Spider mites

[Mellow oldfark]

Mites can also hitch hike on bigger insects like houseflies.

 

[Indy]

Mites can also hitch hike on bigger insects like houseflies.

cheeky bastards..

 

[Slash]

i'm an neem oil person but wouldn't hurt to use both neem & pyrethrum alternating , if in veg as @benn0 suggested
as to neem better to use neem oil not the econeem which is an extract of neem called Azadirachtin , just my preference

if you do use pure neem oil you'll need an emulsifier , aloe vera , soap nuts or potassium silicate will all boost plant health , of cause a bit of dish wash soap will also emulsify but will def not boost plant health though , you can buy a saponin powder from OGS which is whats in aloe & soap nuts that will emulsify an oil & help make it water soluble
if you see karanja oil around , i think dr greenthumb has it , it's very similar to neem oil , always good to not spray the same thing for pest prevention or control

the other thing to keep in mind is your use of nitrogen , using fertilizers higher in N will give you plenty of lovely green rapid growth but in doing so makes plant cell walls thin , making plants more attractive & easier for sap sucking pests to feed on them

In general, using neem oil on cannabis plants is not a good idea. Neem oil is taken up and stored in trichomes and as I understand it, does not dissipate from the trichomes. This can cause mild azaridachtin toxicity when smoking product treated with neem oil and can cause effects like fevers and tremors. I stopped using neem years ago when I read about the possible side effects of using neem to treat pests on cannabis plants

 

[itchybro]

In general, using neem oil on cannabis plants is not a good idea. Neem oil is taken up and stored in trichomes and as I understand it, does not dissipate from the trichomes. This can cause mild azaridachtin toxicity when smoking product treated with neem oil and can cause effects like fevers and tremors. I stopped using neem years ago when I read about the possible side effects of using neem to treat pests on cannabis plants

like any pesticide you need to be cautious especially around the young , the old , pregnant woman & anyone that has an allergy to it or medical cannabis patients , Neem Oil has been used in agriculture for centuries, there is evidence that it was used over 4000 years ago , it's been used as a pesticide as well as medicine , India has a long history of using neem

" Neem oil has been traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments, particularly those affecting the skin. Common uses include treating skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, and ulcers, as well as addressing acne and promoting wound healing. It has also been used to combat fungal infections and even for potential anti-aging effects. Additionally, neem oil has a history of use in managing lice, dandruff, and gingivitis "

the big issue is when you don't use neem oil & use what has been extracted from neem Azadirachtin on it's own , which is almost always in concentrate form & can easily be over used either by using too much at once or more commonly used to often , it's the reason why i suggested not to use this extract in my post above , i also agreed with benno not to use it on flowering cannabis , even though trichomes are also found on cannabis plants in veg , of cause when spraying any pesticide you should be protecting yourself by at minimum using a mask , but eye & skin protection is also a good idea , this is true with any pesticide or fungicide organic or not

 

[HomeBound_Hound]

like any pesticide you need to be cautious especially around the young , the old , pregnant woman & anyone that has an allergy to it or medical cannabis patients , Neem Oil has been used in agriculture for centuries, there is evidence that it was used over 4000 years ago , it's been used as a pesticide as well as medicine , India has a long history of using neem

" Neem oil has been traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments, particularly those affecting the skin. Common uses include treating skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, and ulcers, as well as addressing acne and promoting wound healing. It has also been used to combat fungal infections and even for potential anti-aging effects. Additionally, neem oil has a history of use in managing lice, dandruff, and gingivitis "

the big issue is when you don't use neem oil & use what has been extracted from neem Azadirachtin on it's own , which is almost always in concentrate form & can easily be over used either by using too much at once or more commonly used to often , it's the reason why i suggested not to use this extract in my post above , i also agreed with benno not to use it on flowering cannabis , even though trichomes are also found on cannabis plants in veg , of cause when spraying any pesticide you should be protecting yourself by at minimum using a mask , but eye & skin protection is also a good idea , this is true with any pesticide or fungicide organic or not

Fantastic post

 

[SAW]

Interesting Re the Neem. I stumbled on a similar discussion on ICMAG today.
I use cake lightly when making the soil and was intrigued. Think I’ll continue, issue seemed over blown.
Bro science linking it to the overusers condition cma? something like that, similar symptoms to what Slash described above

 

[itchybro]

Interesting Re the Neem. I stumbled on a similar discussion on ICMAG today.
I use cake lightly when making the soil and was intrigued. Think I’ll continue, issue seemed over blown.
Bro science linking it to the overusers condition cma? something like that, similar symptoms to what Slash described above

it's always been common to think "more" is always "better" especially with the " Bro's " pretty much never true , with anything
i've def used neem cake as a amendment when mixing my own potting soil (3/4 cup to 1.5 cubic foot or 42 liters) , also used it as part of top dressing during a grow
as far as pest management go's rather than thinking " kill " pests i try thinking " healthier " plant
killing is always going to require something that will negatively impact everything from the pest or pathogen your trying to eliminate to the plant your trying to make prosper , the thinking go's , the healthier the plant the more it can defend itself , you want the plant to defend itself because it'll know about problems way before you do , & to add the stress the plant deals with seems to increase productivity at the business end
letting the plant be in control is def not easy but plant wise more efficient , but spraying a pest spray is easier but def not very efficient

 

[SAW]

Nicely said bro. Not sure if it was the weather this year but them usual caterpillars about the size of a lolly bullet were absent till last few plants late May-June. The ones that tunnel through your buds.
Lots of small ones about 1cm long, but damage very tiny and they’d go straight cocoon stage. Much more tolerable.
I’ve noticed quite an ecosystem this season, lots of resident mantis, some relocated by me and lots of spiders. Even after initial trimming, drying and curing, I’ll get a batch out to final trim and store and I’m removing live spiders.
I follow a loose IPM direction.

 

[Old fox]

Nicely said bro. Not sure if it was the weather this year but them usual caterpillars about the size of a lolly bullet were absent till last few plants late May-June. The ones that tunnel through your buds.
Lots of small ones about 1cm long, but damage very tiny and they’d go straight cocoon stage. Much more tolerable.
I’ve noticed quite an ecosystem this season, lots of resident mantis, some relocated by me and lots of spiders. Even after initial trimming, drying and curing, I’ll get a batch out to final trim and store and I’m removing live spiders.
I follow a loose IPM direction.

Spray B.T. regularly all the way through to a few days before harvest, to control caterpillars.
Harmless to humans and leaves no residual taste. Reapply B.T. after every rain event.

 

[SAW]

Yeah I’ve got some and DE, but not keen.
I know they say it’s safe but I’m still not keen.
Happy to pay my nature tax of a few grams.
Might change my tune if a plague arrived.
Like Itchybro said, healthy plants. Frass is another favourite.
Plus growing many strains, I’m sure grubs have preferences lol.
Little flying black ants liked the Burmese and mango strains, like a grave yard, but none on a different strain neighbour.

 

[itchybro]

Nicely said bro. Not sure if it was the weather this year but them usual caterpillars about the size of a lolly bullet were absent till last few plants late May-June. The ones that tunnel through your buds.
Lots of small ones about 1cm long, but damage very tiny and they’d go straight cocoon stage. Much more tolerable.
I’ve noticed quite an ecosystem this season, lots of resident mantis, some relocated by me and lots of spiders. Even after initial trimming, drying and curing, I’ll get a batch out to final trim and store and I’m removing live spiders.
I follow a loose IPM direction.

butterfly's & moths are the origin of the caterpillars you find mostly , they're a pain in the arse , some fine insect netting can help keep these flying fuckers off ya plant

it can be handy to use companion planting to attract beneficial insects & try making the most out of that ecosystem you mentioned

as to healthier plants that generally starts at water & when to or when not to water your plants , this can be an easy fix if your prepared to invest in a blumat system because it puts the plant in control of watering requirements , the system will increase more water on warmer days & less water on cooler days without you having to judge one way or the other , pros & cons with everything though , for instance if your in pots & you like to move them , that becomes very tricky with blumats attached

the use of mulch to keep evaporation to a minimum & more importantly feed the soil life along the journey is also handy , top dressing under the mulch things like the frass you mentioned ( for the chitin ) seed meals like neem & barley as well as dried kelp meal , not forgetting castings or compost , all will feed the soil which attracts soil life to the plants or in the case of the last 2 , they'll add soil life as well as adding plant available nutrients

foliar spraying things like potassium silicate for it's health benefits which you can use as an emulsifier for things like neem , peppermint , rosemary or thyme oils , making your own seasol from kelp meal can also be a great foliar , the use of aloe vera is a great health booster like kelp , & yes you can spray BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) , i personally try to avoid mid to late flower spraying , BT or Dipel does have a carrier , i can't remember what that is at the minute , they do recommend for use it on fruit , veg & herbs but i also think it is assumed you'll be washing those before consuming , each to there own on when to use BT

 

[afghan bob]

Once again spoken like a man who has a true grasp on what he be throwing down
Always looking out 4 ure wisdom on all things canna and even some things not
Can actually understand most of what u say which 4 me is an achievement in itself

 

[itchybro]

Once again spoken like a man who has a true grasp on what he be throwing down
Always looking out 4 ure wisdom on all things canna and even some things not
Can actually understand most of what u say which 4 me is an achievement in itself