As noted in my 1st post, I have had mites (predators & hosing took complete care of them). Every year I get aphids, gnats, & lotsa hoppers that leave holes in the leaves for a short while before the insectivore invertebrates take care of them, too. When I see the pests, I don’t even flick ‘em off, I convict them of a hate crime, read them their last rites & turn them over to their unpaid invertebrate executioners.
Several years growing with no major pest infestations on anything (weed, maters, basil, peppers, etc), in an area where lotsa folks that spray still have major pest problems. Could be just luck, but several seasons is not a trivial sample size. I suppose T Williams’ & DiMaggio’s batting records coulda been just luck too.
Since you keep dragging in topics that aren’t relevant to the thread, I’ll point out that the thread title & where it's posted provides several hints about what this thread’s about:
1) What’s worked for me for many years outdoors. It’s not to convince anyone to do what I do. But I’d be stupid to stop doing something that works for me & is absolutely free (including shipping/containers…wasps & spiders ship on their own in their own biodegradable containers, Amazon can’t beat that). I don’t expect anyone to do what I think is right, but there’s something wrong with me if I don’t do what I think’s right & works.
2) It’s in the outdoor growing subforum, because it’s only germane to outdoor grows. I don’t think there’s any other option other than 'cides with indoor infestations, which are fairly common (& is one of the reasons I don't grow indoors).
3) It’s about pests, not mold (not sure why you keep dragging that in).
You could always start your own thread on IPM & organic pest/mold methods, replete with discussions of mold & insect smoking. Might be a bit more germane there.
Everyone should grow they way they wish. DIY = DIY
Thanks for your sage input.
My $0.02.