Yeah! It's Bud Worm Season. Pics
- Thread starter CrazyChester
- Start date
Mountainfarmer
Well-Known Member
Is that 2 tablespoons or two teaspoons? The bottle says 1-2 teaspoons. Just wanted to clear that up before someone smokes their plants.
Mountainfarmer
Well-Known Member
I have no idea about spinosad. I have heard some here say that is what they use. GL
Mountainfarmer
Well-Known Member
This past monday I went out to my patch and noticed that one of my plants was not looking to hot. Upon further inspection I noticed that the plants had bud worms. After the initial panic I went down to my local hydro store and bought some BT. $25.00/8 o.z. bottle. Fucking rip off. I just found some online for $11.22. w/ free shipping. Anyway, my question for all who are experienced with using BT is: How long after using do you start to see dead catepillars? Another question I have is has anyone ever used moth balls for control? The reason I am asking is cause I used moth balls early in the season to ward off small rodents and deer. During that time I did not have any problems with moths, worms, or catepillars. peace
Nugz209
Member
Your way better off using "Safer Caterpillar Killer," its organic and the bottle lasts a while, down side is it last only for 2-5 days before needing sprayed again. ( in case your not close to your plants) Its safe to use on vegetables up to the day of harvesting. I used it last year with great results and no left over flavor or ill effects to my ladies.
Mountainfarmer
Well-Known Member
View attachment 1121576here it is chowing down!!!
pabloesqobar
Well-Known Member
Mountainfarmer, I believe mothballs are highly toxic. Not something you want around your plants. I've used BT and smoked bud from plants that were sprayed with BT - and from some that were not. I can't tell any difference. And yes, Veggiegardner explains the benefits of rinsing your plants down prior to harvest, a few pages back I believe. In any event, BT should dissipate and be gone from your bud as a result of being exposed to the outdoor elements: wind, air, sun, etc. I'd stop using it around 2 weeks prior to harvest. Unless conditions demand you spray again 1 week prior to harvest.
Oh, that link you attached doesn't work. Best of luck!
Oh, that link you attached doesn't work. Best of luck!
veggiegardener
Well-Known Member
My bad on the amount of Bt per gallon. Stronger solutions work, but I apparently had a brain fart, regarding what's recommended. Thanks for the corrections.
pabloesqobar
Well-Known Member
I've been going by the directions that came with my BT, which says to use 4 teaspoons per gallon. That works out to .5 teaspoon for my 16 ounce spray bottle. Hopefully I haven't been using 4x more than needed.
whietiger88101
New Member
you can go down and buy a pest sticky traps in circle your bottom brachs with one and make sure it touches the ground were the bugs try to crawl up onto you plant. come on now you do not want them bugs on your buds !
veggiegardener
Well-Known Member
So how does this apply to caterpillars whose eggs are laid in the top of the plant, and don't touch the ground until they are ready to become a cocoon?
I've used tanglefoot and sticky traps. Mostly an expensive waste of time.
Mountainfarmer
Well-Known Member
Good morning RIU, I would like to say BT works. I sprayed one application (2 teaspoons/gallon) on wenesday and on by friday I started seeing little dried up black caterpillars. BT is a beautiful thing. I have also been picking through each plant and manually removing caterpillars with a pair of long tweezers. Tonight I will spray another application of BT. One thing I noticed was that while picking through the plants, 99% of the caterpillars are tiny, like 3/16 of an inch. I believe that these are new hatchlings and the BT has killed off most of the larger caterpillars. Another thing I noticed was that I have a population of spiders on the plants. I think these are helping me control the little devils.
veggiegardener
Well-Known Member
I encourage Spiders throughout my garden. I even catch and put them in my greenhouses. I also keep Black Widows in them in case of night visitors.(Actually, the Black Widows move in with no help from me. The other spiders will eat them if they get too numerous.)
Mountainfarmer
Well-Known Member
I sprayed the second application tonight. two more months, then chop chop. Here are a few picks of my garden.
zzoomm1000
Active Member
Just curious. Are there a lot of people in the 310 who are battling bud worms?
I have a white widow, 100 feet up in the air on a balcony with nothing on it to ward off insects. Its starting to swell so I'm thinking of taking preventative measures with the BT.
But I haven't seen a bug around it all summer.
I have a white widow, 100 feet up in the air on a balcony with nothing on it to ward off insects. Its starting to swell so I'm thinking of taking preventative measures with the BT.
But I haven't seen a bug around it all summer.
petersparker
Member
I found a very small little white caterpillar in one of my buds... I've also found some tiny reddish spiders, I've found and disposed of 3 of these little white guys in the last week... what to do?
veggiegardener
Well-Known Member
Get some Bt and Safer's Insecticidal Soap. If early enough, that should take care of the problems.
wheezer
Well-Known Member
I'm starting to get the little buggers too dang it! I'm gonna start the BT tomorrow evening. Most of my stuff only look like they're about 3 weeks in, but I just hate spraying anything now. I'm hearing here that I'm safe up to 2 weeks, that will give me plenty of time to work on em'. So far only a couple on 1 plant, and I sprayed organic tea on them all through veg which is supposed to help and I believe it did. Th eplant I found them on was the Super Silver Haze that started budding first, and really only looks about 3 weeks ou tops, but I could let it go longer if I can get the bugs off......Pray for me guys!