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Diatomaceous earth: is it safe
- Thread starter Treevly
- Start date
redbird1824
New member
I've used it for many years and it has always been very helpful both indoors and out. Be sure to get the food grade type.
Treevly
Active member
Right, and thank you, I have the food grade type. Do you apply it to leaves? Instructions don't say that, but to save a struggling AK I am keen to try it on.
Yes it's safe providing you get the food grade stuff as mentioned above
I put a small amount in my Dogs feed once a week She's healthy as
I just apply it to the surface of the soil now bcoz when I dissolved and sprayed it on the leaves it looked too much like Powdery mildew and I got sick of peoples telling me I had mold on my plants when I obviously didn't .
As well as Controlling insects etc it contains Silica which we all know is good for Plant health
I put a small amount in my Dogs feed once a week She's healthy as
I just apply it to the surface of the soil now bcoz when I dissolved and sprayed it on the leaves it looked too much like Powdery mildew and I got sick of peoples telling me I had mold on my plants when I obviously didn't .
As well as Controlling insects etc it contains Silica which we all know is good for Plant health
Treevly
Active member
You growing indoors or outdoors?
Outdoors.
'Boogieman'
Well-known member
Get a big powder duster, it's good stuff.
Treevly
Active member
Thank you, but I don't know what you mean. Is a 'big powder duster' a device or a product to apply? Thanks again.
Treevly
Active member
I went out last night did the Diatomaceous thing on the leaves. I also cut sections of 80-grit garnet sandpaper and tied them in tube shapes around the stalks of the AK plants. Any slugs or snails had better figure eout how to jump 6 inches vertically.https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=8957144#post8957144
'Boogieman'
Well-known member
It's a hand pump that blows the DE on everything and gets the job done fast.
troutman
Seed Whore
Ok,
Outdoors, I use other pesticides early on but not directly on the plants. What I do is spray a perimeter around
my grow patch as a deterrent. I figure it's best to scare the bugs away before they find the goodies. I'm not
too fond of spraying my plants when they are budding though. Releasing natural predators is an option too.
Personally I would not want plants with DE on them nor with high levels of silicon.
---> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4542087/
Toxic Elements in Tobacco and in Cigarette Smoke: Inflammation and Sensitization
---> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4542087/
Toxic Elements in Tobacco and in Cigarette Smoke: Inflammation and Sensitization
PDX Dopesmoker
Active member
DE is wonderful stuff, extremely effective on all insects and otherwise completely harmless. Plus its super cheap and whatever doesn't land on the plant is an excellent soil additive.
40degsouth
Well-known member
Hi everyone, l hope you’re all well,
I’ve seen caterpillars shed their skin hours after spraying DE mixed with water on a sacrificial brassica crop, next to my plants. It didn’t kill them but it must of been incredibly irritating. I’m pretty sure l was spraying bi-weekly with food grade DE.
It was a long time ago when l did the experiment and to be honest, l can’t remember the exact outcome but it wasn’t as effective as l would of hoped on caterpillars, or aphids and l discontinued the practice.
It was extremely abrasive on the pump mechanism of my, expensive, backpack sprayer to the point where it seized up and l had to get it fixed.
Cheers,
40
I’ve seen caterpillars shed their skin hours after spraying DE mixed with water on a sacrificial brassica crop, next to my plants. It didn’t kill them but it must of been incredibly irritating. I’m pretty sure l was spraying bi-weekly with food grade DE.
It was a long time ago when l did the experiment and to be honest, l can’t remember the exact outcome but it wasn’t as effective as l would of hoped on caterpillars, or aphids and l discontinued the practice.
It was extremely abrasive on the pump mechanism of my, expensive, backpack sprayer to the point where it seized up and l had to get it fixed.
Cheers,
40
'Boogieman'
Well-known member
This is what I used, you put the DE in the container then pump it and it blows the DE everywhere. I was able to cover huge outdoor plants in 20-30 seconds.
Attachments
40degsouth
Well-known member
Hey Boogieman,
I remember seeing a backpack fogger used to spray sulphur for powdery mildew by a grower years ago but that seems to be more like a spray paint type design.
How big is the compressor that it works off and how much psi does it require??
Cheers,
40.
I remember seeing a backpack fogger used to spray sulphur for powdery mildew by a grower years ago but that seems to be more like a spray paint type design.
How big is the compressor that it works off and how much psi does it require??
Cheers,
40.
'Boogieman'
Well-known member
It's a hand pump, you just pump it with your hands. I grow guerilla in an illegal state so have to be quite about what I'm doing. I mainly use it for leafhoppers.
Stinkhorn123
Active member
How is the DE working on the Leaf hoppers?Where I am it’s been a bad year for leaf hoppers and Lygus. I suggested DE to a few friends that have had problems with them. I like that duster It’s much better than the repurposed plastic squeeze type ketchup jar I usually use.
