Battling the BORG!!

[KABBAGE]

Hey all... I am currently in my 6th week of flower and the borg is really starting to make their presence known. I am looking for new ideas to get rid of them, or atleast control them. I am NOT open to the idea of using "No Pest Strips" as I grow for a couple friends who have MS and from what I hear the No Pest Strips emit some sort of gas that can be passed from bud to person.
I have been using soapy spray, then wiping the leaves off, top and bottom. Of course this just slows them down a bit. They haven't got to the point where they have my buds covered in webs, but I can imagine I am very close to being there.
Does anyone else have any other ideas for mite control during flower? My index finger and thumbs are drenched with the blood of a million mites, but they keep comming!
When Im done ths room, I am prolly gonna shut down for the summer, and this is when I will let the no pest strips loose.

 

[MTF-Sandman]

Drop the temps and raise the humidity is about your only solution at this point...that'll slow them down, but it won't kill them. You could also seal the room and hit it with 10,000ppm of Co2 for a couple hours - never tried it personally, but have heard it works.

The soap is a waste of time...tried it, neem and all the other "safe" cures - at best they just slowed them down. Then I got some Avid and have never had a mite problem last more than a day from the time I noticed it...but it ain't no good to use that late in flowering either. You can try one of the concotions that's been posted here, but IMO you'd be better off just dealing with them until you chop then sterilize the room and get a real miticide for future use.

 

[Farmer John]

Predators are a good way but I think many of them go to sleep on 12/12 or something like that but if you make a small hotel with a led light on for 24/7 then they could stay there and wait for the other mites to coe so they could feast on their FLESH.

 

[Guest]

no pest nuclear bomb no need to be in room long to wipe out the borg...i dont use them more than 12 hrs at a time over a week every other day

 

[KABBAGE]

thanks guys.....
No Pest Strips = no good on flowering plants I thought? something about a neuro toxins or something like that.

 

[Guest]

fans off lights out no pest in...lights on fans on no pest strip out....repeat every other day for a week...i prevent and deal with pest while in veg...flower room if ever one mite is spotted no-pest 12 hrs end of mites..yes no pest strips are bad for you...shall i name some toxins in the air you breath from the pollutants mankind creates...or other pesticides you can buy at any grocery store
excuse me while i babble
Every time you walk outside you are probably exposing yourself to environmental pollutants. Running through a field sprayed with pesticides or near industrial chemicals can pose serious health risks to you and your family. Even the necessary acts of breathing, drinking, and eating can fill your body with toxins.
More than 100 different toxic chemicals have been found stored in the human body. This accumulation of toxins is known as a toxic load. A toxic load can affect the immune, neurological, and endocrine systems. Common symptoms of overexposure to toxins include headaches, fatigue, nervousness, joint pain, and mood changes. More serious symptoms can include life-threatening diseases such as cancer. It’s important for you to be aware of the different types of pollutants and how you can protect yourself and your family from them.

As society progresses, the wastes produced by civilization come back to haunt us, making the environment more and more polluted. It is ironic that the progress that was meant to better our living conditions can create poisonous surroundings that compromise our health and quality of life. Obvious examples are air and water pollution. Other examples, although less apparent, are:

Carcinogens in plastics and building materials
Radiation in the air and food chain
Industrial contamination of water tables
Dangerous metals in our water, food and air
Hazardous chemicals in household cleaning supplies
We constantly expose ourselves to seen and unseen toxins that can depress our immune system and may eventually cost us our health
Chemical Toxins

Harmful chemicals have become a permanent part of our everyday life. Relatively new medical terms such as “sick building syndrome” and “multiple chemical sensitivity” (MCS) are associated with overexposure to environmental contaminants. Many of these toxins are from chemicals found in the home and in building materials. Building materials release chemicals from adhesives, wood treatments, floor varnishes, paints, synthetic carpeting, pressboard, furniture, and cleaning supplies. Other common sources of chemicals are garden fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, dry cleaning solutions, gasoline, car exhaust, cigarette smoke, flea collars, fly strips and more. These can result in dermatological, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and cardiological problems.

Another source of chemical toxins is plastic. Some plastics give off chemical estrogenic compounds and are often found in well water, lakes, oceans, and food. Environmental estrogens are chemical compounds that mimic or block natural estrogen action and affect the endocrine system that regulates sexual and reproductive development in both men and women. There is also a connection between environmental estrogens and cancer.

Metal Toxins

Throughout history, man has been poisoning himself with metals. It is thought that the fall of the Roman Empire was expedited with lead poisoning from crude plumbing and goblets that contained a lead alloy. Metals that can be toxic to the body include mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, manganese, nickel and aluminum. Today we are in contact with and ingest an abundance of metals that may compromise our well-being. Metal accumulation has been found in significant medical conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, autism, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, liver and kidney toxicity and more.

Mercury is one of the most toxic substances known to humanity, and is also one of the metals in amalgam dental fillings. There is controversy over whether the vapors emitted from mercury fillings contribute to detrimental health conditions, such as a depressed immune system, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, headaches, allergies, kidney dysfunction, liver toxicity, learning problems, and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's diseases. There are numerous instances of people recovering from the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease after their amalgam fillings have been removed.

The average adult has about 10 amalgam fillings with a total weight of ten grams, of which five grams are mercury. Over the ten-year life of the fillings, it is estimated that the body will absorb one half of a gram of mercury, which is an extremely poisonous amount. Half a gram of mercury in a ten-acre lake will make the fish inconsumable. Chronic exposure to mercury can result in a psychotic state of hyper-excitability. Hat makers of the 19th century were often exposed to mercury while they made felt hats, hence the term “mad as a hatter.” Mercury has also been used as a preservative in vaccinations and may be in the environment from the breakdown of rubber tires.

Aluminum is a very common element in our environment. It is found in foods such as baking powder, cake mixes, frozen dough, pancake mixes, self-rising flour, grains, and processed cheese, as well as in containers such as aluminum cans. In cosmetic and body care products, aluminum may be found in such products as deodorants, vaginal douches, baby wipes, skin creams, suntan lotions, toothpaste, and some hemorrhoid and diarrhea products. Aluminum may also be found in medical applications such as vaccinations, buffered aspirin, allergy testing, intravenous solutions, ulcer treatment, bone or joint replacement and burn treatment.

The average adult intake is seven to nine milligrams of aluminum per day, with the main source being food with aluminum additives. Aluminum accumulation in the body may be a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, bladder cancer, kidney failure, and the destruction of liver cells. Autopsies of people who had suffered from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases have found high concentrations of metals, including aluminum, in the brain.

Lead

Since the 1960's, lead has been known to be harmful to our health and has been slowly removed from paint, gasoline and other substances we come in contact with. Unfortunately, lead is still in our environment and poses a threat to our health.

Ingesting large amounts of lead can severely damage the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and could be fatal. There is also a high risk of neurological damage. Symptoms that appear with a build-up of lead in the system include clumsiness, vertigo, irritability and insomnia. Children who have lead toxicity may have difficulty learning, may become hyper-excitable, confused and delirious, and sometimes become progressively lethargic, which can lead to a comatose state.

Prolonged exposures to heavy metals, especially lead and mercury, are believed to be associated with autism. Hair analysis has shown accumulation of heavy metals in children with behavior and learning difficulties.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is not new and concerns over the quality of air have been an important issue since the late 1800’s. The most common pollutants in the air are suspended particulate matter, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and lead. Fossil fuels and industrial plants are the prime culprits of air pollution. Exposure may be associated with asthma, chronic bronchitis, and allergies.

Ozone pollution has also been associated with respiratory issues. Ozone pollution will become more prevalent on ground level after a shift in weather. This increases toxin levels in the air we breath. In the case of ozone gas, which is a very strong oxidant, people may experience upper respiratory irritation, cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, nausea, malaise, and headache. Often people feel as though they are getting a cold or the flu, yet it doesn’t materialize.

Carbon monoxide (CO) decreases the oxygen capacity of blood. There is a possibility of this pollutant accelerating atherosclerosis, although it is still controversial. Headache, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms are often the first signs of carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide are thought to increase the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Herbal Help

Using traditional herbs to counteract the toxic world we live in is a way of getting back to a pure life and aids us in clearing the buildup of contaminants from our bodies. Here are some herbal combinations designed by Master Herbalist Hanna Kroeger to address the environmental challenges of modern day living.

a combination of black tea, chaparral, condurango bark, red clover, paprika and spikenard. Folklore use and modern research employ herbs that cleanse and protect against the build up of chemicals in the body. Research on paprika, of the capsicum family, has found that it may protect against outside contaminants. Black tea has also shown excellent antioxidant properties, which help combat free radicals or unstable molecules.

a mixture of bladderwrack, borage, flax seed, watermelon seed, cleavers and taurine. It works on environmental toxins that settle in the body, especially those that amass around the gall bladder, kidneys and reproductive organs. This is a general cleansing combination of herbs used in folk medicine to support healthy elimination through the kidneys, bowels, liver and gall bladder. Cleavers has been used to purify the blood, lymph, skin and prostate, while borage and flax are associated with zinc and copper metabolism. Bladderwrack is traditionally used to regulate glandular relationships by promoting thyroid balance, detoxify the system and provide mineral support. Taurine promotes healthy brain and nervous function, which may counteract the damage to these areas caused by toxins.

an ensemble of pumpkin seeds, okra, rhubarb root, capsicum, peppermint and dulse. It is designed to clear metals from the system and decrease our toxic load by increasing the body’s eliminating abilities. Capsicum, rhubarb and okra support healthy intestinal function while dulse and pumpkin seeds assist the drawing qualities of the urinary system. Peppermint may improve bile flow, which is one of the liver’s detoxification mechanisms.

a blend of willow leaves, thyme, milk sugar and cinnamon that may aid the body’s ability to clear the toxins from air pollution. Pollution-laden mucus accumulations settle in the joints and leave us feeling tired and rundown. Willow has been used by Native Americans for drying mucus accumulations and may be beneficial for clearing toxins. Thyme has been used in folk medicine for centuries to aid digestion, promote fluid balance, and soothe irritated lungs, throat and nerves. Herbalists have used cinnamon for harmonizing digestion, which can help with the elimination of toxins.

Echinacea has a history of keeping the immune system in tip-top shape. Although echinacea has gained much of its popularity for colds and flu, its support for the immune system may be beneficial for protection against secondary issues arising from excessive toxins. Echinacea has also been used for supporting the respiratory tract, which is the site of first exposure to air pollution, and thus often the most affected by it.

The body’s preference is to eliminate toxins as soon as possible, provided that the right components are available for the liver to do its job. Milk thistle has been the subject of a large amount of scientific research over the last 30 years, showing that it improves toxin clearance by promoting healthy bile function. In addition, its antioxidant activity protects against cell damage from those toxins.

 

[ThereIsHope]

CO2, Pyrethrine bombs, No Pest Strips, Neem Oil

If you use all of these in concert and do not kill everything with a heart beat - get an exorcist and leave.

What you have is not of this world so you are better off saying - later.

I have never used nicotine sprays or drenches but I have read enough to believe it is another ultimate weapon to wage jihad on those insect bastards.

 

[Guest]

bastards.... AZATROL..... 'seems' to work, but this time of year is heinous for mites..... Cool temps seem to do it best, really.

 

[KABBAGE]

thanks guys... temps are as low as they can get for now. Im just going to keep disturbing them as good as I can, pull out the feather duster and just try to now let them get too outta hand.

 

[Guest]

Gotta be vigilant, never lazy, in the foliar spraying.... Bio Soy I weekly is OK, if temps are low, not enough in high growing season - I use that AZAtrol gunk, in summer, especially, (makes 'em not wanna eat, and so, not wanna do "the nasty," cause a hungry Mite is an Angry Mite) alternated with Bio Soy I, then light dose of Folitech in veg, just to get 'em wet, and help the plant.... All get mixed with 'Penetrator' from Dutch Masters (out of Australia, go figure) at barely 1/6 what Dutch masters calls for.

' Neem seed meal ' on the top of the soil a day after a good watering, does not hurt.

If it's after the 3rd week of flowering, then ladybugs, humidity, cool temps, and cleanliness is all there is. It is a struggle to keep up, as one gets burned out. Challenging to even get the enviornment to where it can effect a change. It is certainly not the fun part of the 'hobby.'

Three showers a day...? Maybe, as one cannot just walk from outdoors into the room, greenie to wherever, whatever... Yard to anywhere... It seems logical to eliminate the causes that we can.

I am opting to try an air conditioner, and humidifier.... Ordering today a cheapie A/c with a timer... And use fewer lights for the summer, see how that works.

A GOOD sprayer, like a backpack sprayer, is the most solid way of guaranteeing that all parts of the plant get the doses.... Hand spraying si too tiresome, it is unlikely anyone's hands can deal with all the cramping enough to do an effective enough job to eradicate. Regardless of what one uses.

Whatta pain in the culo, but there's always the summer, in the outdoors, where the nightly humidity is too much for them to thrive. So, one can move a plant or two out into the greenie, if it is clean, perhaps has a floor or tarp covering the native soils.... Not the greatest idea to bring anything inside after sitting on bare soil.

To deal with pests such as Mites or Powdery Mildew, it is best to assume that you already have them, in the enviornment that supports them (greenies get powdery - indoors get mites - and mildew, too..) and treat them, continually.

Using the powdery mildew as an indicator of what the plant is experiencing, works too. If it has PM showing, then I know that the humidity is such that mites are not the happiest creatures. So, I keep an eye on the mildew. This is something I can do in summer. The mites do not really pose such a risk in winter, and Mildew never shows up indoors, if I use the dehumidifier. It is a delicate balance, because right now, the bugs are everywhere, much easier, and higher quality buds in the winter, I 'muddle through' LOL...

Yup.

Although the farkers will live, we can fuck with their processes...

 

[-=WZ=-]

You only need to go as far as NPS I have seen tented gardens fully recovered and every borg dead within 12 hours. NPS are bad for you, but such as life the borg is worse....It is chemical warfare on those bitches and yes it is a nuerotoxin, but they kill the borg DEAD...

 

[Guest]

tried it. Did not work.

 

[Rosy Cheeks]

Jeez, I see a new Mite thread almost every day now, is this an epidemic?

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=56652

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=54917

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=18473&highlight=mite+eradicator

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=27917&highlight=mite+eradicator

 

[-=WZ=-]

tried it. Did not work.

You going need more then one and if it's a big room probably about 10....My friend put 14 in a room that was 12 x 20 and they were all dead and never reappeared...

 

[Guest]

so was the grower, if he/she went in there... 10 NPS's...? Hope no one had plans to ever have children, with that many NPS's in their facility..! Although, odds are that any progeny produced would not be pests....lol

I tried two NPS's in a 10 X 20... Would a couple more kill mites...? I AM NOT GONNA PUT I0 in there..! I'd feel healthier smoking a few bugs... haha, talk about overkill....

I really only have a few mites, as I use PB GoRDON'S AZATROL weekly, but one is too many, and this is the time when they multiply in the millions. Many people curtail indoor operations during the summer, but I am trying to finish a run, and keep going as long as I can.

Yes, I believe we are in for epidemic status of a few pests this summer in NORCAL. Powdery mildew is all over the backyard.... Look at the weeds, they have it... THey have it all....

The war begins.... The mites are a superior life form, albeit not as sentient as we are, but it only increases their focus... lol

 

[badboyg]

nice ,,, looks like I may need to do that compileing thing I wanted to do,,,// ok any one know the habits and traits of this "borg"// looks like we need a handbook and learn how to really control, kill, and prevernt this shit....

sad to say... we almost need our own area??? you know mot just a thread but a forum.. no joke this is bad juju//

 

[Guest]

With a spray of Azatrol weekly (1,0 oz/gal + penetrator 1/16 strength), a Pyrethryn time-release sprayer 2 times a week during the 6 hour dark period...

Better hygene, in the room.

And personally, with showers after going in the yard, or from room to room. It is working, even at this crazy-with-mites time. Occasionally, I see a bit of damage on the Cheese clones, but not often, and out they go.

Flowers get sprayed weekly with Azatrol/Penetrator, until 4th week ( with extra care on the last 4th week spray, to keep the spray primarily on the leaves, and the bottoms..... ) -- Then ladybugs... Until they are ready..

Clones get dipped in Bio Soy I (full strength) & Dutch Masters "Penetrator" - (1/8 strength) when taken, and when potted in soil... Then in the regular spraying Azatrol regimen.... So far so good, even in the mother room... Paring down to smaller moms... And less of 'em. Fresh soil... Praying to all deities.....

 

[BUDDY BOY]

Yeah help him out.... I'm gonna stand at attention and salute you because you are in for a battle. The Borg is tough enemy to beat. Go get em though Im cheering for you!!!