hey seamaiden......can you make a thread for me about your spidermite tobacco mix?...pretty please? I have some killing to do...pyrethrin is just not working for me....and everyone that uses your mix seems to be fine after they use it...so....he he he
FloJo made a thread just for the spidermite control. S/he took my basic recipe:
10 grams loose tobacco (no additives, I use American Spirit or Bali Shag)
1 liter HOT water (does not need to be boiling)
Steep overnight, strain. Mix with a few drops non-antibacteria/antimicrobial soap to help break surface tension. Apply as fine spray, hit ALL surfaces including surface of soil.
Now, what FloJo did was up the ante, and uses
15 grams tobacco to make the tea. I can't remember if FloJo has added anything else, I seem to recollect a mention of something called Safer Spray, which I don't have and haven't used. Just remember, especially if you make the more potent mix, that if you get too much on your skin and/or you're sensitive, you'll be getting a bit of a nicotine buzz. Do not dispose into any waterways, this stuff is potent and kills all aquatic organisms as well as bugs. The only creature I can't say it works on is leafminers, but then again, once I started using it I haven't had a problem with them. Or any other bugs, actually, except now that I'm using Epsom salts and my seaweed extract I'm getting a LOT of baby hornets on the soil, only in the mornings. I found one sipping from the down-tube of my sprayer before I'd cleaned it off, so I'm guessing it's like a salt lick to them.
You kill those fuckin' spider mites!