Mites During Flower: What to Do?

[olderthandirt]

Had a collection of noobie issues last month. Bugs and pH.
Plenty good help from the forums and the plants affected should be ready to chop..... soon!

Big colas and buds and they're getting bigger and sticky and smelly and trichs are pretty much all cloudy with the first hint of amber and I gots the spider mites.

That they are so close to chop can I still use Spinosad?

The few references I've found are pretty much split 50/50 on this.
Don't use anything or go ahead soak em' down.

My favorite is "selective" spraying, use the spray but on leaves only
How in the hell does one spray a plant full o' bud without sprayin' the bud?!?!

 

[olderthandirt]

I still couldn't find anything definitive with respect to using Spinosad while a plant is in flower. Sent me google-fu out into the void repeatedly and continue to get mixed results.

So fuck it. I dosed the bastards this morning.
Set the nozzle on me hand pump sprayer to a wide fine cone so as to get the leaves with as little directly sprayed on the buds as possible.

Little to no effect when ingested per the MSDS.
Components resulting from combustion unknown. Half life varies from 0.86 days to 14.5 days.

I won't apply again.
I will wash me buds prior to dry and cure.

On down the road ifn I sprout extra appendages or such after smokin' I'll be sure and let ya'll know.

(_:

 

[Waira]

:smoking: OTD, what's up mate? ...Hmm, honestly, I don't know with spinosad specifically,... it's food safe, but "smoke safe" residuals is another matter,... mites are not just pests, they're contaminants.... best course of action would be to treat until a couple days before harvest, and meantime, look into doing a bud rinse... I though it was crazy talk too, but my friend A4 does it, so does Stepside, and I've seen some U-Tube vids on it; I think A4 used a mild lemon juice soln. then a pure water rinse,... branches cut small enough to fit into a tall bucket, big fans cut off, then dunking gently, swirling lightly a few times,... since resins aren't water soluble, there's no loss of them beyond what the physical contacts cause... I've not done it, but I'm thinking of trying; beating up the trich's is my main concern, which can be minimized with technique... the guy in the vid is heavy handed IMO! The shedding of water might be aided by holding stem base and spinning in circles like a propeller--lightly- centrifical force throwing the excess off... Look into it, and ask Stepside too if you like!

 

[olderthandirt]

There's an extensive thread on another forum @Waira I've been reading through for the past few months.
Variations of course, warm water or cold, peroxide or lemon juice and baking soda etc. but that's the basic drift.

Several of the folks washing their goods swear they'll never not wash.
They say the difference in taste of washed buds over un-washed is so much better that it's not just to take care of problems.

I'll give Stepside and A4 a shout, have them detail their approach for me.

Thanks for your earlier help. At least I'll have buds to wash!!

Gawddamn mites, I swear....

ETA: Oh yes, here now, I slap you!

 

[astronomy420a]

before any other method, try a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the bulk of mite's and mite shit.good luck.

 

[olderthandirt]

@astronomy420a I've two vacuums in the house.
While I like the idea it seems as though the plant would end up losing a lot of leaves cuz well, my vacuums really suck! (groan)

I s'pose ifn I were to drill a few holes in the side of a wand I could drop the air flow. What are you using for this?

 

[astronomy420a]

just use the tube it drops the suction down.no attachments. and if you do it get rid of the vac bag. if its bagless get it outside and away from the house. and change cloths .
this is just the first step, then you have to eradicate them. and wash grow area with bleach before next grow, or they will return.

 

[olderthandirt]

heh-heh, I'm with ya right up to the washing with bleach part @astronomy420a.
No matter how much it may need it, it would take entirely too much bleach to swab down me backyard (-;

 

[astronomy420a]

oh!

 

[olderthandirt]

So I have 2 photos going on as well as the 4 mite laden bloomin' autos.
Mite activity on the autos appears to have been arrested after the last spray but what of those photos?

Many people have recommended hosin' the plants with water to help control pests.

I have a dog that's a pug - terrier mix.
His tail is oh so curly, like a corkscrew atop his butt.
After he's had a bath his tail is straightened and droopy.

I gave the photos a shower today and they looked similar to the dogs tail after a bath. Pitiful.

(-: