Mites...two wks to harvest. Please help.

This is my first indoor grow, a whole new experience because I've always grown my medicinal cannabis outside. I am 2 1/2 wks from harvest and everything in the flower room is infested with spider mites. The mites have black bodies, I've never seen anything like them, am I correct in assuming they are mites? I have 4 Jack Herer, 2 THC Bomb, 2 1/2 wks from harvest, I also have 2 Love Potion and 1 Cotton candy with 4wks to go. I've tried everything to beat the mites, insecticidal soap sprays, garlic & pepper mist, Bang...but they seem to have got the best of me. I have tried to purchase Neem oil, but so far unable to find it here. So far, from what I can tell the mites have not entered my veg room where there are ladies waiting to go to the flower room. I know it is only a matter of time before the mites show in the veg room. I have been advised to toss everything and start over??! Would this be the best approach, sterilize and start from scratch? Being so near to harvest I know there really isn't a lot I can do as far as adding any chemicals. I am at a loss and don't know what to do, please advise??

Any ideas, advice I would be so grateful. Should I just start over? I am truly heartbroken.

Man, I wish I could help ya, somebody will help u identify those bugs. I read about a foliar spray product that finishes plants quick if u need to I think it's called ripen. I don't have personal experience with it. Maybe u use that then chop your plants and bleach everything and start over. I'm really not sure if this is sound advice, felt bad for ya and wanted to at least post something... Gl

Thank you so much, just to hear a kind word at this time is a real lift. I have seriously been giving some thought to the start over idea, but it is one of the hardest decisions to make, as I'm sure you and everyone knows. I've done a lot of reading about spider-mites, but still can't find any that look like what I've got. It would be wonderful to at least know what I've got, it'll give me an idea on what to throw at them if I were to continue the fight. My check this morning revealed another disturbing thing. One plants flowers have all turned brown, basically overnight. Do you think I'm about to battle with a hermie hiding in the bud room???? I think somewhere in the distance, sadly I can hear the fat lady beginning to sing...

Hermies, now there's something I do know about. Never had one turn buds brown or make them die off. It's not that.

I gotta Learn more about pests. I have been so fortunate I have never had any kind of pest issue. But, the day will come.
I avoid clones from friends, friends who grow in my grow room, and the hydro stores.


Have u looked up pictures of rood aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, and spider mites? Those are most of the bugs ppl seem to have issue with. Can u post more pics?

Do u have any way of looking at the trichs?

If I were close to harvest, as u are I might wanna chop early, rather than potentially lose all!

I have a great way, I think, to get those bugs off your buds after harvest. Running an experiment right now!

Check out: http://boards.cannabis.com/advanced-...d-washing.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2bfree

This is my first indoor grow, a whole new experience because I've always grown my medicinal cannabis outside. I am 2 1/2 wks from harvest and everything in the flower room is infested with spider mites. The mites have black bodies, I've never seen anything like them, am I correct in assuming they are mites? I have 4 Jack Herer, 2 THC Bomb, 2 1/2 wks from harvest, I also have 2 Love Potion and 1 Cotton candy with 4wks to go. I've tried everything to beat the mites, insecticidal soap sprays, garlic & pepper mist, Bang...but they seem to have got the best of me. I have tried to purchase Neem oil, but so far unable to find it here. So far, from what I can tell the mites have not entered my veg room where there are ladies waiting to go to the flower room. I know it is only a matter of time before the mites show in the veg room. I have been advised to toss everything and start over??! Would this be the best approach, sterilize and start from scratch? Being so near to harvest I know there really isn't a lot I can do as far as adding any chemicals. I am at a loss and don't know what to do, please advise??

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MIGHTY WASH!! I had the same problem and I eliminated them with ONE application. I can't say enough how good it worked for me.
15 bucks and they are done. I feel your pain my friend, I was in the same boat.

I'll have to try mighty wash, if I get them again.

I went with vapor, because they were so close to harvest.

The shell no pest strip took out the adults right away.
After a week, the new hatch all died.

Worked so well that I sealed my shower stall, and put my outdoor girls in it with a strip.
2 hrs. a day for 7 days.

Then had 2 weeks to air out the buds and did an H2o2 wash of the harvest, just in case.
No snap, crackle, pop from burning bug bodies, no off tastes, or smells.

Neem smell like vomit to me, and it is toxic to humans.
That, and it's not very effective from what I've watched and read.

Just my 2 cents, TIOLI.

Aloha,
Weezard

No pest strip early in the game, next grow will take a clean up, that's when I the to kill the little xxxx, get a strip in the veg room now for prevention

Thanks everyone, you have all been so helpful. Can you buy MIGHTY WASH and the pest strips in Canada, any thoughts as to where? I'd like to put the pest strips in my veg room as you have advised here. I know Neem oil is no longer available, it has been pulled from all shelf's here. I have been looking for Azamax for future grows (use in the veg room only), I have found it available through Amazon (Canadian). Not sure if it will be pulled as well because it contains neem oil. The reason I'm trying to grow myself, is that I'd like to know that my medicinal weed is chemical/poisons free. But in my frustration I believe I have broken my own cardinal rule and applied such things as bang, and before the appearance of the bud I have used Demetrius Earth (not good to inhale). My dear hubby is telling me to hang in there, don't give up, but I'm feeling in my gut it is already too late. Would a wash as suggested here be of any help for the buds in removing the bugs and DE? Maybe I should work at saving my 2 Love Potion and Cotton candy? They look like strong healthy plants, they are in flower, but do have mites as well, not as bad (YET). Maybe it would be best to focus only on them. Thoughts? If I should decide to start from the beginning how do I sterilize my grow room? I've heard that the vapor from bleach is harmful to the plants, is this so? Forgive me for rambling, nerves are a frazzled. Thank you once again for all of your kindness.

I have picked up the no pest strips. My veg rm is 120sq ft and my flower rm is 120sq ft. So would 1 strip in each room be correct? Do i seal the rooms up and place a test strip, how long 24hrs? should the humidifier and fans be off during this time? Is there a recommended time to put them in the rooms, dark or light? I have water misted my love potion & cotten candy to remove any residue. They have not had DE put on them, so i feel comfortable about smoking/vaping them. I have tossed the jack & thc because they were so sickly. When all is clean I will start some more seeds. Please advice on using the strips.

Seal the room, no exhaust for a couple of days, so watch your temps. Not a constant user but I have put one hanging in each plant I was trying to save. Might help to be selective and spread them out to not touching.

This might work, never tried it. Mites travel somewhat up the plant(a lot in the top bud), was told to hang string from above with sticky trap, then a string to touching the top of bud, mites(at least spider mites) will climb to trap. Have seen it work for fellow ranger.:jointsmile:

Thank you so much for the help. Sorry for sounding dumb, but sticky trap, do you mean those sticky fly traps, that you pull out from the cardboard and hang?

Well, those will do, but he was probably referring to yellow sticky trap that are used for Fungus gnats.
Bu,t you can make your own with a tub of Tanglefoot and some cardboard.
Could probably use honey in a pinch.

That's good advice from Tlranger.

Instructions for the strip use are on the package.
Do not put the in close contact with the plant.
One strip will kill all bugs in a room that size.
So, put one strip in the center of each room.
Preferably at the same time

Air the room out with your exhaust fan before entering.
And after 3 days, seal the strip in a ziplock bag for a couple of days, then repeat.
when they are all dead, wrap the strip in "turkey bag" or seal it in a mason jar and pop it in the freezer.
One strip will last a long time that way.

If you just leave the strip hanging, it will eventually lose effectiveness, (about a month), and that's how mites acquire resistance.
Once that happens, we're all screwed.

And anytime you ask, "is that available in Canada?"
The answer, is Online shopping! :D

Speaking of Canada.
I have to wonder if taking the girls for walk outside would freeze dem mites before harming the plants.
Mites do like it warm.
Can't try that here without a walk-in freezer, yah?

Aloha,
Weezard

[quote=Weezard][COLOR=#000080][SIZE=4][FONT=book antiqua]Well, those will do, but he was probably referring to yellow sticky trap that are used for Fungus gnats.
Bu,t you can make your own with a tub of Tanglefoot and some cardboard.

Yep, sorry not clear, good luck

I can't thank you's all enough for your help. I have the rooms sealed up, and now fingers crossed. I just stepped into the veg room to check the temp. While there, I took a leaf from one of my ladies and examined it closely. I can't see any bugs or eggs on this leaf, I was thinking that was good, maybe the veg ladies didn't have them too bad. But then I saw the roads on the underside of the leaf. Are they caused by spider-mites! It does not look good.

Isn't that a Thrip thing? The tracks?

Yes.
Sort of.
That pic was too low res. for these old eyes
Almost looks like there's some leafminer damage as well.
No matter, the NPS will take out thrips, and leaf-miners are a minor pest.

Just received my OGbiowar package.
'bout to make a pre-emptive strike.

Aloha,
Weeze

Thrips, leaf miners...what next?? I did suspect the leaf minor when I looked at the image magnified. Sorry the pic' wasn't any clearer. Attached is an image of what I believe to be a thrip, am I correct? Also still curious as to the species of spider-mite that I have. They appear to have a black body, cream colored head. The body is not spotted like the 2 spot. I can't seem to find it in my search online.

Those fuzzy, whited out, blobs do look vaguely, like thrips. :)

You need to buy yourself a decent camera,
Christmas is coming up, time to start hinting.

Please edit your signature in the name of accuracy.
Cannabis extracts inhibit the formation of new blood vessels, not cells.
It is an antiangiogenic.

As for the mites, are they reddish?
If not, do they move fast?

The speedy ones are predator mites.

Quick test?
Brush some onto the back of your hand and wait a while.
Predators, bite!

Russet and two spotted mites are sapaterians and they move slowly when they are not sucking sap.
They all look dead. It that the case?

Aloha,
Weeze

Yes I know a better camera is needed. If possible, I think next time I'll try my 7D. Another issue I'm having in taking a good shot is that I'm using LED lights, terrible for the camera. The magnifier I'm using is a Carson 30x, not all that they claim. I can see the bugs move during magnification, not sure if I would consider them fast. As I said, they have black bodies and beige/cream colored head. I've only ever seen the red ones, not these. I will look to see their progress (living/dead) . What is a predator mite, are they harmful to the plant as well?

What do you mean edit my signature?

Once again thank you all for all of your assistance and suggestions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2bfree

Yes I know a better camera is needed. If possible, I think next time I'll try my 7D. Another issue I'm having in taking a good shot is that I'm using LED lights, terrible for the camera.

So, turn them off, or wait until lights out and use white light to take the shot.
I use leds too and am guilty of expecting others to see them like I do.
Using a flash helps with portrait shots, but wipes out close-ups.
If you are just plucking fanleafs, take them out in the sun and get a good shot, yah?

The magnifier I'm using is a Carson 30x, not all that they claim. I can see the bugs move during magnification, not sure if I would consider them fast. As I said, they have black bodies and beige/cream colored head. I've only ever seen the red ones, not these. I will look to see their progress (living/dead) . What is a predator mite, are they harmful to the plant as well?

What do you mean edit my signature?

Once again thank you all for all of your assistance and suggestions.

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That quote at the bottom:

"Young biologist at Complutense University in Madrid - Mounting evidence shows â??cannabinoidsâ?? in marijuana slow cancer growth, inhibit formation of new blood cells that feed a tumor, and help manage pain, fatigue, nausea, and other side effects. Sep 6, 2012"

It is incorrect.
Please go to your profile page and modify or remove the erroneous statement.
This part:
"inhibit formation of new blood cells that feed a tumor"
Should read:
"inhibit formation of new blood vessels that feed a tumor"
Big difference!
Predator mites, are mites that eat mites.
They are on our side!
(and arm, and feet and neck. Long story.) :D


@OMB

"Isn't that a Thrip thing? The tracks? "

Nope, the li'l scoops are.
But the looping trails are usually leafminers.

The insects in your first pic are spider mites. The loopy tracks in the next are leaf miners. Minute Pirate Bug (Orius Insidiosis) is a thrip, whitefly and mite predator that works, especially for thrips and whitefly. I routinely use them to clean up thrip infestations in my research greenhouse. See: Arbico Organics. If you have 2-spotted spider mite, ugh. For an indoor grow you need to instill "greenhouse rules". Filter air going in, never go in with clothing exposed to your garden or yard, and wash/sterilize all pots, implements, etc. that you use in there. Use good soil. No half-assed crap from the hardware store. Commercial soil can carry many diseases and predators. I would nuke that grow room thoroughly and start over clean. Just my 2 cents. Good luck man.

Ladybugs too....I keep an Army of them running loose in the cabinet. When they get low, I order another 2500...If it ain't a ladybug, and it moves in the cabinet, it dies....period. I believe in total eradication of anything that threatens my girls.
Having said that, I am guilty as hell of using crap soil...Black Gold potting mix. Stupid newbie! Lol I will be changing that on the next go.

Well I tried the no pest strip, which has 19% of the same chemical, (no pest strip, azamax, and neem are not available here or online in Canada). It appears as though the adults have died, but there were still a few nymphs and one adult that I saw. I simply can't start over, that would put me at March or April harvest. I am thinking of a nicotine solution. I'm at a loss though as far as the ones in flower?? I can't thank everyone enough for all of your help.

Nicotine, like pyrethrins, will only stun insects unless the strength and application are exactly correct (pyrethrins actually require a synergist to kill). I would go the ladybug/pirate bug route if possible, especially now that you apparently have knocked the populations down. A cheap fix are colored sticky cards, which we use in the greenhouses routinely for fungus gnats, whitefly and thrips. They don't do squat with spider mites, though. 2-spotted mites are almost impossible to eradicate once the population gets to a certain point. Keeping them from exploding might be all you can do at this point.

Well I have lost 2 THC Bomb and 2 Jack Herer. So far, 2 Love Potion and 1 Cotton Candy are still hanging in there. They were not as far along as the THC & Jack so I used a nicotine solution. Day 4, so far only one adult, which I've killed. But, I know they are just hiding....and waiting for their next attack (two-spot mites!)Now I'm considering purchasing the The BIG BLUE 8 inch. Appreciate any thoughts on the success of the Big Blue?

Is the product called "Might Wash" available in Canada?....or "Hotshot" pest strips? I have personally used Mighty Wash and it works. The Hotshot strips are a proven winner too.
The Mighty wash can be used up to harvest as well....solved my problem with ONE application.

Nicotine worked great! Dead bodies covering all leaves. Odd though, for that many i never see webs, sneaky lil' buggers. I am going to keep spraying them with water to keep their numbers down. I have ordered the Big Blue and am hopeful. After sterilizing the bud room with it and plants from veg. Hopefully starting fresh' and no mites if luck be with me.

Good job on the nicotine 2b; that can be tricky. I'm really curious what you think of the Big Blue. My charcoal based filter is not removing all of the odor in my flowering room. It's not a huge problem, since my grow is legal, but I'd love to find something that removes the odor entirely.

you can make your own mighty wash with warm water- some ivory soap and a little 'smidgeon' of isopropyl alcohol, I am not familiar with the actual mighty wash but it may be similar. I agree neem sucks if you use it on your plants- BUT if you have other houseplants you MUST use a low dose spray on them at least 2-3 times a week just to keep your house free of pests.I actually cut the strength by 1/4 and spray all my houseplants daily - even though they are on the opposite side of the house.
I have a jungle in my home and I had to learn the hard way- the houseplants will really infest your crop if not careful- be especially careful when bringing any plant into your home, even if it came from a greenhouse and will be on the other side of the house- if it has mites they are hungry and will find your crop….

Yes I am excited and hopeful about the Big Blue. Sterilizing and odor, it's original design purpose. Hospitals, motels/hotels use it to sterilize, remove cig' smoke from the rooms, disinfect and best of all...with great success it kills bedbugs, dust mites and all kinds of other nasties. For myself, I doubt if I will be using it for odor control, I don't really have a great problem with odor as I speak. But if I should I will definitely be trying the ozonator. I should be receiving it sometime next week; I will be placing it in the room for 2-3 days to disinfect and KILL the mites and other nasties. I will post an update of my success, hopefully. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the mighty wash suggestion, not sure if I can get it here. I will keep note of your suggestion of the soap & alcohol. I tried at one point and with a great deal of success although not complete destruction: apple cider vinegar, castle soap, lemon juice and water, followed by a thorough wash with fresh water. Hopefully the ozonator will prove to be my answer.

The Big Blue arrived yesterday! :) I have really been watching my ladies in veg. I think the nicotine really did the trick. With very little nicotine damage, from which they have recovered now. Using my 30x magnifier I haven't seen one spidermite, leaf minor damage or thrips. I am going to sterilize the bud room probably for 2-3 days with the ozonator running full power. And then place it in the veg room for a VERY short period of time. I don't want to hurt my ladies, maybe a half hour to 45 mins. on low. They are beautiful, lush, green and full, as soon as everything is clean I will be moving them to flower. Keep your fingers crossed for me. If all works, I am hopeful that I'll get at least ONE harvest. :smokin: Will keep all up to date on the progress.

Be very careful with that ozone:
It oxidizes the piss out of everything.


Google "Ozone damage in Cannabis" and "Ozone hazards" and act accordingly.

Posted pictures but they referenced a different board.
Not allowed here.

Aloha, and play safe.
Weeze

Thanks I will google it. I guess it would be best not to put the ozonator with the veg girls. I will watch them very closely for bugs after they go in to the next room. Once again, thanks for heads up on the danger. One comfort, it is not in my house.