Advice

TheMrs

Member
well we still have 3 weeks on two plants.We thought sooner,but Im thinking with the bugs they slowed down,we can even push them for another month,maybe.then we have 4 others in early flower...Knowing this,what would be best one spray or a week?
 

woodsmaneh!

Well-Known Member
Neem takes anywhere from 3 days to 12 days to kill. It is not a knock down killer so I would spray at least once more in 7 days just to be sure, bugs have a way of coming back. Better to be sure than have them come back a week before harvest and your screwed. Remember to soak the top of the dirt in the pots.

Take the time and read the attached, and you will understand how and why you need to use Neem. Plus some other useful info.

[FONT=&quot]There is some really good information here on what you can do with neem and how and why you should use it often.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]What is it? Neem Oil[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Neem oil comes from the pressed seed of the neem tree – Azadiracta indica Juss – to be exact. It’s native to eastern India and Burma and has been used for medicinal purposes and pest control in India for thousands of years.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Claims are that the bark and leaves have quite a few anti’s covered.[/FONT]

  • [FONT=&quot]antiseptic[/FONT]
  • [FONT=&quot]antiviral[/FONT]
  • [FONT=&quot]anti-inflammatory[/FONT]
  • [FONT=&quot]antiulcer[/FONT]
  • [FONT=&quot]antifungal[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]…to name a few.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Is It Safe?[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Well neem products are used in medication and consumed by humans. So any exposure to neem while treating your plants does not pose a threat. There are no restrictions put in place by the EPA.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I spoke to a few growers that have been using neem oil in their “pest control” program and they are delighted with it. Not just from the safety aspect… but the control. They have found the neem oil to be effective as a repellant – insecticide – miticide and fungicide. It also functions as an antifeedant which discourages insects feeding patterns.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Insects would rather die than eat plants treated with neem oil.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Extracts from neem have shown incredible success with not only battling fungus problems but also many forms of root rot.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Why it Works[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Extracts from the tree contain azadirachtin, a relatively safe and effective naturally occurring insecticide. Let me preface the following comments by reminding you that the terms "naturally occurring and/ or organic" do not universally mean safe. Pyrethrums, rotenone, and even the very dangerous nicotine are all organics that should be handled with great caution.

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Where is it Used?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Neem[/FONT][FONT=&quot] extracts, on the other hand are used in a wide variety of cosmetics, as a topical treatment for minor wounds, to treat stomach ailments, as an insecticide in grain storage containers, and a whole host of other applications. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]How Does it Work?[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Neem works in many ways. It is effective both as a topical and a systemic. It is an antifeedant, an oviposition deterrent (anti-egg laying), a growth inhibitor, a mating disrupter, and a chemosterilizer. Azadirachtin closely mimics the hormone ecdysone which is necessary for reproduction in insects. When present, it takes the place of the real hormone and thus disrupts not only the feeding process, but the metamorphic transition as well. It interferes with the formation of chitin (insect "skin") and stops pupation in larvae, thus short-circuiting the insect life cycle. Tests have shown that azadirachtin is effective in some cases at concentrations as low as 1 ppm.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]How to Use?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Neem oil or extract is most often used in an aqueous (water) suspension as a foliar spray or soil drench. Commonly, it is diluted to about a .05% solution. A drop or two of dish soap (not detergent) helps keep the oil emulsified. The mixture is then applied as a mist to all leaf surfaces and as a soil drench to the root system. It should not be applied as a foliar spray on hot days or in bright sun as leaf burn may occur. Remember to agitate the container frequently as you apply and do not mix any more than you will use in one day. Neem breaks down rapidly in water and/ or sunlight. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]What to Expect[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Some users of insecticide need to be able to observe the instant results of their efforts in order to be convinced of the effectiveness of their choice. The application of neem derivatives does not provide this immediate gratification. There is virtually no knockdown (instant death) factor associated with its use. Insects ingesting neem usually take about 3 - 14 days to die. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Why Keep Using It?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Its greatest benefit; however, is in preventing the occurrence of future generations. It is also interesting to note that in studies it was found that when doses were given, purposefully insufficient to cause death or complete disruption of the metamorphic cycle, up to 30 surviving generations showed virtually no resistance/immunity to normal lethal doses. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I have been using neem oil as both a preventative and fixative and have had no insect problems. It is said to be effective for mites, whitefly, aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, caterpillars, beetles, mealy bugs, leaf miners, g-moth, and others. It seems to be fairly specific in attacking insects with piercing or rasping mouth parts. Since these are the pests that feed on plant tissues, they are our main target species. Unless beneficial’s like lady bugs, certain wasps, spiders etc. come in direct contact with spray; it does little to diminish their numbers.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]What about beneficial insects?[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Not all bugs are bad. Some are beneficial to plants because they eat the insects that feast on your plants.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]One of the many benefits of using neem oil insecticide is that it doesn't harm beneficial insects, such as lady bugs because they don't eat your plants. They'd rather make lunch out of aphids and other plant destroyers.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Of course, you don't want insects in your home. But if you move your plants outside for any length of time, you may expose your neem-treated plant to the good bugs. Don't worry -- they won't be harmed.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SOURCES OF RELEVANT INFORMATION[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Helson, B.V. 1992. Naturally derived insecticides: Prospects for forestry use. Forestry Chronicle 68: 349-354.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Helson, B.V.; Lyons, D.B. 1999 Chemical and biorational control of the pine false webworm. pp. 17-22 in D.B. Lyons, G.C. Jones and T.A. Scarr, eds. Proceedings of a Workshop on the Pine False Webworm.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]CFS, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. 49p.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Helson, B.V.; de Groot, P.; McFarlane, J.W.; Zylstra, B.; Scarr, T. 1998. Leader and systemic applications of neem EC formulations for control of white pine weevil (Coleoptera: Curcolionidae) on jack pine and white pine. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Ont. 129: 107-113[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Helson, B.; Lyons, B.; de Groot, P. 1999. Evaluation of neem EC formulations containing azadirachtin for forest insect pest management in Canada. pp. 79-89 in RP [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Singh, RC Saxena (Eds.), Azadirachta indica A. Juss. International. Neem Conference, Gatton, Australia, Feb. 1996. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. PVT. Ltd. New Delhi.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lyons, D.B.; Helson, B.V.; Jones, G.C.; McFarlane, J.W. 1998. Effectiveness of neem- and iflubenzuron-based insecticides for control of the pine false webworm, Acantholyda erythrocephala (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Ont. 129: 115-126[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lyons, D.B.; Helson, B.V.; Jones, G.C.; McFarlane, J.W.; Scarr, T. 1996. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Systemic activity of neem seed extracts containing azadirachtin in pine foliage for control of the pine false webworm, Acantholyda[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]erythrocephala (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Ont. 127: 45-55.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Wanner, K.W.; Helson, B.V.; Kostyk, B.C. 1997. Foliar and systemic applications of neem seed extract for control of spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) (Lepidoptera:Tortricidae), infesting black and white spruce seed orchards. Can. Ent. 129: 645-655.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
 

puffntuff

Well-Known Member
i like the smell of it. is that odd it kind of smells citrusy to me or atleast the shit im using does
 

woodsmaneh!

Well-Known Member
yup mine smells citrus/nutty and looks like cana butter, light greenish.

I always heat mine in hot water as the bottom sets up so makes it easy to work with.
 

TheMrs

Member
Ok what do you mean about the top of the soil?I haven't done anything with the soil! do I spray the Neem on top of the soil????
 

TheMrs

Member
Well I had to spray them again....But Is it possible to have a infest only on one plant because they don't seem to be reproducing as fast as everyone says and they only want the plant thats close to harvest....Could we just be keeping it under control?
 

woodsmaneh!

Well-Known Member
Well I had to spray them again....But Is it possible to have a infest only on one plant because they don't seem to be reproducing as fast as everyone says and they only want the plant thats close to harvest....Could we just be keeping it under control?
Yes it is possible to only have one plant infected, and yes you are keeping it under control, it takes 5 to 14 days for neem to kill.

NEEM is not a knock down killer it takes time to kill the bugs, that's why you use it at the start and than every 2 weeks. It will keep your plants bug free.
 

TheMrs

Member
Ok thanks so much.Will do!I'll keep you guys posted...should be writing in the journal more.Im taking some photo when the lights come on in a half hour.
 

TheMrs

Member
Thanks for all the tips and help!Your such nice people but Im will be no longer joining in on this site.I wish you guys all the best with your grow.have a good one!
 
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