how low of night temps to kill bugs

[dontstepongrass]

here's the deal:

i have a SLIGHT bug issue that i've been battling for a few weeks (keepin em in check but never completely gone)

AND

the colder weather outside is giving me some cooler night temps past few nights (50's)

and BEFORE i go and setup a space heater to keep things in check, is there a possibility that i can prolong the cold dark periods enough to kill some bugs yet not cause the plants too much harm?


thanks!

 

[stinkyattic]

Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease!
I don't recommend this AT ALL and there are several reasons:
-Cold temps plus wet soil will exacerbate any soil chem problems. The temps don't hafve to be all that cold; below 65 will do it, and the bugs won't mind.
-Insect eggs can survive freezing or near-freezing temps, depending on genus.
-Plant growth slows to a crawl and you will see odd overnute symptoms because all chemical reactions inthe plant are temperature dependent. Your nute regime is set for temps from 68-78; if you lower temps, you have to re-think feeding and watering. You are already in dangerous waters getting down to 50s.

Cool temps can slow pests so that you can better fight them, but don't go too chilly.

What's wrong with something like a light SMC or neem treatment? Actually, what kind of bugs are we talking here? There are tricks to dealing with different genera; please list your pest(s).

 

[dontstepongrass]

i have not gotten around to lookin under a microscope with one...

originally thought spider mites, but i can see them with my naked eye from 6 inches away so i've heard that it couldn't be mites (correct me if i'm wrong.)

by the sounds of it i need to adjust my situation asap to get those night temps back up to spec...

 

[MynameStitch]

Stinky is correct, I would not reccomend doing it, in order to kill some pests it would have to be freezing temps around frost or lower to kill them. there is many things you can use to rid pests of and trust me it would be a lot easier than letting the plants get cold like that....... colder temps slows the growth down and if you using chemical nutes, they accelerate in colder temps and release quicker.

Do you know which pest you have? WHat is it doing to the plant?

 

[dontstepongrass]

light colored specs appearing on leaves, im guessing from them sucking the juices out. also, they like to congregate under the leaves, but also appear on tops of leaves.

little black buggers. i can barely see them with naked eye but i can see them move around and stuff. i just got new batteries for my pocket scope and next time i spot 1 i will have a looksie. honestly tho, not looking forward to it cuz bugs freak me out lol

 

[MynameStitch]

that is mites dude, mites can look black to the naked eye if I remember correctly!

Get some neem oil, safer soap either one and get some sticky traps/ no pest strips to rid of them..... sooner the better cause they multiple like rabbits!

 

[LiLWaynE]

yeah fuck spider mites man...

those things make messes quick..

no pest strips WORK...

im currently having a battle with dark winged gnats... those mother fuckers

 

[dontstepongrass]

i was planning on getting some of that spinosad spray to get er done since i know where i can get it...

been doin the neem... doesn't get rid of them completely just makes em disappear for a few days. probably do the spinosad plus NPS (if i can find them)

 

[MynameStitch]

When you use products to rid your plants of pests, especially spider mites you must retreat your plants to what the directions says; if you do not you could end up with them coming back and possibly resistant; over years they have become very resistant to modern treatments which is why when you have them you MUST use at least 2 ways to rid of them if you have more than a mild outbreak of them.

 

[dontstepongrass]

got the spinosad and the NPS! any recommendations as to whether i should use them at same time or if i should alternate methods?