***Pest Problem?***

Hey everybody,

This is my first grow and I think i may have found a pest on one of my plants. Tell me what this sound like to you guys...
When i first looked at the plants stem about and inch or two above the rockwool I saw what i thought was a peice of a seed shell stuck on the stem.
So I went to remove it with my fingers and it kinda popped or jump out of my hand and i realized it was some kind of bug. I also noticed what could be web on that same stem. From what ive read this sounds like a spider mite but ive never seen one so im not 100 % sure. This really pisses me off these little f-ing bastards!

Im wondering what u guys think and reccomend doing to take this little bastards out.
Im going to check for any spots on the leaves now.

thanks in advance,
Reality

i say neem oil...then some praying mantis' or if the bugs are really really small use lady bugs....

sounds like spidermites huh...thanks alot brother i really appreciate it!!!

-Reality

got some neem oil...Im gonna go give it a try

am i correct that i should only spray it on the undersides of the leaves??

thanks again
Reality

reality said:

got some neem oil...Im gonna go give it a try

am i correct that i should only spray it on the undersides of the leaves??

thanks again
Reality

Click to expand...

You want to soak EVERYTHING.- tops,bottoms,Main stem, branches..soak the plant completely. If Neem dosen't work, try Safer brand organic insecticide for vegetables- that's what did the trick for me.Spray em right before it gets dark, or after your lights go off and cool down some.Good luck.

no spray both sides..just dont overspray so that its driping onto the soil..thats to much..if the neem oil dont work get some mantis's or lady bugs..brother

thanks man i really appreciate ur help.
You say i should spray "both sides"- u mean both side of the leaves right(not the stem)?Right now im on 24/0, should i turn the lights off for an hour or so (cool down) and then spray?

btw im growing hydroponically but i should probably be sure not to get the neem oil in the rockwool or hydroton, i assume.

thanks again,
Reality

you can hit the stems to..dont shut off the light unless you want to...your right dont get it into the soil...

+rep thanks

sorry to bother u...
one more quick question before i kill my plants,
is it ok to use the neem oil on young plants?
i have 6 (2-around 3wks 5-6inches tall, and the other are 2wks and 1wk)

thanks again
Reality

reality said:

sorry to bother u...
one more quick question before i kill my plants,
is it ok to use the neem oil on young plants?
i have 6 (2-around 3wks 5-6inches tall, and the other are 2wks and 1wk)

thanks again
Reality

Click to expand...

SHould be fine. ANd yes I meant spray both sides of the leaves.

Alright im checking in with an update...

I sprayed my plants again today with neem oil and it is nearly impossible to give the plants a good spray down without getting some neem oil drops in the rockwool/hydroton(any tips). Ive been paying more attention to the leaves now because i am pretty sure these are spider mites (Im gonna try to get a pic up to make sure, but they have 8 legs and look like a relative of spider/tick).

i was able to kill two of this little biatches with my own bare hands haha! Ive only been able to find two and killed both. I hope those were the only two (fingers crossed).

Anyways this is gettin too long...so ill try to get some pics of the plants and mites up within the next two days because I'd like some expert opinions about some leaf discoloration (likely from the spider mites) i've got on 2-3 plants.

ok-if u made it all the way through this post, thanks for reading!
-Reality

ya its hard not to drip..after using it forawhile you'll get the hang of it...explain the coloration....

well...

on the worst plant there is some disformation on one leaf, i want to say shriveling or wilting on one side near the end-half of the leaf, and where is it "wilting" it looks dark (maybe blackish, its hard to put in words).<<(This plants is the one i am most concerned about, its probably 2.5wks old). On the same plant the leaf next to it has been drooping since yesterday and i think there are small flecks of yellow near the tips of some leaves.

My two biggest plants (3.5wks) have small yellow flecks and i think the flecks are toward the middle of the leaves not at the tips.

The thing is...i have been very careful to introduce nutrients slowly and only about 1/2 the reccomended amount because of all i have read and seen about nutes burning young plants. And i noticed, before i put some of the plants under my hps, that at the very tips of the fans leaves (serrated leaves) there is some yellow <<<is this normal?

hopefully tomorrow i will put my next inline fan and vent. system in and this will help with the pest. (i havent been able to seal my grow box because of heat problems) I have seen what i believe are spider mites and white flies.


ok thanks for reading again
-Reality

ps-are a few drops of neem oil in the rockwool/hydroton something to worry about? and is it toxic to humans (i guess i can look this up myself)

bumping this for some replies please

thanks in advance
-Reality

I installed an 6 inch inline fan today and cut an intake hole at the bottom of my grow box. I think a lot of my plant problems are due to heat, with no ventilation besides leaving half of the door to the box open, the temp at plant level was at 88 (at night or with outside temps 65-70 F).

hopefully this will cool things down.
Is sraying the plants a good idea?

thanks again

Reality