Are these spider mites or nutrient deficiency??? Help

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Hard to see on my cell phone, plus there's a light glare in your shot. From what I can see. Looks like spider mites. All kinds of new insecticides out there, but first try a lemon scented dish SOAP not detergent ( which can strip natural plant oils & burn), like original, non-concentrate Joy. 1-2 tablespoons in a spray bottle mixed with water. Spray the hell out if the undersides of the leaves first, since this is where they live & feed, then the top sides. I like to rinse, then lightly re-apply when nearly dry. I spray the top of the soil too. I wash my plants often as a preventive. Mites are the last thing you want once they start budding. Mite webs in you buds tastes like burnt hair, only worse! ~~~ PEACE! ~~~

Thanks for the reply bud. Yer they are 2 weeks into veg from clone and I only noticed them yesterday and from what I've seen on the net they are not to bad (At the moment) I have been usin anti bacterial dish soap gonna spray the plant once a day until I get can get some fertiler neem oil seems to be the choice for most growers.

Also I was l.s.ting my plant and snapped one clean off about 1 and half inch from the top and discarded the top (which from reading on the net was fucking stupid off me!!) will my plant grow a new node there are good sized leaves underneath and there are two neŵ nodes appearing at the sides of the snap?? If u could help mate much appreciated!!! Peace

for Catbuds:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Dishwashing liquid (BrE: washing-up liquid), also known as dishwashing soap and dish soap, is a detergent used to assist in dishwashing. It is usually a highly-foaming mixture of surfactants with low skin irritation, and is primarily used for hand washing of glasses, plates, cutlery, and cooking utensils in a sink or bowl.

The reduced surface tension of dishwashing water, and increasing solubility of modern surfactant mixtures, allows the water to run off the dishes in a dish rack very quickly. However, most people also rinse the dishes with pure water to make sure to get rid of any soap residue that could affect the taste of the food.[1]

Notable brands of dishwashing liquid include Fairy Liquid, which is the bestselling brand in the United Kingdom[citation needed], Dawn, which is the leading brand in the United States[citation needed], and Joy.

Some brands offer special features, such as Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty[2] or Ajax Triple Action, which offers cleaning, antibacterial properties, and can be used as a hand soap.[3]

That's what we were told by our hort professor at U.of Delaware, the difference between soap & detergent. Seemed to be right since some I've used burned plants while others didn't. Never had a burn from Joy & a lot of insects are repelled by the scent of lemon. Guess it doesn't matter what it is as long as it works safely. Also, a lot of insects have a waxy coating which makes them somewhat water repellent & helps them adhere to plants. By breaking that down, they loose that adhesion & can be rinsed away. The most obviously waxy insect would be the mealy bug.
--- Parry, you've topped your plant. Many growers do that on purpose. It makes them branched & bushy, so it's not a bad thing. As your plants grow, you'll see the difference it makes. Grown natural, you'll have one big main cola with smaller side buds. The one topped will have more, but smaller buds. Its a personal preference. After you harvest, you will know which you like best. There are many methods of pruning & manipulation. You'll find mention & description of them scattered all over the board. Some are more advanced, so its best to stick with natural & topping untill you get the hang of growing. :)
~~~~ PEACE! ~~~~

P.S. I prefer not to use anti-bacterial as it also kills the beneficial bacteria/microbes.

Yes you are the man the little baby has blasted 2 branches right up nearly as big as my other plants. Quick question should I put the neem oil/fertiliser in the feed as I've read on the net that the spider mites sick the juice out of the leaf and therefore die because it contains the "kryptonite" ???

Shovel is the man, I'm the old hippie bitch! LOL! I've never used a nute that had neem oil in it, just straight up neem oil, but if I were using one, I'd do both soil drench & foliar spray. I like neem oil. Not only do I use it as mentioned, but I spray the whole area. But since yours is a combo, it might leave a salt like residue on surfaces, not sure. To be safe, just spray the surrounding area with the Joy & water mix, but even stronger since it won't be on your plants. If you come across just straight up neem oil, spray EVERYTHING, walls, floors etc, but never your lights. If they are hot when moisture hits them, they can explode. :) ~~~PEACE!~~~

Is it good stuff? I know I've read it's tough to completely eradicate the little barstools but if u do catch them early (which I did) and u keep on top of them do u still get your usual return ? Cheers mate

Yeah its good stuff! I put a few drops of dish liquid in with it as a wetting agent, but I want to point out that a once or twice a week 'bath' with dish soap is such a good prevention that you will rarely see insects, & if you do, it won't be to the point of infestation. Plants are natural things of the earth. Natural cures & preventions are easier on plants than chemicals which can burn or leave toxic residues. Neem oil, however is a natural product. I'm not saying dish soap is necessarily natural, but it rinses away. I prefer Joy as bugs don't like lemon scent. As with anything applied to your grow, rinse a day or so before harvest. But neem is good. Go ahead & use what you have. :) ~~~ PEACE! ~~~


P.S. this may sound like its from a sci-fi flick, but insects breathing apparatus' are actually on their legs. Please forgive the spelling, I'm about to slaughter this word, but 'diamiatous' earth will suffocate them. Sprinkled on top of the soil will eliminate spring tails & other little soil insects too. It would help to keep some on hand, but you should do fine with what you have. Maybe Shovel could jump in here & spell it right for us. I killed it!

when you have an insect infection, there is only one safe solution that works 100% of the time. Throw out your plants and clean every piece of equipment with bleach and soapy water. Wash your walls, your lights, your floor, or pots ect. Get rid of ALL plants, and start from seeds. Neem oil will only stop them temporarily, the infection of insects is in the room you are growing in and not just on your plants, so act accordingly.