So I took down some of my plants a few days ago and got close enough to my Panama to see that it had been invaded by spider mites. Some of the buds had been coated in webs and the leaves had been damaged. I sprayed the plant down with some water with a small amount of cayenne pepper, which seems to have solved the problem for the moment. My question is how do mites affect the buds? Will it effect the quality of the smoke? Ive been growing for years and this is my first time dealing with them. I just wanted some other opinions. Its only about 2 weeks from harvest and there doesnt really seem to be any damage to the buds themselves. Its still a decent looking plant and Id hate to trash it unless nessasary. Any info is much appreciated.
Harvesting after spider mite infestation?
- Thread starter RobCat
- Start date
Rob Roy
Well-Known Member
Pepper spray can be effective against spider mites, but I'd be careful using much of it or anything else that won't dissipate so far into flower. Ouch! Cough cough. I reserve the pepper spray for vegging mostly.
Trifecta and citric sprays might not help you this session, but consider looking into them for any future mite problems while deep in flower. I've been impressed and both are in my grow toolbox.
Smoking it? The inside of your buds may be dryer than you'd expect, if the mites fed there. You might try a gentle soak or rinse in plain water and hope any mite carcasses and webbing disappear while trichomes do not. Maybe somebody who's done that will check in.
Thanks for the helpful info. I looked into the trifecta. This is my first time growing organic and i just thought the capsiacin would be the best quick fix that i had on hand. My plan at this point is to just spray the hell out of it each day with water and throw a fan in the growroom. Im hoping 10 days of that will get most of the cayenne residue off as well as the carcasses. They definitely seem to have a strain prference because my other 2 plants were untouched
MisterKister
Well-Known Member
Might get bud rot doing that.
Rob Roy
Well-Known Member
I feel your pain, mites are no fun. If you have a dehumidifer, for lights out time that will help. Don't want to solve the mite problem and gain a mold problem.
If the plants are in decent shape, you could even use a small wet vac, both to suck up the mites from the plant and if you reverse the hose it's a blower. Might want to clean the cannister first before blow drying the leaves though.
Trifecta is pricey, so I don't use it up on plants in veg usually, but it is effective in flower to help get to the finish line.
I live in a very dry climate so im usually trying to keep the humidity up. I have a bucket top wet vac i might try that out. As you can see from the pic they really didn't do much damage to the flowers, if any that i can see, but man did they have a field day with the leaves
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Rob Roy
Well-Known Member
Your buds don't look badly damaged. Hopefully after you harvest a good cleaning of your grow area and containers will get rid of any remaining mites. As an aside mites can transfer from house plants or on clothing worn outside. Good rule of thumb, don't go from your outside garden to your inside garden wearing the same clothes. Outdoor cats or dogs can bring them in too.
You may already know, but they like to hang out under the leaves and you'll likely find some eggs there too.
Some sprays kill on contact and don't seem to damage plant tissue. Habanero for instance. I've used it on seedlings.
Some other things work but best to turn the lights off then or you could burn the plants Sulfur (only use in veg and rinse if going to use leaves later) , neem and green cleaner are among those that will burn plants if too strong a mix. Best to use those with lights out and spray more frequently until your confident you have the mix proportion down. About the only time I wear a mask these days, is when spraying the plants. I recommend it with most sprays.
I hate mites... You can spend countless hours battling those critters. Only to think you have it beat and boom, there they are again. And they LOVE the heat.
Since adopting an IPM regiment, I know longer have them or none that are visible. The key is consistency.
I use my IPM spray in veg only, 2xs weekly and faithfully. Using a cheap paint sprayer from harbor freight. Spraying upwards and downwards to hit both sides of the leaves. 1ml per gallon.
For the last several years, not a bug bite, spec of PM, or any other pest or disease. I wish I would have known about IPM many years ago. I lost several crops to the mites and PM because I don't try to save anything if they have been infected. Cull, disinfect, and start over.
Anybody who talks shit, hasn't been growing long enough. Its not a matter of if, but when. I found a cricket in one of my rooms before. Everything tidy, tight, and clean. If a cricket can come from god knows where, a small mite or spore would have no problem finding its way through an intake, exhaust, or tiny crack. Especially when it starts getting cold. That is why I treat weekly and assume there is always something in the room that I don't want even if I have no evidence of it being there. Preventative is the key to keeping pests out.
Good luck.
Since adopting an IPM regiment, I know longer have them or none that are visible. The key is consistency.
I use my IPM spray in veg only, 2xs weekly and faithfully. Using a cheap paint sprayer from harbor freight. Spraying upwards and downwards to hit both sides of the leaves. 1ml per gallon.
For the last several years, not a bug bite, spec of PM, or any other pest or disease. I wish I would have known about IPM many years ago. I lost several crops to the mites and PM because I don't try to save anything if they have been infected. Cull, disinfect, and start over.
Anybody who talks shit, hasn't been growing long enough. Its not a matter of if, but when. I found a cricket in one of my rooms before. Everything tidy, tight, and clean. If a cricket can come from god knows where, a small mite or spore would have no problem finding its way through an intake, exhaust, or tiny crack. Especially when it starts getting cold. That is why I treat weekly and assume there is always something in the room that I don't want even if I have no evidence of it being there. Preventative is the key to keeping pests out.
Good luck.
Stormreaper
Member
I tried this as a prevention. Never any issues..yet..but forearmed and all that. 5 bux to ship. 1 gallon is what each makes. "Supposed" to be harvest ready right after use. No clue on that. As for little flies..soil hadem little buggers..this friggin destroyed them. No signs of any molds or fungus at all. I spray every couple weeks just because.
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Ive been growing for years and this is my first time dealing with them. I know theyre a big problem in the south because of heat and humidity. I didnt expect them living 1 hour from the canadian border
thanks for all the helpful advice man. We do have a lot of dogs coming and going. So i guess that settles it
Herb & Suds
Well-Known Member
I have dogs but not mites
You have to take preventative measures before flipping and make sure you have plenty of air movement
Although you say you aren't seeing much damage the real PITA is when you go to grind buds full of webbing
Or reading how the bug carcasses pop when you smoke it. That sounds very unpleasant. idk Im just going to spray the tent down with bleach and lay off growing for a few weeks. Winters setting in here and that should help
Herb & Suds
Well-Known Member
Up to you but when I had that issue I turned my grow into a wind tunnel and that was the end
Stormreaper
Member
8" dimmable fan. 4x8. I can suck the walls of the tent together if i turn it full..lol
xtsho
Well-Known Member
You're definitely going to want to wash the buds after you harvest. Citric acid will kill them on contact. For a preventative using neem can be effective. I've switched to using sesame oil and it's just as if not more effective than neem plus it's something used in cooking so it's completely safe. Neither should be sprayed in flower or any oil based product.
Thats what made me use cayenne pepper water. A mistake in retrospect but there was just something very unsettling about spraying oil on my buds. You mean just straight up citric acid? I think ill hit the plant with the ole wet/dry vac a few times before harvest as well as keep spraying it down with water. Im afraid to do anything else considering how close to harvest i am
xtsho
Well-Known Member
Yes just plain citric acid. 2-2.5 tsp per quart of water. It's the active ingredient in several popular and effective commercial products.
Herb & Suds
Well-Known Member
You left off some sesame oil is absolutely delicious
xtsho
Well-Known Member
It's a must have in my kitchen. I do a ton of asian cooking.
I had been using neem for years but then I started noticing that sesame oil was the active ingredient in several organic pesticides. Now sesame oil is part of my arsenal and I'm no longer using neem.