ALPHA.GanjaGuy
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I've been a lurker for a bit but first time poster (of my own thread), sorry for the long-ish read.
Here's a summarized version in case you don't want to read it all (sorry about the book of a post). I'm having a hard time dealing with the slightest thrip issue ever and I am hoping for some guidance. Three Citric Acid foliars and one Baking soda and neem w/soap have not successfully eradicated them.
---
I have two tents running right now 4x4 and 2x4 and both are having a thrip issue that I cannot clear up. So far I have only really seen a handful of thrips, always less than 5 on a plant in the 4x4 and even less in the 2x4.
They only popped up about two weeks ago when I harvested from the 4x4 and moved the 2x4 ladies up and closed down my 2x2 moving them all to the 2x4. I have since inspected my harvest and no thrips were on them.
I just started flowering the 4x4 when two days in my fiance was checking out the tent and asked whats that 'snail trail' looking stuff on some of the leaves? I said eh I probably got them wet when feeding.. I was wrong.. I checked them all out and low and behold I had thrips. When I looked here and google I find most people end up with infestations much more severe than mine, I have only seen very few.
I try to stay as organic as possible with my girls, I grow in ffhf/of 60/40 blend, I feed the full biobizz lineup, I do not foliar feed. So I was hoping to find a remedy that fit with the organic theme.
Searching here I found Citric Acid mentioned often, Spinosad, neem, and then more aggressive chemicals. Searching google I found mentioning of Baking Soda with neem and/or dish soap. I also read it is a good idea to defoliate taking the most affected leaves if possible.
First I went back to 16/8 to buy myself time, I was only two days in 12/12 so no issues there.
Then I defoliated the plants, not a bad thing as I was planning to more or less lollipop them (the day I found the thrips) anyway as I did just start flower and I set out blue traps.
Next I tried the citric acid foliar first at a concentration of 2tsp/q, then at 3tsp/q.
After the first spray through I did not see another thrip until two days later which motivated the second spraying.
I did three applications applying every other day and allowing to dry before turning lights back on as I was still seeing them (lights out is during the day when I'm not around so had to do it this way).
I was sure to spray plant from dirt to tips, meaning not actually spraying the soil but the plant stem from the bottom all the way to the top, getting tops and bottoms of all leaves thoroughly as I went through every plant individually.
I also did a cinnamon scratch into my soil and then a cinnamon topping as it can kill the larvae of most insects and I wanted to make sure if they were in the soil or dropping into it I had that covered too. I have used cinnamon this way for over a year as a preventative measure against fungus gnats (I used to over water)
After the third treatment I was still seeing thrips, this time right after turning lights back on I spotted one just walking around a top side leave like "mmm sour patch weed".. and although it has only been one or two (that I am seeing) on one or two plants (out of 9) I feel like I have to get rid of them completely before going into flower or I will regret it.
Yesterday I culled one of the plants, a vintage blueberry from AKBB because she just was not recovering how the others did from the citric acid foliars. I have cuts but one less plant to run unfortunately assuming I can even get these girls to the point I am comfortable trying to start flower again.
I then hit them with water with 1tbsp baking soda, 1tsp neem and a few pumps of dish soap. I checked this morning and already saw a thrip on one plant.
I am hoping to hear I have done everything right to this point and it's not me I just ended up with apocalypse proof thrips..
I am also hoping for any suggestions that will help as they have now also started popping up in my 2x4 (not much of a surprise as they are right next to each other).
If I have to I am not opposed to resetting (culling them all), I have cuts of all. It would just be a waste of the time and effort already put into them so w/e. I am more concerned about not losing everything more specifically my cuts and 'living vault' as I have a few strains I do not have seeds for.
Besides for the 2x4 I also have two trays of rooted cuts that I need to cup up sooner than later but don't want to throw them in with thrips, that just seems idiotic.
--
Last question, should I even be bothered by this? Is there a chance once I start to flower that the temps and humidity will run them out? I run LED and my tents tend to run hot (high 80's-mid 90's) especially during summer, I have been doing my best to follow some VPD charts which usually put me between 60-70% humidity..
--
Please help,
GanjaGuy
I've been a lurker for a bit but first time poster (of my own thread), sorry for the long-ish read.
Here's a summarized version in case you don't want to read it all (sorry about the book of a post). I'm having a hard time dealing with the slightest thrip issue ever and I am hoping for some guidance. Three Citric Acid foliars and one Baking soda and neem w/soap have not successfully eradicated them.
---
I have two tents running right now 4x4 and 2x4 and both are having a thrip issue that I cannot clear up. So far I have only really seen a handful of thrips, always less than 5 on a plant in the 4x4 and even less in the 2x4.
They only popped up about two weeks ago when I harvested from the 4x4 and moved the 2x4 ladies up and closed down my 2x2 moving them all to the 2x4. I have since inspected my harvest and no thrips were on them.
I just started flowering the 4x4 when two days in my fiance was checking out the tent and asked whats that 'snail trail' looking stuff on some of the leaves? I said eh I probably got them wet when feeding.. I was wrong.. I checked them all out and low and behold I had thrips. When I looked here and google I find most people end up with infestations much more severe than mine, I have only seen very few.
I try to stay as organic as possible with my girls, I grow in ffhf/of 60/40 blend, I feed the full biobizz lineup, I do not foliar feed. So I was hoping to find a remedy that fit with the organic theme.
Searching here I found Citric Acid mentioned often, Spinosad, neem, and then more aggressive chemicals. Searching google I found mentioning of Baking Soda with neem and/or dish soap. I also read it is a good idea to defoliate taking the most affected leaves if possible.
First I went back to 16/8 to buy myself time, I was only two days in 12/12 so no issues there.
Then I defoliated the plants, not a bad thing as I was planning to more or less lollipop them (the day I found the thrips) anyway as I did just start flower and I set out blue traps.
Next I tried the citric acid foliar first at a concentration of 2tsp/q, then at 3tsp/q.
After the first spray through I did not see another thrip until two days later which motivated the second spraying.
I did three applications applying every other day and allowing to dry before turning lights back on as I was still seeing them (lights out is during the day when I'm not around so had to do it this way).
I was sure to spray plant from dirt to tips, meaning not actually spraying the soil but the plant stem from the bottom all the way to the top, getting tops and bottoms of all leaves thoroughly as I went through every plant individually.
I also did a cinnamon scratch into my soil and then a cinnamon topping as it can kill the larvae of most insects and I wanted to make sure if they were in the soil or dropping into it I had that covered too. I have used cinnamon this way for over a year as a preventative measure against fungus gnats (I used to over water)
After the third treatment I was still seeing thrips, this time right after turning lights back on I spotted one just walking around a top side leave like "mmm sour patch weed".. and although it has only been one or two (that I am seeing) on one or two plants (out of 9) I feel like I have to get rid of them completely before going into flower or I will regret it.
Yesterday I culled one of the plants, a vintage blueberry from AKBB because she just was not recovering how the others did from the citric acid foliars. I have cuts but one less plant to run unfortunately assuming I can even get these girls to the point I am comfortable trying to start flower again.
I then hit them with water with 1tbsp baking soda, 1tsp neem and a few pumps of dish soap. I checked this morning and already saw a thrip on one plant.
I am hoping to hear I have done everything right to this point and it's not me I just ended up with apocalypse proof thrips..
I am also hoping for any suggestions that will help as they have now also started popping up in my 2x4 (not much of a surprise as they are right next to each other).
If I have to I am not opposed to resetting (culling them all), I have cuts of all. It would just be a waste of the time and effort already put into them so w/e. I am more concerned about not losing everything more specifically my cuts and 'living vault' as I have a few strains I do not have seeds for.
Besides for the 2x4 I also have two trays of rooted cuts that I need to cup up sooner than later but don't want to throw them in with thrips, that just seems idiotic.
--
Last question, should I even be bothered by this? Is there a chance once I start to flower that the temps and humidity will run them out? I run LED and my tents tend to run hot (high 80's-mid 90's) especially during summer, I have been doing my best to follow some VPD charts which usually put me between 60-70% humidity..
--
Please help,
GanjaGuy
