Grim brother,

I am so sorry to hear of all the issues with attacks. I will say that I am interested to see how you do with the predator mites. Please do keep us all posted... especially on what happens after they eat your mites. (Excuse me while I beat a dead horse) I am interested if they are easy to find afterwards like lady bugs and to remove from your plant.

One of the pests I had to battle during my grow (besides the mites) was what I think was "fungus gnats". Very little black flying bugs. Believe it or not, thinking back, they were occasionally in the house before, so I am thinking they were with another plant, and the garden stuff from last year.

I started with fly paper... and this caught what looked to be hundreds inside a couple of days. I would put up 4, and gently shake the plant... they would COVER the paper. I even spread some on the soil, and those got covered too.

Realizing that the fly paper was not going to do the job, I went out and got some "Tomato & Vegetable" insect killer by Safer Brand. It claims it is safe for organic gardens and can be used up until harvest.

I did one spray of the entire plant... gently and very VERY lightly. I noticed this was not going to help either as all the little $hits fled to the soil. So I sprayed the soil on a day I didn't water... again VERY lightly, 3, maybe 4 mists. A week later, I did it again, then again while spraying the plant one last time with 4 mists total on the plant. 3 treatments was all it took. If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it... especially since "fungus Gnats" are not listed as one of the bugs this kills.

I sprayed the plant once every other day with a light mist of water (5-6 sprays) for a couple of weeks after that every time I actually watered the plant... to remove anything that may be lingering. Keep in mind, my plant was huge... 3 feet by 3 feet at that time, so less mists may be needed for your plants.

This, as stated, did the trick, however, I still see these little things flying around from time to time, one every couple of weeks... but they are coming from somewhere besides my plant now.. which is fine because she was safe.

I hope this helps.

PS Active Ingredients:

Pyrethrins: 0.0125%
Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids: 1.015%
Stickyplant Reviewed by Stickyplant on . Spider mites, Thrips, and White flies oh my! Alright, so as a few of you know I was currently undergoing a spider mite infestation which basically caused me to chop 1/3 plants a bit earlier than planned. Low and behold.. I started noticing the same sign I did a month ago on my other plant.. little speckles on just 1 or 2 leaves. (white dots where something had been feeding) Quick to react as this is my better plant, I ordered predator mites right away. (californicus to tolerate my lower humidity) They'll be here tomorrow. My last Rating: 5