helpme

Okay, so after I was sure I had an aphid problem, I did some research and discovered they are not aphids, they are spider mites! But here is the thing.... they are nowhere on my plant (that I have been able to find, and I've looked hard), the only place I have found them is in the soil (also found some spider mite eggs in soil). So I try to disturb the soil which brings them to the surface and them spray them with safers soap, but is there a better/ more effective way of killing them? I am in my 3rd week of flowering and don't want to loose my girl. Please helpme!

OhioGrown

Taken from Stoneys Nursery Troubleshooting Guide, hope it helps

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helpme

thanks, is it ok to use the bleach solution or miticide if she's in flowering already? Like I said I have not found any on the plant itself, just in the soil, but I want to know incase I do find them on the plant.

HellRaiZeR

Hold up a min.. Bleach? in the soil? OMG! Noooooooooo

Do not us any bleach.. no bleach.. no bleach! Go get yourself some Safer's Insecticidal Soap for mites.. Spray her down good.. Make sure to get under ALL the leaves if you can.. Spray the soil as well.. Do a good flush.. Then re-nute once she is ready for more water..
Hopefully you will get them under control.. Spider mites do not just live in the soil.. They eat the leaves so they web along the veins and sometimes curl smaller leaves for protection. I have never really heard of anyone killing all the mites; but controlling them instead..
If this is an indoor grow then you will need to bleach down your cab once the girls are gone.
Good luck!

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helpme

I have some safers soap, so I'll do that, will the safers soap effect the flowers? I mean, I'll try not to soak them, but is it alright if some gets on the flowers?

buzzmobile

Spider mites do not live in soil. It is possible that they are root aphids which are nearly indestructible. Another real and more benign possibility is that they are springtails. Springtails are harmless to your plants, root aphids are a major problem. Google them.

Soap spray will cause discoloration of pistils. Always make sure your plants are not thirsty before spraying with soap. Other than that it is very safe to use on your insect and mite pests.

helpme

My original thought was that they were root aphids, but looking at one under a microscope, it looked more like a spider mite. So does anyone have any good info as to how I would get rid of root aphids? Will a flush work? should I repot my plant and try to remove as much of the soil as possible? I don't want to kill my 1st flowering plant, but I don't want the bugs to kill it either...

buzzmobile

Did you look up springtails? Beneficial nematodes and a product called Botanigard (Beauvaria brassiana) are supposed to be controls for root aphids. I don't have a source for the nematodes. That's your homework assignment once you have positively identified the insect.

helpme

Thanks for all the input Buzzmobile,
I don't believe they are springtails, from the pics I've seen online, their bodies seem more elongated than the bodies of the bugs in my soil. Also, there has been damage to my plant. No visible signs of an insect attack (no discoloration, or chew marks) the leaves are intact, they just fall off, and the plant will start drooping. (no it's not underwatered). So if spider mites are not found in soil then I am left to believe they are root aphids. So... how do I get rid of them? Can I flush the soil? Can I transplant? I've already lost one plant to them during Veg, I don't want to loose this one since it's flowering.

boss429

i use lemon juice diluted in water if the infection isn't that bad. i haven't used it but i wonder if hydrogen peroxide might help?? i know at least lemon juice is safe to get on your buds.