Are mites completely avoidable outdoors?

[R1Farmer]

Just wondering as this is my first outdoor grow. My girls are approx. ~4 weeks into flower and each girl has a few mites underneath a few fan leaves. This has been the case since I started this grow a couple of months back.

I try my best controlling insects by using a strong soap dish/water solution almost everday (I rinse of the plants by misting) and twice used neem oil when they were in veg. I never find any webbing and it has never got to the point where the plants are showing signs of infestation but I can't seem to totally eliminate them. So are a few mites normal? Is it possible to completely not have any insects/mites outdoors? Please advise.

 

[somEGuy1]

ok ill break it down....i had mites before they suck ass, usually if there are mites on your plant and they arent webbing or infesting then youre doing wonderful....as for outdoor it depends on weather...mites dont like the heat, wet, cold, or cleanliness. if youre growing in perfect conditions then ya you can get mites outside, its happend to me. but if youre using neem oil that should straight up kill em so theres a possibilty they arent mites.

 

[poplars]

it's definitely harder to get mites outdoors. but it's always possible.

I assume due to the harsher weather they typically don't reach the infestation phase . . .

 

[budsmoker87]

i havent had mites at all outdoors...i've taken some preventative action tho by giving the occasional neem oil spray

but otherwise, I think the morning dew...and resulting wet leaves, keeps the mites away

 

[fish601]

i dont have mites , i also grow several plants in different locations just in case they get mites, fire, police, flood,......

 

[R1Farmer]

Thank you for the replies.

They are definitely mites (looked under a 30x microscope) and admittedly I cannot classify it as an infestation. I just hate having these guys under my leaves. My peers who are all indoor farmers do not have outdoor experience and my impressions from them is any mite presence is something to be concerned with. After doing a lot of reading in RIU I can understand that mentallity for the indoor folks. I have maybe 4 to 5 weeks left before harvest so I'm just going to keep doing what I'm and thanking Mother Nature she is helping me control these pests!!!! Thanks again!!!

 

[somEGuy1]

well indoor growers feer mites...they can destroy plants with infestation if you dont have the shit to keep em away.....but outdoor like someone else said they wont reach infestation theyll just be there. they do take energy from your plant but not unless they are noticibe to the eye

 

[Carl Spackler]

ok ill break it down....i had mites before they suck ass, usually if there are mites on your plant and they arent webbing or infesting then youre doing wonderful....as for outdoor it depends on weather...mites dont like the heat, wet, cold, or cleanliness. if youre growing in perfect conditions then ya you can get mites outside, its happend to me. but if youre using neem oil that should straight up kill em so theres a possibilty they arent mites.

I'm afraid that I will have to respectfully disagreewith this statement. At least in part. Most SpiderMites prefer a warm (if not hot) environment where they are somewhat protected from the elements. In most cases the S.M. responsible for damage to cannabis is the Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch (Arachnida: Acari: Tetranychidae). This is why you typically see the mites on the underneath side of the leaves. The leaves provide a type of "roof" that protects them from rainfall and, to a lesser degree predator-mites. While these mites can live in a wide range of temperatures they seem to thrive in temps. above 80 deg.F.
For many years, I worked for a large company as a Tree/Shrub technician and part of my daily job was analyzing ornamental pest and/or disease problems. Specific plant materials always seemed to be susceptible to S.M. damage and more often than not the damage first showed up next to a wall or fence. This was because the wall (many times a brick wall) reflected heat onto the back of say a Alberta Spruce (picea abies). A easy way to detect mites is to take a sheet of white paper. Tap the plant material gently over the top and then take your hand and "smear" the paper. If you see reddish or rusty colored streaks... you have mites. How they are dealt with is a different matter.

Since indoor grows rarely have the benefit of natural predators for mites they can easily get out of hand compared to outdoors under similar conditions. Personally, I strive to get control not eradicate these little bastards.

 

[olishell]

I've never once had mites outdoors.

 

[dababydroman]

my outside plant has lil bugs on it also that i thought were mites but i have very hot weather..
they are just little black dots basically and some are red arent these spidermites?
iv been trying to control them but its a pain in the ass so i was thinkin bout just letting it be.
will they do alot of damage will i have bugs in my smoke?

 

[MrFishy]

Must concur w/Carl on the fact that mites thrive in heat above 80* . . . absolutely love it!

 

[dababydroman]

what do u love about it

 

[R1Farmer]

I'm afraid that I will have to respectfully disagreewith this statement. At least in part. Most SpiderMites prefer a warm (if not hot) environment where they are somewhat protected from the elements. In most cases the S.M. responsible for damage to cannabis is the Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch (Arachnida: Acari: Tetranychidae). This is why you typically see the mites on the underneath side of the leaves. The leaves provide a type of "roof" that protects them from rainfall and, to a lesser degree predator-mites. While these mites can live in a wide range of temperatures they seem to thrive in temps. above 80 deg.F.
For many years, I worked for a large company as a Tree/Shrub technician and part of my daily job was analyzing ornamental pest and/or disease problems. Specific plant materials always seemed to be susceptible to S.M. damage and more often than not the damage first showed up next to a wall or fence. This was because the wall (many times a brick wall) reflected heat onto the back of say a Alberta Spruce (picea abies). A easy way to detect mites is to take a sheet of white paper. Tap the plant material gently over the top and then take your hand and "smear" the paper. If you see reddish or rusty colored streaks... you have mites. How they are dealt with is a different matter.

Since indoor grows rarely have the benefit of natural predators for mites they can easily get out of hand compared to outdoors under similar conditions. Personally, I strive to get control not eradicate these little bastards.

That is great information! Thank you! I will continue controlling them (indeed they are bastards). I initially thought I would have to move the girls indoors and if I did this would be a potential issue but fortunately I can keep them outside until harvest.

 

[waterboy]

I get them each year, along with bud worms. The mites like the hot dry climate in Central CA. Just as soon as they start to flower, maybe a little sooner, I spray the plant throughly with Floramite and problem solved for the season. According to the literature it is hazardous to bees so care needs to be taken, such as spraying at night. As far as predatory insects go it's not susposed to cause them harm? I give the plants a good shake before spraying anyway to give the critters a running start. All kidding aside, take care. wb