Spider Mites :(

**dick_turpine** · 10-03-21, 11:12 AM

Oh dear, oh dear my ladies have contracted spider mites and I failed to recognise it and it's gotten established. I thought I had a nute deficiency so missed the early signs. I shoulda posted on here, you guys would have identified the problem sooner.

I have been growing in hydro for years and never had a pest problem so just wasn't on my radar but changed to soil recently and apparently this is more common.

I am about 10 to 15 days to harvest so have ordered 4000 predator mites to drop on the little b@$#^&s tomorrow, and not planning on spraying anything in the groom.

Then once they are harvested, I will do deep clean before next crop.

Anyone got any feedback on my approach or can tell me if this yield is likely to be greatly reduced or contaminated with bugs or eggs?

At the moment buds look ok but maybe a bit slow on putting on bulk.

**Harry1990** · 10-03-21, 11:28 AM

Depends how long you had them for but they bread like hell have they webbed your buds. I’d be thinking off taking them down can’t really see the predators making s big difference in 10/15 days. Any photos?

**IceCalibur** · 10-03-21, 11:34 AM

Aghhh, the dreaded spider mites!..

Check out these threads ;

>> Mighty spider mites

>> Loki's "How to deal with Spider mites

**dick_turpine** · 10-03-21, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Harry1990

Depends how long you had them for but they bread like hell have they webbed your buds. I’d be thinking off taking them down can’t really see the predators making s big difference in 10/15 days. Any photos?

Not good news, they have been breeding for a few weeks, can't believe i wasn't more vigilant. Have just started fully organic nutes so thought it was just some weird calcium deficiency or similar.

Yes, I have had some minor webbing on 2 or 3 plants which is what woke me up to the problem. I have used a mini vacuum to remove the webs, am hoping the preds will keep them at bay whilst the plants finish. I have ordered the more aggressive predators in the hope they will put up a decent fight.

I will put up some pics at lights on time, poor things have took a battering.

**dick_turpine** · 10-03-21, 12:46 PM

Yup, thanks for your reply, Ice. The links are good, Loki's thread is sprays that I want to avoid, I have the meaner predators mentioned in the first link in the hope they will stop them turning my groom into a haunted house scene.

I will get some pics up later, see what you guys think the outlook is likely to be.

**Harry1990** · 10-03-21, 12:53 PM

Oh dear must be a big infestation to start to see webbings. Had the same problem a couple off years bk think they was on my clones a friend gave me. Never had them since a grow from seed now and take my own clones. Neem oil with soap is what a lot off people use Never worked for me and when you’re so far in it’s not recommended to spray chemicals.

**dick_turpine** · 10-03-21, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Harry1990

Oh dear must be a big infestation to start to see webbings. Had the same problem a couple off years bk think they was on my clones a friend gave me. Never had them since a grow from seed now and take my own clones. Neem oil with soap is what a lot off people use Never worked for me and when you’re so far in it’s not recommended to spray chemicals.

Yeah, live and learn, huh? Thing is, plants are not mature yet, pistils not started dying back yet at all. I will defo report back to the forum on the extent I get things under control.

Did you salvage anything from the crop that got affected?

**Harry1990** · 10-03-21, 01:10 PM

Ended up with 4/5 oz a plant took them dwn about 2 weeks early so would definitely been a bigger yield but spider mites seem to stop growth. I used a small hover like you but day after the webs was bk with revenge so I bit the bullet and harvest. The buds it self was great couldn’t see any left but I’ll never make the mistake again I check my leaves on a daily basis.