Possible Spider Mite infestation

[markjames1503]

Help!

I am in pretty far into the flowering stages, I have an indoor hydroponics system w/ 6 plants.
So far they have been amazing and healthy, I had little incident with white flies, but it was harmless. The plants have yielded quite a bit and I was getting ready to dry them out in a week or two.

Now I have noticed little white webs near some of my buds. It does not look like mold, nor was there any early signs of mold on the leaves. However, on the underside of the leaves there are little black bugs. Some of them have wings, however I think this may be the whiteflies from before.

There are also dead little black bugs all over the floor of my grow room near the plants. How do I get rid of these suckers? the buds don't look damaged, but some are beginning to brown inside. Please help!

markjames1503 Reviewed by markjames1503 on 01-13-2010. Possible Spider Mite infestation Help! I am in pretty far into the flowering stages, I have an indoor hydroponics system w/ 6 plants. So far they have been amazing and healthy, I had little incident with white flies, but it was harmless. The plants have yielded quite a bit and I was getting ready to dry them out in a week or two. Now I have noticed little white webs near some of my buds. It does not look like mold, nor was there any early signs of mold on the leaves. However, on the underside of the leaves there are Rating: 5

[Maxor420]

From what I've picked up, that sounds like spider mites. There are many things you can use, however a lot suggest NEVER to use neem oil, or some type of oil that is supposed to be an organic alternative to insecticides you can purchase to try to take care of that problem.

Since you are in doors, I've heard it is next to impossible to actually irraticate them for good, and will always have problems after the first infestation, not to scare you, just it is something I've heard.

Happy Hootin:rasta:

[killerweed420]

If its spidermites(and it sounds like it is) even water will slow them cown. Don't panic and over mist with anything. Have seen some nice crops destroyed by over misting with different substances. Make sure you mist the underside of the leaves, thats where spidermites live and lay there eggs. You'll want to act fast because spidermites breed like crazy. Even raising the humidity can slow them down. And when you mist you're going to want to have a fan going 24/7 to make sure you don't end up with bud rot.

[markjames1503]

Thank you for the responses! We thought it was mold for a night and lowered the humidity (UGH) we now realize it is spider mites most likely and are bringing the humidity back up quickly.
I too have heard horrible things about neam oil, especially using it during budding stages, so I'm going to try another method.
I heard spraying with an alkaline water solution will help alot and does not lead to bud rot. We'll see! Any more advice is gladly appreciated! Thanks!

[killerweed420]

If your running co2 you can raise it too. Spidermites don't like that.

[jamessr]

Get yourself some dry ice if ya can and load up your grow room with it. If ya got an air conditioner turn it on in the room and let it get down to about 55 when the lights are off. It slows them down to a snails crawl and it don't hurt the plants, but gives nice purple nuggs.:thumbsup:

The idea is to cool off the room which makes them not want to bread so fast. And have seen them leave a room which is colder inside than out side.

If your into some kind of spray, Ed Rosenthal came out with a safe spidermite treatment. Ed Rosenthal's Zero Tolerance Natural Garden Solutions