[Microbeman]

Originally Posted by The Sensi Rebel

Can anybody post me a link of the most cost-efficient beneficial insects you can find? Like Californicus or other things that prey on mites or anything of the like. The local hydro store wants $100 per order of the buggers

Look at the thread I just bumped again

Originally Posted by Microbeman

Look at the thread I just bumped again

I have stuck the thread for easier access to the information.

[ozzieAI]

thought this may help some: https://ipmguidelines.org/treesandshr...efault-10.aspx

and another: https://nevegetable.org/insect-and-mite-management

geez i am on a roll: https://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/greenh...tablesfeb3.pdf

[azad]

I'm using Garlic Wonder Concentrate. used as a root drench and foliar spray.
It Stimulates growth and helps make a good healthy root system, creating vigorous plants with far greater resistance to attack from insect pests and fungal diseases. Garlic wonder is both preventative and curative with systemic action.

[floral]

Care to share your organic caterpillar prevention regimen?

I use Neem cake in my soil mix, occasional Neem cake or other botanical soaks (lavender, rosemary, thyme, basil, cilantro) as a foliar spray, occasional spinosad. Used to use a powder with Btk but have been phasing it out due to concern for bees - but I know it's really good for caterpillars.

Basically just use one of these things every week or two unless there are visible pests, in which case I increase the frequency.

Considering trichogramma wasps if it's not too late in the season.

I haven't had major caterpillar problems, but even one of those little bastards chomping on the inside of a nice flower is too many.

Wish I knew what is the best timing for intervention in their life cycle.

Any words of wisdom from other outdoor organic gardeners on caterpillar prevention?

Azad..

Buy some Minced Garlic at Costco for $10 and add liberally into your next foliar tea. You dont need that bottled schmit. hell, just buy a clove of garlic and finely chop that up and throw it in with your airstone.

I agree, Garlic is awesome all-around. Just trying to save you some money playa.

I'm having trouble finding rates for soaking neem/karanja meal for foliar/drench. I have 1/2cup written but have lost the note as to whether that amount was for 2 gallons or 5 gallons. I'm doing 1/2 neem and 1/2 karanja. Thanks for any assistance.

[ozzieAI]

Any words of wisdom from other outdoor organic gardeners on caterpillar prevention?

using pure neem oil as a soil drench has stopped most of the caterpillars that used to damage my plants...i only get a few these days that actually cause damage...usually i find them sick just sitting on the leaves slowly dying...

[floral]

Thanks. Even if Neem oil drench works to prevent caterpillars (and I haven't seen enough proof that it would), I would rather not throw my soil microbes out of whack with something so extreme. I spent a long time waiting for the worms to create that lovely EWC, brewing teas, waiting for soil mix to cook properly, etc., so I don't see myself drenching the root zone with oil. Glad it worked for you, though.

Neem oil isn't that extreme. I topdress with neem all the time, and neem is a major constituent of keeping bugs down in my worm bins. Perhaps I'm misreading but you're sounding overzealous calling an application of neem oil anything as extreme as "drenching the root zone in oil" in direct comparison to words like lovingly crafted.