i got spider mites

[larry badiner]

i checked my grow a few days ago and found these white spots all over my leaves, and 2 clones (which i didn't grow) had all these webs all over it.. what do i do? I'm going to get lady bugs in about 3 hours and i think I might get some neem just in case

 

[FunkJungle]

Neem will work. Will take several applications a few days apart. If you want to go the natural route I know several people swear by it. More work than I care for, but if your garden isn't that big it's pretty simple.

I usually use Forbid 4F if I ever get mites. Once and done for the most part, but I do a 2nd app about a week later just in case. $20-25 on ebay for a little sample vial. All I use is 4 drops in a spray bottle with a couple drops of dish soap. Easiest way I know and very effective.

 

[larry badiner]

Neem will work. Will take several applications a few days apart. If you want to go the natural route I know several people swear by it. More work than I care for, but if your garden isn't that big it's pretty simple.

I usually use Forbid 4F if I ever get mites. Once and done for the most part, but I do a 2nd app about a week later just in case. $20-25 on ebay for a little sample vial. All I use is 4 drops in a spray bottle with a couple drops of dish soap. Easiest way I know and very effective.

thanks for the reply.. ill use neem for a couple of days and next week if they're still there I'm going to put some lady bugs in my grow tent..

the worst part about this whole thing is within the end of my plants treatment (i think it'll take about 2 weeks) is ill end up with monster plants, they'll probably outgrow my tent vertical wise

 

[bubo]

Lady bugs and Neem aren't that great against a spider mite infestation, you might minimise it but you'll be constantly battling them for the entire grow.

As your in veg I'd suggest getting about 1000-2000 predatory mites such as the Phytoseiulus Persimilis or the Amblyseius Californicus. They'll eat the adults and the eggs. Phytoseiulus Persimilis are the preferred option as they're really aggressive.

Here's a youtube video of them in action :

[youtubeif]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mFyBxldl-Q[/youtubeif]

I'd also suggest having some Pyrethrum spray on standby, this is excellent stuff it deals with a huge variety of pests including spider mites.

Regarding your height issue, have you considered topping them?

After your grow, you'll want to give the growing area a deep clean, smoke bomb it, spray it down with Hydrogen Peroxide. If you don't, you'll have them again and again.

Good luck.

 

[oneofus]

Here ya go.

http://rosemania.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page9.html

This is the miticide page at Rosemania.com. I have personally used Floramite SC which worked well at first for about a month. Then they came back. Then I added Hexygon DF to kill the eggs (Floramite SC does not kill the eggs very well, but Hexygon DF is strictly to kill the eggs). That worked better. For about 3 months. Then they came back. Then I added Forbid to the other two for a serious "witch's brew" (all of them mixed together at the same time in the same bucket) and dunked the plants in a big deep garbage can made of plastic (don't use a metal one...). Not seen a mite in well over a year. Expensive. But if you want those mites gone.....

 

[larry badiner]

I'm using hydro so i don't know if the spider mites laid eggs in my medium (rock wool/hydroton). all i know is after a spray treatment of neem oil about yesterday some of the bugs went away, and my plants are growning normally if not a little faster. i can't afford the bug treatment oneofus suggested

@bubo, I've seen good stuff from lady bugs, my dad used lady bugs in his grow and he hasn't had a spider mite infection in over a year.

i already flipped the lights to 12/12.. basically, if they come back I'm trashing my grow and growing berries and herbs after doing a tent cleaning

 

[JustBlazen420]

Try using mitey wash. Its much more effective IME but an little pricey. Its a better alternative than full on nuking them.

 

[Photosynthesis]

The key to using neem oil is using warm water, and also adding an emulsifier. Adding essential oils only makes it stronger. The terpenes in certain essential oils will eradicate eggs, and adults.

Spinosad has also been shown to lower the amount of eggs a female lays down to 4-6.

 

[Ont_Grow_Guy]

I find Neem works ok if you catch the problem early and you treat the plants every 3-4 days, but if you mix it too strong or use it on young plants it can damage the leaves. You also need to wash the residue off the foliage or it will cause damage

I recently used "Safers End All 2" on a friends garden with mites and another friends garden with thrips and it worked perfect for both of em!! Also has a very pleasant smell lol Its also organic certified and doesn't leave any leftover residue on the foliage that need to be washed off.

Only used it on those 2 gardens, but so far im very impressed with it. Not expensive either. $13 for the 500ml concentrate. bottle says mix @50ml/L but I used it @35ml/L.

You also gotta figure out HOW you got the mites in the first place, or you will be fighting em forever lol

Good luck... Bugs suck!!

 

[larry badiner]

Try using mitey wash. Its much more effective IME but an little pricey. Its a better alternative than full on nuking them.

did the spider mites come back?

 

[larry badiner]

I find Neem works ok if you catch the problem early and you treat the plants every 3-4 days, but if you mix it too strong or use it on young plants it can damage the leaves. You also need to wash the residue off the foliage or it will cause damage

I recently used "Safers End All 2" on a friends garden with mites and another friends garden with thrips and it worked perfect for both of em!! Also has a very pleasant smell lol Its also organic certified and doesn't leave any leftover residue on the foliage that need to be washed off.

Only used it on those 2 gardens, but so far im very impressed with it. Not expensive either. $13 for the 500ml concentrate. bottle says mix @50ml/L but I used it @35ml/L.

You also gotta figure out HOW you got the mites in the first place, or you will be fighting em forever lol

Good luck... Bugs suck!!

i got the little fuckers from two 10$ clones from a family member, i removed them and the plants are looking good.. my plants are currently going threw 2 days of darkness while the lady bugs are doing their work

 

[bubo]

I'm using hydro so i don't know if the spider mites laid eggs in my medium (rock wool/hydroton). all i know is after a spray treatment of neem oil about yesterday some of the bugs went away, and my plants are growning normally if not a little faster. i can't afford the bug treatment oneofus suggested

@bubo, I've seen good stuff from lady bugs, my dad used lady bugs in his grow and he hasn't had a spider mite infection in over a year.

i already flipped the lights to 12/12.. basically, if they come back I'm trashing my grow and growing berries and herbs after doing a tent cleaning

They lay eggs underneath the leaves, they look like little pearls, you won't be able to see them with your naked eye. Just keep an eye out for fine yellow spots, it's a sign there's a feast going on underneath. They tend to stick to one area unless you've allowed them to mass produce. You can easily keep it under control now that you know what you're looking for. They're called the Borg for a reason. Just get into the habit of checking the leaves.

 

[RonSmooth]

Were the clones flowering? I have never seen webs on a vegging plant. I have seen spider webs on my vegging plants. The white garden spider is common indoors and not harmful to plants.

The spots dont sound like mite eggs either. As the poster above stated, the eggs and mites are found on the underside of the leaves.

Are you even sure they are spider mites?

 

[Croptober]

I use mighty wash and that clears any mite problem pretty fast.