than this, maybe a basil plant can be stuck in there as I read thrips do not like basil. All other treatments would be not advised this late into flower and the ScrOG further complicates pest control. So, what do you all think? Spinosad product or just continue to observe?
 
Andy Botwin said:
Just continue. But watch closely and learn as much as you can for next round. Since flowering is well under way, I wouldn't treat with anything unless it's matter of saving your crop completely.

Basil and other herb and certain flowers do deter these pests and others, however, they are best used, planted side-by-side from the beginning. This late in the grow and, I've read, herbs can actually force pests to stay and proliferate. Because they are already present and detest basil so much, they actually find refuge in the cannabis plant tissue.

Companion planting with basil or marigolds, for example, should be done early in your garden as a preventative measure before infestation, as these plants are not necessarily a 'treatment' for bothersome pests, but more so a deterrent
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Yes, that makes sense. If anything, finding a sacrificial fruit or plant that they prefer would be what is needed but I'll continue to watch. Improving my intake air may help but I am not sure what the true point of infection was. I'll clean out the room after harvest and redouble my efforts in cleanliness; I seemed to have made it pretty far without a pest issue so I should be good this winter.
 
OK, some pics I just took. I am contemplating a photoperiod reduction to only 10 or even 8 hours a day to finish the crop if the thrips get bad. I can see where they have been but I am not seeing them everywhere and no thrip poop. If an infestation does break out, I will definitely finish early. Picture 3 does show some of the thrip trails or markings. They look like shiny trails left by tiny snails.

Something tells me that there may be some thrip predators in the tent already. I couldn't get a good pic but the area just over the grow rocks on both plants had a fine threaded web over it. I hadn't seen that before. I did clear it out with my finger. I'll check the area again daily to see how fast it returns. I don't think it is harmful spider mites but an arachnid that feeds on the buggers. I did notice a few bugs in my prefilter of my air scrubber. I'll give that a good looking over after the grow to see what kinds of critters are getting in.

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I tried the sticky spiral tape type of traps once in my grow cabinet. They hung loose, 1 in each back corner. They were really a pain in the ass. The tape hung freely and did collect plety'o bugs, but the tape got stuck everywhere on everything, including my babies. They were really a hassle to deal with.

I would suggest something other than the spiral tape type sticky traps. Don't know what to use.... but I know what not to use.

Cheers
 
I think sticky traps may be a good option. I read they like blue colored traps, but my concern is that I'm using an HPS with really crappy color rendering. Won't the blue not look the right color blue in the tent? I have a feeling the color traps are best used outdoor or with a better color rendering lamp.

I'm currently grabbing the screen frame and giving it a good shake twice a day. I'm hoping that will loosen up the buggers. My feeling though is that I'm really only seeing a small part of this world of the tiny. The thrips may be controlled somewhat by some arachnid. Regardless, the plants are not crawling with them, so I do feel good about that.
 
Any natural predator options available? Seems like they would really help with a larger infection in a tight grow. The little buggers can invade your plant and clean out the corners that you can't get to other ways. I personally like the lady bugs... but on 'cause they're pretty.

Of course... I'm just sayin this cause it sounds cool and I'd love to see someone implement them in this sort of situation. No experience required.... but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night!

Cheers

Cheers
 
tead said:
Any natural predator options available? Seems like they would really help with a larger infection in a tight grow. The little buggers can invade your plant and clean out the corners that you can't get to other ways. I personally like the lady bugs... but on 'cause they're pretty.

Of course... I'm just sayin this cause it sounds cool and I'd love to see someone implement them in this sort of situation. No experience required.... but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night!

Cheers

Cheers
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I read of issues the predators like lady bugs can have with the resinous flowers. Also, it takes a while to establish a good predatory colony. So, if anything, I'll probably take a hit in total yield and go to a shorter photoperiod to bring the harvest date sooner. I already see most of the trichomes as cloudy with a few amber ones.


In reading about photoperiods, I stumbled across this on the web that is a very interesting read. I just may introduce UV into my grow next year especially if I work with Sativas.


THC Guide
 
Sorry to hear about the bugs. I feel you pain. Otherwise those ladies look great and I am sure you get some great meds out of them Great job. + rep
 
Thanks for the emotional support everyone.

Well, I decided not to wait until next year. Stopped by the pet store and they had their biggest UV light fixture on clearance; half off! Still was $40, but if I get higher THC levels from it, then it will be totally worth it. Also, there is still a fair amount of experimentation to be done in the area of Cannabis and UV light indoors. I'll be careful.

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There was a great "Marijuana Man" video called "THC, UVB, & me" where he talked about this topic. I saw it only a few hours ago and thought it was great. I wanted to link to it but it has been taken down, "This video has been removed due to terms of use violation."

Well, I'm glad I got to see it before it got pulled. Stupid youtube!
 
The Butcher said:
Oh is it that one where hese talking out of his studio and hes way stoney..lmfao
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Yeah, he has a lot of videos but in this one he mentioned a kid who was growing some good weed and shared it with them regularly. A clone was cut from this stock and another guy grew it in similar conditions except for the addition of UV. MJ Man stated that the UV dope was significantly stonier and more fun.

I like growing the plants but let's face it, we grow the plant to get the cannabinoids. If this UV light will convert them to THC, then I think it is worth a shot. I'm going to try and suspend it behind the HPS and at the same level. I will probably go with two 1 hour doses of UV per day, 10 - 11 AM and 5 - 6 PM. Open for suggestions on the timings of the UV though so let me hear them. Anyone used UV supplemental lighting with their grows?
 
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