So I hired an exterminator for spider mites...

Truly, I had no idea one even existed. I met this guy who said he ran a small pest control business (and I understand from the forum rules I can't post a link to his business, right?) at the last Cannabis Convention. I took his card (just in case), and finally called in desperation. I have tried everything - bombs, sprays, dips - and just can't get rid of the suckers. :(

I posted before that I really do have sick people I grow for, so I wanted to avoid the chemical route. I'm hoping the "fog" approach they advertise instead of the spray bottle thing will be way more effective.

So I had the guy fog with this stuff yesterday that is supposed to dissolve the exoskeleton of the mites. He comes back on Friday to check the plants for bugs. If I didn't have people counting on me to have a good harvest, it would sort of be like a science experiment!

Anyone else hire a professional to combat pests? I'll let you know how it turns out. I checked the girls today and they don't looked burned or otherwise stressed, so I'm hopeful...

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Originally Posted by ganjagr1

Truly, I had no idea one even existed. I met this guy who said he ran a small pest control business (and I understand from the forum rules I can't post a link to his business, right?) at the last Cannabis Convention. I took his card (just in case), and finally called in desperation. I have tried everything - bombs, sprays, dips - and just can't get rid of the suckers. :(

I posted before that I really do have sick people I grow for, so I wanted to avoid the chemical route. I'm hoping the "fog" approach they advertise instead of the spray bottle thing will be way more effective.

So I had the guy fog with this stuff yesterday that is supposed to dissolve the exoskeleton of the mites. He comes back on Friday to check the plants for bugs. If I didn't have people counting on me to have a good harvest, it would sort of be like a science experiment!

Anyone else hire a professional to combat pests? I'll let you know how it turns out. I checked the girls today and they don't looked burned or otherwise stressed, so I'm hopeful...

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That's really interesting. I'm just going through my first harvest and thankfully didn't have any pest problems. I have heard it was an especially bad summer for bugs.

You might post a comment on the kindreviews site, there was a thread about an MMC with a mite problem. I'm not sure how specific I can be on this site, we share the same concerns. I don't think these problems exist there.

I don't know how big your grow is, but it might be worth it to scrub everything down with bleach and be surgical clean moving forward. I'm not criticizing you or anything, this is an interesting subject, especially in this economy.

Avid, Floramite or starting a new grow after cleaning every corner of your room is the only way to get rid of mites. Most people screw around with neem oil or pyrethrum only to find that they reappear after a few weeks.

Check the comments section of the Westword article that ran online about mites. Tons of great info there.

Thanks for the feedback! I tried destroying the plants, vacuuming everything, and the bleach-down. It's not a big grow, but enough to be a pain in the ass. And I swear, no matter how many times I spray, I don't get everything. Either that, or the suckers are just determined!! :cursing:

I went with this guy because (1) I met him and he seemed cool. (2) He's an mmj patient himself. (3) He comes in with a microscope and a bunch of equipment and SHOWS you how bad the infestation is on his computer. And then he handed me a jumpsuit and a respirator and let me stay in the room while he fogged. It was a pretty neat process and everything in my room was COATED. No way was anything missed.

I didn't order Neem Oil or Pyrethrum, since those are things I can buy myself. It was something that carries an electrical charge and somehow dissolves the exoskeleton of the mite. Since mammals don't have exoskeletons, it's supposed to be pet and people safe. (I have an indoor cat.) I never heard of it before and figured, why not? I've already tried just about everything else that isn't cancer-causing.

I liked that he had a bunch of nontoxic stuff - most I heard of just from reading the forums, some I didn't. I know he has Avid and I think it's one of the "guaranteed" products he offers, but I wanted to go the more natural route. My Mom has MS and is an mmj patient and I wouldn't feel comfortable giving her stuff treated with a carcinogen. :eek:

I know a lot of people have been struggling with spider mites this season, but I haven't seen anyone mention hiring a professional. They say if you have bedbugs, you can buy do-it-yourself stuff, but they always come back; a professional exterminator is the most effective route.

I tried the do-it-yourself route for spider mites and am now trying the professional route. Will keep you posted how the Friday check-up goes!

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Originally Posted by ganjagr1

Thanks for the feedback! I tried destroying the plants, vacuuming everything, and the bleach-down. It's not a big grow, but enough to be a pain in the ass. And I swear, no matter how many times I spray, I don't get everything. Either that, or the suckers are just determined!! :cursing:

I went with this guy because (1) I met him and he seemed cool. (2) He's an mmj patient himself. (3) He comes in with a microscope and a bunch of equipment and SHOWS you how bad the infestation is on his computer. And then he handed me a jumpsuit and a respirator and let me stay in the room while he fogged. It was a pretty neat process and everything in my room was COATED. No way was anything missed.

I didn't order Neem Oil or Pyrethrum, since those are things I can buy myself. It was something that carries an electrical charge and somehow dissolves the exoskeleton of the mite. Since mammals don't have exoskeletons, it's supposed to be pet and people safe. (I have an indoor cat.) I never heard of it before and figured, why not? I've already tried just about everything else that isn't cancer-causing.

I liked that he had a bunch of nontoxic stuff - most I heard of just from reading the forums, some I didn't. I know he has Avid and I think it's one of the "guaranteed" products he offers, but I wanted to go the more natural route. My Mom has MS and is an mmj patient and I wouldn't feel comfortable giving her stuff treated with a carcinogen. :eek:

I know a lot of people have been struggling with spider mites this season, but I haven't seen anyone mention hiring a professional. They say if you have bedbugs, you can buy do-it-yourself stuff, but they always come back; a professional exterminator is the most effective route.

I tried the do-it-yourself route for spider mites and am now trying the professional route. Will keep you posted how the Friday check-up goes!

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If you continue to grow you will see these little buggers again, keep a close eye and catch them before they become a problem. Keep it clean.

FORBID 4F MITICIDE 5ml, SHIPS SAMEDAY FIRST CLASS MAIL! - eBay (item 170515151412 end time Oct-15-10 18:07:25 PDT)
One method is to floramite treat your vegging plants now, and again in a few weeks when they are about to flower, (but not in flower) then bleach the whole veg/flower room real well. You should win the war in one day that way.

Product above is even stronger if you're determined to have eradication after a single use. :D

Understanding the mite life cycle is key to winning the battle. Understanding the vectors of infection is the way win the war.

Avid, as far as pesticides go is not to nasty. Made from a fermented fungus......

out of curiosity, what was the charge for the exterminator's services?

I use Neem as a precautionary method. It took care of an infestation on the wife's house plants before it spread. No bugs have been ever seen in my grow room. I spray new growth every week and a half or 2 weeks in Veg. I don't use anything on the plants in flower. The only access to flowering is thru the veg room,... so bug's have to make it thru veg to get to flower.

I also put down barriers, insect dust in the corners and edges of the room, and lanolin smeared around legs of tables/rims of pots.

But mostly I keep it clean, vacuum out stray dirt blown out of the pots (soil grower) Remove dead foliage, and inspect daily.

Most importantly I take a shower, change clothes, and remove my shoes before going into my grow room.


Good luck eliminating them, hopefully the "Pro" gets the job done and finishes them for good! :chainsaw:

One shot of Avid to all my vegging plants got rid of them permanently for me, havent seen a mite in over a year.

i used floramite once, sort of as a nuclear attack, and followed that up alternating neem and avid. after just a few treatments, never again.
it's very, very important to note that you absolutely must alternate your treatment, though, no matter what you use, if you want it to be/remain effective. those little fuckers adapt all too well.
i beat the piss out of mites, with plenty of products left over for any future outbreak, with the aide of ebay and about $40.

As promised, here's the low-down for the Friday "check-up." The guy took 14 leaf samples, put them under the microscope, and we found a bunch of dead mites but 1 that seemed to be struggling around (he looked kind of fucked up, like he had been half dissolved -- creepy!). So he fogged again. I had ordered a 3-part treatment (or 3-visit) plan for $80. So he comes over and fogs up to 3 times and does a microscope check each time to see how bad the problem is.

I know a bunch of you commented about Avid and Floramite. That stuff is super toxic. Sure it kills mites, but what is it doing to my lungs? To my mom's lungs? What if those chemicals stay on the flower and she ingests them and they interact with the meds she's already on?

I didn't want to go that route. So I hired this guy because he has stuff that just carries an electric charge in an oil base - no toxic chemicals. And really $80 is such a small price to pay to have someone else supply the pesticide, cover the lights, and fog for me. It would take me all day to spray -- this guy comes in with his equipment and is gone in an hour. The next check-up is Tuesday.

It kind of creeps me out to buy mmj from dispensaries or people on Craigslist because I suspect they're probably using Avid, Floramite, or some other super-toxic pesticide when other safer methods could work just as well. There's no way to know what they treat their plants with - it's not like your meds come with a nutritional information tag. That's why I grow my own -- so I know what goes into it. It's definitely an expensive, time-consuming "hobby," but it's worth it to me. Some people grow their own vegetables to avoid pesticides; I grow medicine.

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Originally Posted by ganjagr1

As promised, here's the low-down for the Friday "check-up." The guy took 14 leaf samples, put them under the microscope, and we found a bunch of dead mites but 1 that seemed to be struggling around (he looked kind of fucked up, like he had been half dissolved -- creepy!). So he fogged again. I had ordered a 3-part treatment (or 3-visit) plan for $80. So he comes over and fogs up to 3 times and does a microscope check each time to see how bad the problem is.

I know a bunch of you commented about Avid and Floramite. That stuff is super toxic. Sure it kills mites, but what is it doing to my lungs? To my mom's lungs? What if those chemicals stay on the flower and she ingests them and they interact with the meds she's already on?

I didn't want to go that route. So I hired this guy because he has stuff that just carries an electric charge in an oil base - no toxic chemicals. And really $80 is such a small price to pay to have someone else supply the pesticide, cover the lights, and fog for me. It would take me all day to spray -- this guy comes in with his equipment and is gone in an hour. The next check-up is Tuesday.

It kind of creeps me out to buy mmj from dispensaries or people on Craigslist because I suspect they're probably using Avid, Floramite, or some other super-toxic pesticide when other safer methods could work just as well. There's no way to know what they treat their plants with - it's not like your meds come with a nutritional information tag. That's why I grow my own -- so I know what goes into it. It's definitely an expensive, time-consuming "hobby," but it's worth it to me. Some people grow their own vegetables to avoid pesticides; I grow medicine.

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Respectfully, you shouldn't be so defensive about your methods. Everyone does things differently, so don't be offended if people suggest things you would never use. It's difficult to convey each individual's unique circumstances. Understand that people will give their advice based on their personal experience, not necessarily 'your' specific conditions.

Keep updating.

Seems like a waste and it potentially won't work. I've heard mixed feedback on foggers...
I was able to kill them being diligent with neem oil, pyrethrum, and soapy water. Knowing the life-cycle, switching up chemicals, being persistent, and incorporating environmental controls is all it takes for a small grow.

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Originally Posted by lampost

Seems like a waste and it potentially won't work. I've heard mixed feedback on foggers...
I was able to kill them being diligent with neem oil, pyrethrum, and soapy water. Knowing the life-cycle, switching up chemicals, being persistent, and incorporating environmental controls is all it takes for a small grow.

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$80 seems like it's worth it (to me), especially with the concerns over health and using organic or clean methods. To each his own.
edit:
If I saw a single mite on my single plant during my first grow, I would absolutely spend $80 for an exterminator. I'm over the top like that. Of course I'd start treating with chemicals as well. That's just how I roll.

I guess I would rather rely on myself than gamble on letting some random dude in my grow AND relying on his expertise.
Neem oil, pyrethrum, and soapy water are probably less harmful than whatever that dude is using. Besides.... did he even share the name of the chemical with the client or perhaps the MSDS for the chemicals he's using?

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Originally Posted by cologrower420

Respectfully, you shouldn't be so defensive about your methods. Everyone does things differently, so don't be offended if people suggest things you would never use. It's difficult to convey each individual's unique circumstances. Understand that people will give their advice based on their personal experience, not necessarily 'your' specific conditions.

Keep updating.

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Good point. I didn't mean that to sound defensive -- just firm about not wanting to use Avid or similar products.

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Originally Posted by lampost

I guess I would rather rely on myself than gamble on letting some random dude in my grow AND relying on his expertise.
Neem oil, pyrethrum, and soapy water are probably less harmful than whatever that dude is using. Besides.... did he even share the name of the chemical with the client or perhaps the MSDS for the chemicals he's using?

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Yup. I have both. The "chemical" is a custom blend, and it's called GroFree Blend #3. I think he works with some chemists in California to develop it. Since I can't link to the website, I would say give him a call and I'm sure he'd mail or drop off your own copy of the MSDS. (720) 837-1814 and his name is Jim.

He's a really low-key, friendly guy. I had no qualms letting into my grow, but I had already met him at the Cannabis Convention. So it's not like he's a "random dude," LOL! He's just a business owner with a website, a business card, and service I needed.

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Originally Posted by lampost

I guess I would rather rely on myself than gamble on letting some random dude in my grow AND relying on his expertise.
Neem oil, pyrethrum, and soapy water are probably less harmful than whatever that dude is using. Besides.... did he even share the name of the chemical with the client or perhaps the MSDS for the chemicals he's using?

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That is a valid concern for you.

However, I'm a legal patient with a legal grow, completely compliant. I have no problem with other people knowing about my grow. I am actually more than willing to talk to anyone I encounter about gardening. I'm new and trying to gain info everywhere I can. Until I have pest problems and deal with personal experience, I can't rely on myself. I hope that makes sense, that these types of services most definitely have a place in this industry.

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Originally Posted by cologrower420

That is a valid concern for you.

However, I'm a legal patient with a legal grow, completely compliant. I have no problem with other people knowing about my grow. I am actually more than willing to talk to anyone I encounter about gardening. I'm new and trying to gain info everywhere I can. Until I have pest problems and deal with personal experience, I can't rely on myself. I hope that makes sense, that these types of services most definitely have a place in this industry.

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yeah, that's cool. everyone has their own way... sounds like that guy knows a lot more than i too.
however, i'd be careful letting people know about your grow regardless of your status. it's still a federal crime and people still have big mouths. extreme example but look what happened to old bartkowicz...

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Originally Posted by ganjagr1

I know a bunch of you commented about Avid and Floramite. That stuff is super toxic. Sure it kills mites, but what is it doing to my lungs? To my mom's lungs? What if those chemicals stay on the flower and she ingests them and they interact with the meds she's already on?

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just want to clarify, i've never used avid or floramite on any flowering plant. i'd hit them when they were planted and again just before flowering. both products break down within a month (so they claim) so, as i believe it, there are no harmful residues left on the finished product.
so, yeah, like they've said- whatever way you get it done is that way to do it, just don't dick around with them (the mites).

the borg will one day rule the world!!

Avid breaks down in about 45 days, I think Floramite is about the same. Pyrethrum, soapy water, rubbing alcohol, neem oil, they all will kill mites, but they will not kill the eggs. You can kill every mite in your garden with a pyrethrum fogger but 6 hours later more eggs will hatch and within days those will lay more eggs and so on. If you have a small garden and are able to spray daily AND make sure you got every single mite then you may be able to get rid of them. Miss one mite and you'll soon be back to where you were. Avid gets absorbed in the leaves and makes the leaves deadly for mites, as soon as the eggs hatch the mites die the first time they eat lunch, whereas Floramite actually kills the eggs.

Nobody wants to use toxic chemicals but sometimes it becomes a necessary evil. I tried EVERYTHING to get rid of them for months, every time I thought I got rid of them they magically reappeared weeks later. I personally dont think there is anything to worry about of using Avid in veg. From the time a plant is put into flower until it is consumed almost 3 months have gone by. I dont think that can be said about most fruits and vegetables you buy, unless they are organic you can be sure they've been sprayed with some shit weeks before.

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Originally Posted by lampost

yeah, that's cool. everyone has their own way... sounds like that guy knows a lot more than i too.
however, i'd be careful letting people know about your grow regardless of your status. it's still a federal crime and people still have big mouths. extreme example but look what happened to old bartkowicz...

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I totally agree that discretion is the name of the game.

In my case, my living situation is going to change soon, and I am only growing one plant, so anyone I speak to who might have 'other' ideas for my grow would quickly be dis-interested. Anyone who matters, is aware and no one cares. I'm pretty lucky.

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Originally Posted by Zedleppelin

Avid, Floramite or starting a new grow after cleaning every corner of your room is the only way to get rid of mites. Most people screw around with neem oil or pyrethrum only to find that they reappear after a few weeks.

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I agree 100% - I was going crazy with some badass Humboldt bugs - three NPS strips (at once) didn't get it and neem oil is a complete fuckin waste of $, Floramite ended up FINALLY getting rid of them. these guys were bigger than any I have ever seen (the two-dotted ones) and they bred like rabbits on viagra. After that harvest I wiped off everything inside and within 20 feet of my tent with bleach, now not one bug on my 'masters'..fingers crossed.. but they do love dry summers and this has been the worst ever

I've come to the conclusion that when considering cost, my effort, and the certainty of safety and effectiveness, ladybugs are the best method for my situation. Your mileage may vary.

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Originally Posted by senorx12562

I've come to the conclusion that when considering cost, my effort, and the certainty of safety and effectiveness, ladybugs are the best method for my situation. Your mileage may vary.

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Ladybugs will refuse to go anywhere near sticky flowers.

We had a terrible time with mites, aphids and even the bugs
that killed the grape (wine) crops in France at one time (I
forget the name of the bugs) with our first crop.

The NEEM oil helped a bit, but my son (who inadvertently gave us the bugs, thanks, buddy!) used ladybugs and had a beautiful second crop.

He got his at Aurora Hydro.
We used one of those yellow hangers this time and
Diatomaceous Earth. We still had aphids this time around,
but they don't hurt the crop, and run off of the hanging buds when they are drying.

Doctor Doom fogger $8.99 for a 5.5 oz can does a 15x15 ft room contains pyrethrin
if you do a treatment every 3 days for about 4 treaments (12 days) will break the mites life cycle... great to use if your in flower:hippy:

Cool thread, yet another option when things get bad! Avid in veg always works wonders for me.