Yeah! It's Bud Worm Season. Pics

veggiegardener

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
Regarding early flowering, I've found that when I move plants from artificial lighting on an 18-6 or 16-8, putting a small light on a timer among them. I set the timer to come on 16 or 18 hours before sunset, and reduce this time by a half hour per week. The light only needs to come on for about 30 minutes. This is enought to 'lengthen' the day.
 
veggiegardener

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
Did my second application of Bt/caterpillar killer today. I apply it every two or three weeks until mid flowering or the second week of September. The late applications are a fine mist instead of a soaking spray. Bt is suspended in a sugary sollution. I prefer not to have it penetrate dense buds because the sugar can attract mold. Two days after an application. I'm careful to hose down the plants to remove the residue. The Bt remains on the plant, awaiting the vicious 'pillars'.
 
tioMATE

tioMATE

Member
I stopped spraying years ago and bought a bird bath. By spraying you eliminate a whole level of the food chain in your garden and ur going to experience problems, and chase that mistake the whole season. Instead attract birds and predator insects. Organic gardening is about ecological balance. If u have infestations then your ecosystem is unbalanced. There's websites that sell "good bug blend" seeds. These are seed mixes designed to attract predatory insects. I plant them along the borders and unused patches of garden. Haven't had a problem in years.
 
veggiegardener

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
Bt is bacillus thurengiensis. It kills the caterpillars of all moths and butterflies. Cannabis attracts certain butterflies which lay eggs on the plants. Don't spray this bacterium on any plants but those you want to prevent caterpillar on. Tomatoes, peppers and Cannabis each attract 'pillars.
 
veggiegardener

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
tioMATE said:
I stopped spraying years ago and bought a bird bath. By spraying you eliminate a whole level of the food chain in your garden and ur going to experience problems, and chase that mistake the whole season. Instead attract birds and predator insects. Organic gardening is about ecological balance. If u have infestations then your ecosystem is unbalanced. There's websites that sell "good bug blend" seeds. These are seed mixes designed to attract predatory insects. I plant them along the borders and unused patches of garden. Haven't had a problem in years.
Click to expand...
This treatment is specific to pests that can destroy a pot garden in a few days, left unaddressed. Bt is considered an organic remedy. Only companies like Monsanto abuse its use. I gardened organically for thirty years and understand your reservations, BUT these caterpillars affect a garden like a swarm of locusts can affect a wheat field.
 
PsychoticOne

PsychoticOne

Active Member
My first grow last year I was fighting these little green caterpillars like crazy, ended up pulling my beautiful baby girl early because I just couldnt keep up with them or their shitting.....Don't really want to head down that road again this season if I can help it. Cheers veggiegardener for the info. :)
 
tioMATE

tioMATE

Member
I always have tomatoes and pepper growing nearby, maybe the worms are attracted to them instead but I haven't had this problem yet (knock on wood). I have read a few studies on BT and although they say its non toxic to mammals and birds the tests show rats died when ingesting it in higher doses. I sit in my yard and watch the birds pick worms off my plants and I'd b scared that spraying would drive them away (for lack of food). Beside the occasional bird shit on a fan leaf they're my favorite form of pest control, but il keep BT in mind as an organic solution, thanks veggiegardener.
 
veggiegardener

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
tioMATE said:
I always have tomatoes and pepper growing nearby, maybe the worms are attracted to them instead but I haven't had this problem yet (knock on wood). I have read a few studies on BT and although they say its non toxic to mammals and birds the tests show rats died when ingesting it in higher doses. I sit in my yard and watch the birds pick worms off my plants and I'd b scared that spraying would drive them away (for lack of food). Beside the occasional bird shit on a fan leaf they're my favorite form of pest control, but il keep BT in mind as an organic solution, thanks veggiegardener.
Click to expand...
You're very welcome! The worms that attack weed are generally very small, reaching about an inch long, before making a cocoon, but do a ton of damage due to mold that develops on their feces. The Tomato Horn Worm is MUCH larger, reaching as long as four inches. Their damage is easy to spot if you look for it. If you do find defoliated stems near the top of the plant, the well camoflaged worm will be nearby, hiding in the lower foliage. The horn worms are very sensitive to Bt and easily controlled with applications every week or two.
 
PsychoticOne

PsychoticOne

Active Member
Might consider planting some veggies around my plant this season and see what happens, last season I had so many green caterpillars I couldn't keep up! I am unable to get BT so easily in Australia, I have found that the Yates Caterpillar Killer has BT in it so I am guessing that would be the closest comparison, might give it a go. How often would you say to apply? once a week?
 
tioMATE

tioMATE

Member
I've heard of commercial growers in Colorado having potted bean plants in the grow rooms and green houses. They're reasoning was spider mites and other insects will almost always attack the beans first. So u can spray beans, not buds. Haven't tried it tho.
 
foreverflyhi

foreverflyhi

Well-Known Member
I agree with baalnce of environment.

Companion crops, beneficial insects birds, lizards are also your friends.

I also believe medium plays a huge role, healthy soil equals strong immune system.
Till this day I've yet to encounter a infestation indoors,
HOWEVER having said that, healthy immune system or not, bastard caterpillars will fuck your garden up!
BT and other IPMs keep me clear from bad outdoor bugs, which really is only the infamous caterpillar. And no BT will not harm most beneficial bugs and birds as long as its used to a minimum and precise. Also would like to mention, ive recently tried scots og blasted with BT grown by a riu organic grower and wow, taste and high was not effected by BT believe it or not. Just my experience
 
Last edited:
Aweshit

Aweshit

Member
bterz said:
wtf I thought this was all stuff up north.

If your plants are in pots does this reduce the chance of getting them....

Damn im scared now!!
Click to expand...
I spray Catapillar killer from June 15 to six weeks from harvest. But if you have them already tried Dawn dish soap and water
 
mike lanza

mike lanza

Active Member
CrazyChester said:
Chowing down on your buds at this very moment. At least their chowing down on mine. I hit them with some with some BT this evening.

I have a question or two for those who have used BT in the past. Does it effect the quality of the weed. (Taste, Buzz....) And is it really safe for smoking. How long do you have to wait after spraying before you harvest. I've been using BT on my garden for decades without any problems but I always wash the food I grow before I eat it. But I'd have to be crazy to wash my weed before smoking it. Though I could give it a little spray down a few days before harvest. Any suggestions?

Here's some pics of my two plants progress. You can see the damage done to one of the buds and one of our crawly little pests.

If anyone has any idea of the strains I'm growing I'd sure like to know.
Click to expand...
what would be the best seed strain to start out with as a beginer, is there a strain that is good and takes the least amoaunt of time too bloom heheh...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top