[moses wellfleet]

Got a root aphid problem that is rapidly getting out of control. Will have to shut down and start over I guess!

While I have plants that are suffering, all different stages in perpetual grow, I want to use the opportunity to experiment, r&d etc. Try find something that will knock them back. So far tried beauvaria bassiana, steinerama nematodes, and predator mites. Difficult to know what effect these measures had. May have slowed them down!

[Limeygreen]

I have heard met52 drenches work well, not sure is the oil carrier or inert ingredients get uptaken by the plant though.

[paradoxlost]

Nerve gas should kill them

[moses wellfleet]

Originally Posted by Limeygreen

I have heard met52 drenches work well, not sure is the oil carrier or inert ingredients get uptaken by the plant though.

Thanx looking into that one!

[bigbadbiddy]

Originally Posted by paradoxlost

Nerve gas should kill them

ORGANIC kick in the face

I think if he was willing to go the chem route, there are several systemic remedies he could use.

But since he is running an organic garden and likely wants to consume the harvested buds in some way or another, he is trying to fine a way where he doesn't end up ingesting poison

By the way:
My infestation turned out to be fungus gnats, not root aphids. So I can't really help.
But root aphids are by all accounts the worse pest and I had to personally shut down my garden and pause for 2 months because of fungus gnats.
I think with root aphids, there is no way around that. From what I read they are way more invasive and problematic than gnats.

If memory serves, the only long-term remedy for root aphids (aside from restarting) is a systemic poison/remedy.
Meaning you basically "infect" the plant with something. Since the plants are the only food source for the aphids, they then consume the infected plants and die off. They can't stop eating or they die and if they keep eating they die.

Drawback is obviously the question how much of that poison you are intaking yourself later on...

If you listen to the manufacturers of said remedies, you can safely use it up to 2 weeks before harvest and then it will supposedly all be gone by the time you consume the bud/fruit.

My experience tells me that these types of statements are usually at least a liiiiiitle optimistic.

[mushroombrew]

H2O2 drench.

3% is 4 parts water 1 part H2O2

33% is 420ml in 5 Gallons

29% is 500ml in 5 gallons

The other little tid bit is those bastards can't swim. A 18-24hrs water dunk fucks them up.
So if you got containers drown those things. I weighted pots down with water bottles standing on soil. To keep them submerged. I had 20 plants in my res lol!

Careful with Met 52. It has a shelf life. I don't know if they make it anymore. It is banned in many states. Just check date on bottle. It's all expired around me but they still sell it?! And don't expect them to die fast. Takes weeks but does work. I think it's better as a media pre treat vs knock down.

Drown them. Then H2O2 drench once a week. Some strains do not like the drench and stress for a day or two. But RA's stress them out way more so I say go for it.

In recirc I increased flood depth. Worked great.

Chems are much better. But that's early veg/clones only.

[DrLongbottom]

PFR-97 bio-fungicide will work if you can follow the application procedures (high humidity makes the product more effective, in a soil application this isnt too big of an issue because moist soil is high in humidity) On the pricy side and does not have a long shelf life.

[moses wellfleet]

Originally Posted by mushroombrew

H2O2 drench.

3% is 4 parts water 1 part H2O2

33% is 420ml in 5 Gallons

29% is 500ml in 5 gallons

The other little tid bit is those bastards can't swim. A 18-24hrs water dunk fucks them up.
So if you got containers drown those things. I weighted pots down with water bottles standing on soil. To keep them submerged. I had 20 plants in my res lol!

Careful with Met 52. It has a shelf life. I don't know if they make it anymore. It is banned in many states. Just check date on bottle. It's all expired around me but they still sell it?! And don't expect them to die fast. Takes weeks but does work. I think it's better as a media pre treat vs knock down.

Drown them. Then H2O2 drench once a week. Some strains do not like the drench and stress for a day or two. But RA's stress them out way more so I say go for it.

In recirc I increased flood depth. Worked great.

Chems are much better. But that's early veg/clones only.

Unfortunately hydrogen peroxide would destroy all life in my no till soil. Maybe a neem drench would be kinder to the micro herd?

Interesting point about the drowning!

[mushroombrew]

All the bennies in the world won't do much good when your roots are dead right?

Add back bennies after. Just like probiotics after antibiotics.

The RA will lick the neem off and ask for seconds lol!

[moses wellfleet]

Originally Posted by mushroombrew

All the bennies in the world won't do much good when your roots are dead right?

Add back bennies after. Just like probiotics after antibiotics.

The RA will lick the neem off and ask for seconds lol!

True, there may not be a choice in the matter!