My foliar feeding and pest control schedule. (untested) looking for advice.

[StonerPoker]

Hi guys, I am hoping to get some advice on my foliar feeding and pest control plans during flower.

This is my schedule.

I have split it into 8 days, after the 8th day I will just look back to day 1 for the 9th.

I am using:
Metrop nutrients for foliar feeding, calgreen and MR2.

Pure Neem mixed for foliar pesticide.

Pure Neem mixed for drenching pesticide.

Potassium soap spray with diatomaceous earth dusting (only for lower leafs and on top of the soil when buds are showing). Also potasium soap will be sprayed on the tent walls for hiding flyers.

Here's the plan I have so far.

Day 1: Neem Spray
Day 2: Calgreen foliar feed.
Day 3: Potassium Soap followed by diatomaceous earth dusting.
Day 4: MR2 foliar feed.
Day 5: Neem Spray.
Day 6: Neem mix in soil for drenching.
Day 7: Potassium Soap followed by diatomaceous earth dusting.
Day 8: MR2 foliar feed
Day 9: (Back to day 1)
I also mix top crop barrier insecticide when I feed/water, Its high ph puts my water to 6.5 with the metrop mix for flower and veg.

What do you think of the schedule?
I need a tight schedule to control the root aphids which I have had for a while. I need to keep on top of them, especially in later flower when I normally start to think the plants are big enough too outgrow the insects.

I use dimethoate (chemical) during veg if I get root aphid eggs on the tops of the soil, or twisted leafs from the root damage (normally use it once every 2 months). I never get flyers until flower. I hope to stop all maturing with this new flower schedule.
I also hope to remove dimethoate from my veg cycle, maybe I will be able to if this plan works well for flower.

Thanks for your time

 

[truck]

where did you get information to spray this often with these products? Root Aphids are from over watering, so let the soil dry out first before you water. I suggest watering only when they are dry then spraying that night or right before the watering with Organocide 3in1 or something similar, most potassium soaps are similar in function. You should only be spraying once ever 5-7 days, if spider mites are bad spray every 72 hours 3 times in a row. You can root-drench at a similar schedule, but wait tell the roots are dry. I prefer spraying with organicide 3in1, then rinse with water 3-5 days later, then 3-5 days later spray with kelp. Repeat this process tell the last week. I must say you have to let things dry out before spraying or watering again, no mater what it is you are using, or you will keep making the problem worse or it just won't go away. Also try adding crabshell with wormcastings at the bottom of your buckets, it will help mitigate the aphid problem over time. mix 1/4 cup diatomatious earth per 5 gallons of soil. Top dress with more crabshell and wormcasting or insect frass with worm castings at week 4. Or if you are into bottled stuff find bud factor X. its the chiten and Chitanase you are after to combat aphids and other soft body insects in the soil, while it will help give you stickier resinous buds.

 

[DanDanger]

I dunno, man. It all sounds... A little much to me. When I started out (not long ago), I wanted to do a foliar schedule. And was advised against it by someone I really look up to, and has the results to back it up. Just keep it simple. Maybe a little foliar feeding. Some essential oils to keep the pests at bay. Feed through teas, and such at the root level.
What I did was just put myself in your shoes. For me, it sounds like alot. From what I've learned, is to keep it simple. The K.I.S.S. method Mix up a super soil, give seedlings a sprouted seed tea after a few weeks. Fish emulsion. Maybe, just maybe a foliar here and there to boost nutrient absorption during veg. I've made one just using a compost tea, and then rinsing it after a day. Didn't really do it again after though.
But hey! That's you, dude. And foliar feeding has always been a curiosity of mine. I just try to keep things simple, so I've never gotten into it. Though I'm following along to see what unfolds if this is something you're planning on sticking to
Cheers!

 

[DanDanger]

Just rock a little bit of eucalyptus essential oil in a spray bottle of RO water. Spray it around the ground of the grow space, and around the outside every now and then to keep little mites, and aphids, and all the jerk bugs who destroy cannabis plants. Started using it, and have not had a problem since... *knock on wood*

 

[StonerPoker]

Hi Truck. I made the schedule myself. I've not really seen anyone recomend spraying for insects every 2 days. The main reason I was planning to do it this way was to one day spray the actual plant, and on the other day to spray the soil, pots and walls. I have seen advised the foliar feeding schedule I plan to use from the company who make the nutrients, I will be doing a lighter mix than they advise.
I had heard that the dry periods help with cutting the life cycle of root aphids like you say, so I will maybe change the plan a little. Doing both sprays on the same day to give more chance to dry out I think.
Thanks for all the advice, I'll look into the crabshel and wormcasting idea.

Thanks fot the tips Dan, I'll try the eucalyptus, it's a new idea for me. I normally use diatomaceous earth around the grow area, which also works well at keeping crawlers out.

New plan:

Day 1: Neem spray for plants, Potassium soap spray for soil, pots and walls. Dusting on floors, soil and outer leafs with diatomaceous earth.
Day 2: Calgreen foliar
Day 3 No spray.
Day 4: MR2 foliar
Day: 5: Neem spray for plants, Potassium soap spray for soil, pots and walls. Dusting on floors, soil and outer leafs with diatomaceous earth.
Day 6: No spray.
Day 7: Neem mix in soil for drenching.
Day 8: MR2 foliar.
Day 9: (back to day 1).

I plan to keep the foliar feeds light so I don't keep the soil too wet. And I will be more flexible with the neem drench to get the dry periods.

Thanks again guys

 

[DanDanger]

I didn't really enjoy the DE. I had to keep reapplying it every now and then. Although it's safe, and effective. I preferred the smell of the eucalyptus oil and water. Played around with a few other oils, and made a really nice smell. Keeps bugs away from the indoor, and outdoor grows.

If you're going to stick with the foliar sprays. You should check out Brownguy420 on YouTube. His earlier videos are useless. But his mid videos, where he's working with SOLO Farms, the series is called The Daily Grind, is well worth the watch. Uses alot of organic, no till, and foliar feeding. Explaining the why, and how. Eventually the videos fizzled out. Now he's back! Really appreciate what he's taught me so far.

 

[StonerPoker]

The "New plan" actually worked for me, and I feel 100% certain that it was root aphids from checking the white fungus looking bits in the soil with a microscope. No more visible aphids or deficiencies.
I did the soil drench before every 2nd feed/watering. The drench with neem (4ml/Litre) was done when the soil was dry when the lights had just switched on. The neem was binded to the water with a little potassium soap. I fed before lights off the same day as drench to keep food available, both in veg and flower. I also ph- the neem/potas drench to 6.5.

 

[truck]

good job man way to adjust and make it work for you.

 

[Longdongjohnson]

Stoner Poker, I believe you have over complicated the matter by far, but I'm glad your root aphids are gone. I don't think spraying that frequently is necessary, but I doubt it hurts much. Once a week should be good for preventative, 2x's a week if you are really fighting something.