That is some nice bud. 
Stonecrusher's Backyard Bonanza - Bringing Out The Big Pots!
- Thread starter Stonecrusher
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Scottay
Well-Known Member
Where's the smell-o-vision!?!? Looks great!! Happy Thursday!! 
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- #203
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
Today I want to discuss Neem oil, cannibalized soil, and my continued critter problem.
If you follow you know I started 4 autos in the 2x4 a few weeks back, 2 Fastbuds and 2 Ethos. I am using cannibalized soil from prior grows that I dump out in my back yard mixing spot. It can sit for months open to the elements. I get a few bugs and small weed seedlings (not the weed you are looking for). After I pot and get it in the tent I observe life on the surface with potato bugs, ants, and some other critters all cruising around the soil. I notice that every time I wet the surface, the next day I see little bites out of leaves. If I don't top water, they mostly go untouched. Hmmm.
I had two really nice starts from the Fastbuds team and a few days ago I saw they were getting chewed. I figured since it was thru the seedling stage and way into veg that they would tolerate a good Neem treatment. I decided to Neem one of the plants and pressure was the other with plain water. It looked good for 2 days after Neem soak, then started to really react. Leaves are curling up, drying out, and dying off. So this morning I misted the heck out of it to try to wash off some of the Neem and it seems happier almost instantly.
I already chronicled what happened to the seedling I sprayed and it wasn't pretty, but that plant is now pulling thru. It is way behind the others.
Here are the 2 Fastbuds team members. The one on the RT is the one I Neemed and you can see for yourself it is not happy. A week ago it was bigger than the one on the LT. So Im figuring I used a too strong mixture of Neem or I should just look for somehthing less toxic for the plant.
In fact on the day I Neemed the Right plant I misted the heck out of the LT plant with plain water to try to "pressure wash" off any bugs and so far it is looking good. So maybe first line of defense is a good spray wash with plain water? Has anyone else tried this??
Pressure washed with water only to get rid of bugs
Neem Oil treatment is hard on the plant.
If you follow you know I started 4 autos in the 2x4 a few weeks back, 2 Fastbuds and 2 Ethos. I am using cannibalized soil from prior grows that I dump out in my back yard mixing spot. It can sit for months open to the elements. I get a few bugs and small weed seedlings (not the weed you are looking for). After I pot and get it in the tent I observe life on the surface with potato bugs, ants, and some other critters all cruising around the soil. I notice that every time I wet the surface, the next day I see little bites out of leaves. If I don't top water, they mostly go untouched. Hmmm.
I had two really nice starts from the Fastbuds team and a few days ago I saw they were getting chewed. I figured since it was thru the seedling stage and way into veg that they would tolerate a good Neem treatment. I decided to Neem one of the plants and pressure was the other with plain water. It looked good for 2 days after Neem soak, then started to really react. Leaves are curling up, drying out, and dying off. So this morning I misted the heck out of it to try to wash off some of the Neem and it seems happier almost instantly.
I already chronicled what happened to the seedling I sprayed and it wasn't pretty, but that plant is now pulling thru. It is way behind the others.
Here are the 2 Fastbuds team members. The one on the RT is the one I Neemed and you can see for yourself it is not happy. A week ago it was bigger than the one on the LT. So Im figuring I used a too strong mixture of Neem or I should just look for somehthing less toxic for the plant.
In fact on the day I Neemed the Right plant I misted the heck out of the LT plant with plain water to try to "pressure wash" off any bugs and so far it is looking good. So maybe first line of defense is a good spray wash with plain water? Has anyone else tried this??
Pressure washed with water only to get rid of bugs
Neem Oil treatment is hard on the plant.
Crusher, I had a bad mite invasion several years ago. They were so thick on the plant that I took it outside, laid it on it's side and blasted the undersides with my water hose on high pressure. I ended up beating the hell out of the plant. It survived but would never stand upright again on it's own. I did get rid of a ton of mites! 
Same here years ago, had a bad infestation several crops in a row (as always)Crusher, I had a bad mite invasion several years ago. They were so thick on the plant that I took it outside, laid it on its side and blasted the undersides with my water hose on high pressure. I ended up beating the hell out of the plant. It survived but would never stand upright again on its own. I did get rid of a ton of mites!
Learned that I could blast 80- 90% of them off with a pressure nozzle outside and treat the rest once it dries.
They are very resilient plants but I’ve definitely fucked up my share
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- #206
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
The outdoor plants are just getting heavier each day. I had to steak up the Chem dawg this week. I'll start tying up some of the individual branches soon.
They are heading into the home stretch. If I can manage to avoid blight and pestelence this will be a nice harvest in about 3 weeks.
They are heading into the home stretch. If I can manage to avoid blight and pestelence this will be a nice harvest in about 3 weeks.
3 Short weeks you can do it. I have about the same and the truth be told 3 weeks feels like forever.
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- #208
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
Last year I got nearly to harvest and the aphids showed up. I chopped immediately and washed the buds. But it was disappointing.3 Short weeks you can do it. I have about the same and the truth be told 3 weeks feels like forever.
This year I have only two plants instead of 7, and they are both really healthy since I've been able to keep up with caring for them. I'm hoping the good.health of the plant helps keep the pests away. But I'm also considering having some ladybugs on standby.
What's your neem mix? I use 2 Tbs/gallon of water and spray in full sun and have never had any leaf damage from it in 7 years of growing. Only time I've seem damage from neem is when folks add a surfactant.
budnoob3
Well-Known Member
Now that you mention it again, reason I always avoided spraying anything in full sun was based on my experiences of spraying indoors during lights on. Makes sense it wouldn’t be an issue outdoors but was definitely problematic in tents…
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- #211
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
I am glad you bring this up. I believe my mix may have been too strong. I had 1 tbs/quart (litre). That could be causing problems, and I was worried but this was what I came up with when I was using the mixing instructions on the bottle. I didn't add surfactant.
I also was trending toward stronger mixture because the weaker dose wasn't killing the PM on my zineas, but worked great when I went full strength.
I am tempted to mix up your ratio and try again, but Im a little gun shy now.
BTW today I found a few more munchers on the Ethos Pineapple Runtz. Instead of neem I used a couple drops of dishsoap. Ill keep you posted.
I use Dr Bronner's unscented castille soap for pests when neem isn't an option (after I see pistils).
And 1Tbs/L neem is twice as strong as my mix!
And 1Tbs/L neem is twice as strong as my mix!
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- #213
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
I had to go and open my big mouth. "Things are looking good" I said, "Only 3 weeks to harvest if nothing goes wrong" I said. Of course we get a heavy overnight storm and it busts up the ChemDawg. If you look close I already had a cage on the AK-47 from spring, but I was too lazy to build 2 cages. So the Chem Dawg requried an emergency intervention this morning. I think its gonna be OK but dang.. I shouldn't tempt fate with rosy predictions.
The plants have weathered wind, but last night it rained heavily and the buds just flopped when they got wet.
The Chem Dawg split at the top branch, but I think I got it in time and taped/trellised it back.
Here she is after a trip to the garden center and some love.
I put the cage on the AK-47 when it was small and it served well in the storm last night!
Bonus shot. This is an AK-47 leaf with 9 fingers. It was growing out of the 9th node where I topped it and finally turned yellow. It was huge and beautiful.
The plants have weathered wind, but last night it rained heavily and the buds just flopped when they got wet.
The Chem Dawg split at the top branch, but I think I got it in time and taped/trellised it back.
Here she is after a trip to the garden center and some love.
I put the cage on the AK-47 when it was small and it served well in the storm last night!
Bonus shot. This is an AK-47 leaf with 9 fingers. It was growing out of the 9th node where I topped it and finally turned yellow. It was huge and beautiful.
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- #214
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
Ill cut my Neem mix 50% and carefully test it out on something.
Nice Save! A couple days of SunshineI had to go and open my big mouth. "Things are looking good" I said, "Only 3 weeks to harvest if nothing goes wrong" I said. Of course we get a heavy overnight storm and it busts up the ChemDawg. If you look close I already had a cage on the AK-47 from spring, but I was too lazy to build 2 cages. So the Chem Dawg requried an emergency intervention this morning. I think its gonna be OK but dang.. I shouldn't tempt fate with rosy predictions.
The plants have weathered wind, but last night it rained heavily and the buds just flopped when they got wet.
The Chem Dawg split at the top branch, but I think I got it in time and taped/trellised it back.
Here she is after a trip to the garden center and some love.
I put the cage on the AK-47 when it was small and it served well in the storm last night!
Bonus shot. This is an AK-47 leaf with 9 fingers. It was growing out of the 9th node where I topped it and finally turned yellow. It was huge and beautiful.
and they will be Fine!- Thread starter
- #216
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
This is the plant that I tried to kill as a seedling by hitting it with a strong Neem treatment. It came back nicely, then all of a sudden the bugs are back. Only this plant seems to be affected, but I am worried It could spread to the others in the tent.
I don't have another grow space, I guess It could go outside? Kind of late in the season though.
Also I sprayed this with a 2 Tbs/gal mix last night and there were new bites out this morning. I cant see anything on the leaves or flying around the tent. Maybe something living in the soil?
I don't have another grow space, I guess It could go outside? Kind of late in the season though.
Also I sprayed this with a 2 Tbs/gal mix last night and there were new bites out this morning. I cant see anything on the leaves or flying around the tent. Maybe something living in the soil?
I had the same problem earlier this season with my Gorilla Glue #4. Whatever was eating her leaves wasn't deterred by neem.
You could try top dressing the soil with diatomaceous earth. Since you're in a SIP you shouldn't have to worry about it getting too damp.
You could try top dressing the soil with diatomaceous earth. Since you're in a SIP you shouldn't have to worry about it getting too damp.
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- #218
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
I had the same thought and did so. I dusted all the other pots in the tent too just for good measure. Im not sure how much to use, I put a teaspoon or 2 on each one. I even put it on the lower leaves and stem of the affected plant in case they are crawling up from the dirt.
Neem won't kill anything that leaves that kind of damage. That's in the caterpillar/cricket/grasshopper realm.
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- #220
Stonecrusher
Well-Known Member
Ill have to get out the magnifying glass and do a close up.. again. Ill bet there are some f'ing caterpillars lurking. That is what I saw before, they were tiny green things. Do you thing the diatomaceous earth will help on them?