vacuuming spider mites without leaf damage

greetings, anyone reading this thread. This is my first post here. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever improvised a way to vacuum spider mites and their eggs from leaves, without damaging the leaves. I did this today, with a little piece of aluminum window screen and a micro cleaning kit for a a small shop vac. All I did was make the screen into a bulb shape, (like the half dome screen on the top of a microphone) and clamp it over one of the little tubes in the micro cleaning kit. The end of the tube doesn't touch the inside of the bulb, it is about 1/8" from the top of it, which is flattened somewhat. (It is closer to the top than the sides.) The little tube is maybe 3/8" in diameter, it connects the the 1/1/4" vacuum hose with a little adapter in the kit. You can buy this stuff anywhere, and it works. The leaves get sucked against the screen, but not hard enough to cause damage, and it pulls the mites and eggs right off.

Obviously this wouldn't be time effective for very large gardens, going leaf by leaf, but for small crops looking to stay all natural, it is.

I've tried azamax, neem oil, isopropyl alcohol, mighty wash, etc, etc. They always come back. And with a perpetual harvest, you cannot spray much anyway. You can in the first few weeks of each stage, but later, you don't want to be smoking residue on the buds, and you don't want the water in your spray to cause mold. The vacuum technique allows me to get the little bastards all the way up to harvest, and as soon as I see leaf damage anywhere. This also works with clones, and small veg plants that you don't want to spray. I've never sprayed anything that didn't have an adverse effect.


Anyone else ever do this?

Ladybugs

That is a great idea though. Ive vacuumed them before and it sucks all the leaves off sometimes. Did you think of that by yourself or someone pass it down to you?

I have had the little shits twice. Two separate grows. I vacuum them up then give them a strong dose of dyna-mite. Works a treat. I find that is you are growing a indica dominant plant with larger, stronger leaves, the vacuum does nearly no damage. Skinny leaves such as those on a sativa dominant plant are in for one hell if a ride. I fear mites no longer.

Here's a pic of the little tool. Thought of the idea, then went to the hardware store and improvised, but it works fairly well.

i'm speachless

it occurred to me after I made this that it would probably also work, (or a similar variation of it would) for manicuring dry buds. Might need a little more coarse of a screen, but I will absolutely try that. I hate using scissors, it's such slow, tedious work.

I've used azamax but I find they become immune to it. The following product however left me speechless. One application at night and one application the next morning and I haven't see a sign of them in two weeks.


On another note does anyone know what's causing this on my babies? Is it flies??