I Just noticed what i believe is thrips in my Veg tent and in my Flower Tent i found a little bugger. I figure since i am only one week into flower i have atleast two weeks where i can attack with a neem oil / soap combo spray because no buds have yet formed. The girls are still in stretch phase. After this does anybody have any advice on how i can save my crop ? i am super stressed about this infestation i cant believe i let this happen.
I have dealt with these pests a couple of times and refused to use chemicals or neem etc. If your growing in soil this method is extremely effective as I've wiped them out both times. Since two of the thrips life stages are in the soil I reasoned at the time that interrupting or wiping out 1 or more of these stages should bring an end to the colony over a few weeks.
-First let your soil dry out until your leaves are almost at a droop and break up the top inch or two of the soil in the planter
-Next get out your vacuum and using the hand nozzle suck up every last bit of loose soil (careful of the root zone) and immediately rid the soil from your house.
-Then replace the missing inch or two with fresh clean soil (sterilized if possible) and water if needed, do this every couple to 3 days for at least 2 weeks, 3 being better.
Since the prepupa and pupa stages are at rest in the soil (for at least 4-5 days combined) removing the top layer will rid your planter of these two critical thrip life cycles.
Done enough times they won't have a chance to pupate into an adult and lay more eggs so the colony will die out on it's own.
I found this method most effective (especially during the flower period) and the least invasive (to some degree) Best of all NO chemicals, soaps or oils which are messy and a damn hassle.
Cheers!
