Hi all. I've been tending my small grow for the first time in a while and Ive noticed this leaf 'damage. I have been fairly luck with pests so far and it is possible that is just heat damage or underwatering maybe? They were drooping when I visited They have perked up today but there is this concern. I cant actually see any insects crawling about the place, maybe I just dont know what to look for...

I'm sorry that I cant offer a good macro shot ( I cant even seem to get a good pic at the mo ) but I will describe what I see under 10, 40 and 60x magnification.

On the top surface of the leaves, the edges are untouched but in the green part there is irregular white marks. I thought it was sap sucking tbh...as under the microscope (underside of leaf) I saw some sooty residue. Also a paler green bumpy spot.
The white marks just look blurry tbh..

Can anyone help?

edit...

All i can say without pics mate is that if you had bugs you will see them without a mag

Thrips,mites,and most pests that bother us are fairly easily spotted

Owd

Ok. I'm a bit confused about scale insects. Do they appear to live under the leaves?

Hope its just a bit of heat damage/general neglect.

I do have pests....

Little black things crawling on the underside of the leaves...... Maybe some of em dark and some of em lighter color.

Thats best pic I can do, no good with cams, sorry

its the lighter color ones in the pic, they live in close to the leaf veins and seem brown or orange translucent. They dont necessarilly move much.

The black ones move though.

Are these red spider mites? Its the fecking potted chilli plants man attracting em, crud. I chucked the last chilli plant out this morning for that reason.

Sounds very much like spider mite I'm afraid.

You can control them using a spray mixture of vegetable oil and dishsoap if funds are tight.

If you can spare a bit of cash get some SBPI Plant Invigorator or some Neem oil. Spidermite control is a decent product too.

Have a look in the pests forum, there is loads more detailled advice on dealing with all manner of things.

Good luck

I knew it..

The thing is I have these 2 very small bonsai skunk and maz and I put em on the windowsill near my chilli plant during bright days.
I found some web on the chilli early this am, so threw it out on the balcony.

Anyway the bonsais accidentaly started to flower and are vegging now. I was just trimming all the chaff off the bonsais a while ago and spotted these fecking yaks.. The last thing I want is a extra virulent case of spider mites.

Need some sbpi fast.
I got some neem at a friends place so will use that. Is there any point of using pyrethrium or will it just muck up my nice plants?

I don't really know much about pyrethrium tbh.
My weapon of choice for dealing with mites is neem oil.
You must spray the plant to run off every 3 days to catch the new hatchers - 3-4 sparying is usually enough and make sure you get right under every leaf.

Again, good luck

Ok thanks.
Will the neem eradicate em or just control em?

I thought they were just on the motherplants byt now I see little suck marks on my plants too. Arrrgh

bumpy.

Are spidermites the sort of thing that require the growroom to be trashed and start again?
Im pissed. My grow is a kinda personal thing and I try to be as organic as possible ie without pesticides and chemical ferts where possible.

So will the neem trash em if I am vigilant and spray em every three days?

Also, is Sb plant invig. only available here or can I get it from somewhere like b&q or garden centre?

thanks

Plants got a good pruning back today. And then sprayed with Neem repel until run-off.

Thanks mate.
They have had a few sprays of neem yesterday and today.

One question, do I need to cover the compost when spraying neem? If it runs into the pot, am I damaging my compost/microherd?

Any spidermite slaughterers in the house?

Dont want to switch to 12-12 if I have crawlies in there.

EDIT: What do peeps think of the hydrogarden products NEEM repel and PEST OFF? Are they any good?

I used neem yesterday, would it be overkill to use pest off today or do they need a days rest?

They actually look good after the Neem, nice and shiny, I wonder if it has plant stimulating qualities as well?

Hi LSL,

I'd normally use SBPI on most pests myself as it actually kills most insects on contact by smothering them. SBPI is very effective on spider mites and feeds the leaves at the same time. Sorry but I can't offer any advice on neem as I've never used it.

Good luck,
Felix.

Thanks Felix.

Can I get SBPI in ordinary garden shops or only online?

hiya mate

i v previously used a mixture of pure neem oil and Pest Off to get rid of pests . Pest Off also acts as a good wetting agent for the neem oil.

only use Pest Off at half strength for indoor plants or it will fry the leaves . Neem oil if applied too strong indoors will also fry the leaves . the bottles instructions are for outdoor plants exposed to wind and rain . i was using 1-2ml pure neem oil and 10ml Pest Off per litre water with no sign off burning .
2 sprays per week over 2 or 3 weeks done the trick for me.

all the best getin rid

Thanks Johnyblaze, I did alternate sprays of neem and the pest off. I will continue for a week.

I actually like the neem product, Im sure the plant got some nitrogen and minerals. They looking fine cept for the beasties.

nice one mate . i like to add them both to the same solution , saves having to double spray . the neem i v got is very thick at room temp so i add the 1-2ml to 500 ml warm water and give it a good shake to emulsify the water and oil . the add another 500 ml room temp water with the 10ml Pest Off added. another shake to mix them well together and it s time to exterminate the little fookers !! as i mentioned the Pest Off (insecticidle soap) works as a nice wetting agent for the neem .

keep us posted LSF .

Never seen SBPI in garden centres or diy places.

I am another happy user of SBPI, does what peeps says it does!

Ok Johnnyblaze and Herbman, thanks. I will get some spbi.

So, after replies, I reckon the best solution is Spbi used with a pressure sprayer with wand to totally protect em. That is what I am moving towards.
Im glad I found neem oil anyway. Plants are looking healthy but I havent got right in there to check em out, will do tomorrow.

Hi LSL,

Sorry for the late reply, it's so easy to miss a thread sometimes SBPI isn't organic but kills insects by smothering them and drowning them so make sure you drench absolutely everywhere on your plants that the little beasts could be hiding. It does a really good job as it feeds the leaves with Nitrogen and Iron at the same time and everyone should keep a bottle to hand. Its there then when you need it right at the start of an outbreak where you can knock them out before the get a beachhead established.

Good luck,
Felix.