termite prevention

[jakeh]

There is surprisingly little information on this site or even google on preventing termites in or around areas where food crops are produced. For those living in california or the southeast especially they are a major problem. A friend who grows(30+yrs) only organically has tried everything and said the only thing that works for him is the terminex or spectracide stakes used for home termite control. They come in a box of 20 with a drill bit to put them in the soil. The active ingredient is .1% and is a slow acting bait so the termites can take it back to the mound. I was shocked this friend uses this because of his organic only approach but he says they hit the bait and it does not get released into the soil nor does the plant pick it up. At $70 a box of 20 they are not cheap but if you have dealt with them before and seen a perfectly healthy plant laid down by termite damage you would probably think it is cheap compared to the alternative. One of those ounce of prevention ='s a pound of cure type things I guess. If you think about a mulched spot that is watered regularly surrounded by the opposite it is no wonder termites flock to grow holes. Any other suggestions greatly appreciated.
thanks
jakeh

 

[billb]

seven will also work. In my part of the country termites are bad and if not dealt with they will destroy your whole crop. i use about ounces per gal. works like a charm

 

[jakeh]

How many ounces per gallon and do you find this works for subterranean termites? The ones that got me a few years ago came up through the roots and into the main stem. Dropped 2 plants.

 

[billb]

i use 2 ounces per gal, for a regular rinse about once a month. i use 3 ounces per gal if you have an infestation. yes the sub T are the only ones i've had any probs with. years ago,before i knew about them effecting MJ, they got over 100 or so plants one year. i broke open some big stalks and they were eating it from the inside, i mean 100's of them. also a strong permethryn rinse kills them also.

 

[billb]

if you plant around cut overs, u will have them.

 

[P-NUT]

will neem help or neem seed cake mixed into your planting hole?

 

[billb]

not sure about neem. termites are hard thing to completley get rid of. a flush every 4 to 6 weeks with sevin will do the trick.

 

[jakeh]

I checked my plants today and my oldest and best one has a spot where it looks like something bore into the stem. It is not a gaping hole but it makes me wonder what could have bored its way inside the stem of my best plant. Any suggestions on what this may have been or how to treat it? The last time termites were an issue they came from the roots up through the stem. No entrance above the soil. Any help greatly appreciated.
thanks,
jake

PS
the only thing I've noticed pest wise is ants that seem to go up and down the stalk. They are fire ants and not termites. Should fire ants be a cause of concern?

 

[billb]

man, not sure what type insect does it, but i've had that prob in the past. the chew threw the stems almost or fully. they don't bore in, they just eat it. it will heal itself. mix up 2 ounces of sevin per gal and spray your plant regularly and you won't have any probs.
people probably think i work for them as much as talk about using it. I don't. honestly it takes care of all my outdoor pest probs .

 

[P-NUT]

has anyone here tried the predator nematodes before? they have them at naturescontrol.com I wonder if they really work for any extended period or how fast they work.

 

[jakeh]

P-Nut,
My friend that recommended the terminex stakes has tried nematodes and considered them a waste of time and money.
jake

 

[billb]

nematodes wouldn't do much outdoor i wouldn't think

 

[P-NUT]

i used boric acid to get rid of them back in the day but someone warned me not to grow where I put it because it was toxic to humans and plants absorb it and too much is bad. I'm not sure about its safety so i dont plant in those spots anymore. anyone know whats up with that?

 

[jakeh]

Since my last post I've lost 3 plants to termites and am worried about a couple of others. I've hit them with sevin and am about to hit them again. My frustration is at a high point right now. All the plants had the terminex stakes but I put them in at the middle of June. My friend that uses them says they should go in when the plants do but I didn't know at the time. At the moment the only plants I am not worried about are in pots. I bought some sm-90 and applied it a week ago but do not know how it has worked on the ones I have that already had damage. It may be too late.
Gotta couple of questions if anyone may know.
1. Can a termite eat through the weed fabric used in smart pots?
2. Of the plants I've lost when I go to pull them out of the soil no roots come up. It is like they are severed at the soil line between the roots and stem. Could this be anything but a termite?

thanks for any input.
jake

 

[billb]

its a termite. the sevin will work, test it out. take some soil out or crack open the stem of the dead plants they'll be everywhere. take a prayer mixed with sevin and water @ 2 ounces per gal and spray it on them,. kills them dead. make sure not too overdue it with the mix ratio. too much of it will burn the leaves on your plants. never tried sm -90. also i have never used smart pots either.

 

[billb]

there is also a pesticide that you can put in the ground that will kill them out of that area for 5 years. not sure of the name, i will check tomorrow and post it. but you cannot add it to your soil your plants are in. if you plant in pots it would be worth it.

 

[P-NUT]

they can get in plastic pots so Id say the can get into smart pots.

 

[crookpot]

P-NUT, plastic pots have large open drainage holes where they can fit through easily. I would think they would need to climb up the fabric pot to reach the plant. Will they do that, compelled by what?

Anyone have experience in known-termite-infested areas, where smart pots either did or didn't work?

I know for absolute fact that my area has a good amount of termites.