Expert Help Please

Ok...so I got a couple plants going in soil. They look good except for the thirps iv been fighting for over 1 month. Im getting a small spotty pattern on some of the leaves and then they start to dry and die eventually, some of the the leaves also look like canoes...im not sure what that is about . I was thinking it was the thirps but im not so sure...well here is a couple pics for your diagnosis. PH is good iv been feeding them with GH 3 part, they are on 12/12 under a 400 watt HPS temps are good light isn't too close.

very similar to a spidermite infestation that i'm dealing with... i use safer's insecticidal soap, it kills on contact and is biofriendly (smoke safe), but it does not erradicate completely... mites die and are back in a week. and i've one that looks a tad bit worse than that one... i watered, she picked up some, i'm misting lightly, that seems to help too...but i may be fighting a lost battle.

have you seen any webs?

sorry i can't help more...

love, kp:p

Naaa....I dont think its mites, just the thirps. I spray every once and a while to keep em in check. I just stop a week before harvest and it breaks down. Also I try not to hit the buds just the leaves where I can see them. I was more worried it was some type of deficiency but it seems we are 2/2 for the pests.

I had thrips and although annoying they don't do any real damage to plants. I ended up getting rid of them by spraying with a nicotine solution every 4 days for a couple of weeks. the eggs are laying in the soil and can stay dormant for weeks before hatching. so you need to be ready to spray whenever you see just one thrip - cos for every one you see there's probably like 30 on the plant. eventually you will lower the numbers enough that their life cycle is broken.

with regard to your blotchy leaves thats almost definately a nutrient issue, have a look at these links and see which picture/description best fits.

http://www.drugs-forum.com/growfaq/1382.htm
http://www.drugs-forum.com/growfaq/804.htm
http://www.drugs-forum.com/growfaq/951.htm

some info on mites.

Mites hate water. just misting your plants with water will kill mites!!!
not very well though.

also keeping the humidity up will also keep mites away.

Use neem oil, or einstein oil (will kill eggs too)

Safers soap also kills em. And they are all very natural.