Someone was asking me about pests. These have spider mites, they’re not super bad but I’m going to spray neem oil anyway. It’s not ideal but my ecosystem doesn’t have any spider mites predators right now so it’s really my only current solution. I’m not interested in non-native predators but if anyone has a line on some Illinois native predatory insects holler at me.

You can also see how well established my cover crop is! I’m a big fan of cover cropping. Monoculture is literally poison to the Earth, so obviously Bizzle don’t play that shit.

Anyway the big one in the middle is up to my nose 😂 and they’re fully flowering which sucks but I’m learning for next year. Nothing I ever do is a failure, it’s just some shit I did.

    • cbarrick@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      22 days ago

      TL;DR

      The two most popular insect specialists used to control spider mites are a ladybug named Stethorus punctum and a predatory mite named T. pyri.

      And later they say that the ladybug was the go-to. But new EPA regulations prompted some farms to use pesticides that kill the ladybugs. So the predatory mites are better if you are using those kinds of pesticides.

    • Bizzle@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
      12·
      23 days ago

      Thank you! This strain (Black Widow from ILGM) smells amazing, very fruity and floral with just a hint of spice. It also gets you SUPER high which obviously is very nice 😂 I’m using it medicinally for chronic pain in my leg, and this shit right here is just what the doctor ordered. I’m super excited to have so much of it, once you start growing it ruins all street weed for you.

    • MrEff@lemmy.world
      8·
      22 days ago

      Second on the ladybugs. You have a grow house to contain them and makes them that much more effective. They cost about 15-20$ for a container of them and live for about 2 weeks, sometimes more.

      I used neem oil on other plants and it leaves a residue that I didn’t like. It also raises the leaf Temps and blocks leaf pours/stoma. There are also home made remedies with water/soap/alcohol that are better for the plants.

      • Bizzle@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
        3·
        22 days ago

        Definitely will try to source native ladybugs. My greenhouse isn’t sealed in any way, so that sucks. I’m sure I’ll lose some to escape. I agree about neem residue, I’d honestly rather not spray anything at all

    • Bizzle@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
      2·
      22 days ago

      Should be any time, right?

      Will they stretch again after the solstice when they’re supposed to flower? I’ve never revegged before and have no idea what to expect

      • SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world
        3·
        22 days ago

        I’ve reveged after flowering completely before. Also monstercropped both were fun adventures.

        And yeah they’ll go back to veg and looking really rough, single bladed leafs, no seration. After that, you get your entire regular veg (good fucking luck start cutting last week) and than she’ll stretch again, and you’ve got a very good idea how much right now haha.

        • Bizzle@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
          2·
          22 days ago

          Ah jeez I think you’re right, I could take two feet off these and they’d still be monsters by September. I think next year I won’t start them in January 😂