Maybe infested clones

So I bought two sets (8/6) of clones from an online breeder. I tried to research them and didn't find anything bad. Now everything is crashing from root aphid infestation and I'm close to killing it all. I'm $600 in on clones and about $200 in on solutions that have done little to stop these fuckers. My room is new, my tents are new, my lights are new , my exhaust is new. My soil is all new FFOF and my nutes are FF. Am I wrong to blame the clones? Do root aphids come from somewhere other than a greenhouse?

The greenhouse is the likely culprit. How long have you had them?

What kind of medium were the clones in when you received them?

What's the breeder name? Maybe it's someone that's had this problem before and another member will recognize it.

I always dunk mine in a spinosad or citric acid "wash" if I get or trade clones.

MtRainDog said:

The greenhouse is the likely culprit. How long have you had them?

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first 8 since 1/9
last 6 since 1/29
separate tents but both connected to a common exhaust plenum that's idle 6 hours/day. I found fliers in there

Tangerine_ said:

What kind of medium were the clones in when you received them?

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1" or 1.5" seed starter cube. not wool but firmer than soil

Nope_49595933949 said:

I always dunk mine in a spinosad or citric acid "wash" if I get or trade clones.

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Same, I use Athena Cleanse and so far it's been great.

Might be the fox farm soil if you're on the east Coast if you're on the west Coast probably not.

I've had all kinds of bud issues with happy frog on the east coast and so have others on the earth coast I bet the ffof is the same.

Bug lol!

flowrrpowrr said:

1" seed starter cube. not wool but firmer than soil

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I saw the pic you posted in the other thread. Those are definitely RAs.
Some say they come in on bags of soil and slabs of rockwool but I dont buy it. Not saying its not plausible but its far more likely to have come from clones grown in filthy conditions.

I dont think you're at a complete loss either but this will set you back a ways.

If you're still battling -
Treat every plant with something that kills at all stages, from egg to adult.
Then take clones. Tops only.
Once rooted, dunk the clones in Botanigard. (Beauveria bassiana fungus)
Do a thorough clean up and continue to treat with Botanigard.

I use Botanigard in my IPM and do monthly drenches. Its a good product to have in the arsenal.

Bugs over smoked I'm out of here going to take a nap!

Nope_49595933949 said:

I always dunk mine in a spinosad or citric acid "wash" if I get or trade clones.

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Root aphids will do the backstroke thru that while waving "hi" as they float on by.
Not kidding. Those bastards are insidious.

flowrrpowrr said:

So I bought two sets (8/6) of clones from an online breeder. I tried to research them and didn't find anything bad. Now everything is crashing from root aphid infestation and I'm close to killing it all. I'm $600 in on clones and about $200 in on solutions that have done little to stop these fuckers. My room is new, my tents are new, my lights are new , my exhaust is new. My soil is all new FFOF and my nutes are FF. Am I wrong to blame the clones? Do root aphids come from somewhere other than a greenhouse?

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That’s why I don’t take in clones. Period

big bud man 413 said:

Might be the fox farm soil if you're on the east Coast if you're on the west Coast probably not.

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That did occur to me. I had leftover FFOF so I wet some and placed some yellow cards. So far I've seen one gnat and no aphids but it's only been a week.

Tangerine_ said:

Root aphids will do the backstroke thru that while waving "hi" as they float on by.
Not kidding. Those bastards are insidious.

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I had the same experience with spinosad sprayed and watered in. and BTI. and Neem oil. and insecticidal soap. and Dr Zymes.
The numbers have dropped but none of the cards are clean.
Waiting on Imidacloprid to get here and if it doesn't work then cut and clean.

1/4 teaspoon per gallon of Merit 75 WSP (imidacloprid) will get rid of them. Its a nuclear option but the fastest way to completely get rid of them. You'll want to give your plants a good long veg before flower to get the imid out of its system.

-Soak every root ball for 1 minute or longer in the Merit Solution. This should eradicate them but you may want to repeat in a week to be safe.
-elevate all your plants off the ground with plant platforms, clean all debris off the floor...this will make it easier to see if you have any crawlers going between plants.
-inspect your plant roots carefully over the next couple of weeks to be sure they are gone.
-after a couple weeks you can add some beneficial nematodes to your soil as a preventative or treat with something like botanigard/bioceres wp.

PopAndSonGrows said:

Same, I use Athena Cleanse and so far it's been great.

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You dunk the clones in Cleanse, not IPM? I personally use athena IPM. ive sprayed it, dunked in it, root soaked, its solid. I have never used the Cleanse but i thought it was mainly for buildup in rootzone and in equipment. Just curious, ive considered picking some up to use a couple times per flower run, to make sure my rockwool isnt building up to much nutes. ive had the issue before.

vithzirea said:

You dunk the clones in Cleanse, not IPM? I personally use athena IPM. ive sprayed it, dunked in it, root soaked, its solid. I have never used the Cleanse but i thought it was mainly for buildup in rootzone and in equipment. Just curious, ive considered picking some up to use a couple times per flower run, to make sure my rockwool isnt building up to much nutes. ive had the issue before.

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Check out the Athena info, it does state that dipping clones in Cleanse is recommended, i think the IPM is to be used once your vegetative plants are established? But you are right, Cleanse is mainly used for drip line and rez maintenance as well as reducing buildup, can be used as your growspace cleaning solution as well.