f'ing caterpillars!!

[cravin morehead]

every year my outdoor plants get mangled by F'ing caterpillars!!! its great to go and trim and half of the buds dead and moldy. then you go and remove the bad spots only to find a bunch of lil' 'pillars smiling at you all baked and belly full of your budz . nevermind all the crap they leave in ur bud!!! i've tried picking em off by hand and misc. sprays, but i never get all of them!!! what do you guys do about these little MF'ers??? im determined to have a good outdoor harvest one day... im considering building a screened-in cage to grow in. screened-in sides, top, bottom; would that even help??? thanks for reading my frustrated hatred of the lil f'ers. btw- butterflys are cool looking tho.

 

[planty]

get some BT

 

[puffinpass]

what kinda sprays have u tried using? i had the same problem with these tiny little green catipillars, and neem oil didnt do nething...but then i tried this other stuff, i believe it had like sesame oil and spearmint in it, i got it from lowe's...it worked great the catipillars would panic and get the hell away from the spray sites, but the spray itself was rough on the plants and needs to be diluted so u wont damage ur ladies

 

[puff adder]

Spinosad. It takes care of the caterpillars. Very easy on the plants too, will not burn them.

Green Light is one brand if I remember correctly, most hydro shops carry it.

 

[cravin morehead]

hey planty- thanx for quick response... what BT products do you reccomend?? any specific ones???
puffinpass- ive tried garden safe insect killer, neem, fungicide 3, and some green light ones...

i dont type fast enough for puff adder...

 

[kannubis]

safer brand caterpillar killer with BT is pretty easy on the ladies at the recommended rate, but kills em quick

 

[Kcar]

I like to alternate Caterpiller Killer (BT) and Greenlight
Yard and Garden (Spinosad)

Keep in mind BT is broken down buy sunlight and spinosad is deadly to bees when
it's still wet. I like to spray just after sundown. And often.

 

[cravin morehead]

thanks all !!! those responses just prove why icmag is the best!!!you all rock!!!

 

[Goodkarma]

I like to alternate Caterpiller Killer (BT) and Greenlight
Yard and Garden (Spinosad)

Keep in mind BT is broken down buy sunlight and spinosad is deadly to bees when
it's still wet. I like to spray just after sundown. And often.

This is exactly what I do.

Gotta hit em before they get too big.

I have done controlled experiments and spinosad,BT,Spinosad ,BT worked best for me.
Zero caterpllars with this treamernt, a couple with just spinosad or BT. And over 60 caterpillars with no treatment.

 

[planty]

Microbe Lift Bacterial Mosquito Control 1 oz treats 2000 gallons

 

[cravin morehead]

im off to buy some bt and spinosad, thanks again all. this season is looking great... gonna run some grape ape, chemdawg, and calizahr outdoor this year. maybe others, i dont know yet...

 

[D.S. Toker. MD]

I avoid strains that are succeptable to them.

There are several overall differences, but One of the major differences between a good outdoor strain and other strains is bug and disease resistance.

 

[fishheadbob]

When nothing else works, Sevin will.