What is the best way to rid of spider mites?

[420ponics]

My plants are very small and in miracle grow soil. I noticed a few extremely small white insects moving about in the soil. I don't see them on the leaves of any plants, but then again there were ony a few and it was in a pot that the seed has not sprouted out of the soil yet. What is the best way to rid of these little buggers early on in a grow. Also, I guess these are spider mites? Could they be something else? Thanks for the help and advice guys!

Ponics.

 

[bluebublelove]

neem oil is what I have used and had results with. just be sure not to use it late in flowering.

 

[420ponics]

neem oil is what I have used and had results with. just be sure not to use it late in flowering.

Hey bubble! Thanks buddy! Any other advice from anyone else? How do you apply the oil and where about may I purchase it? Thanks!

Ponics.

 

[minds_I]

Hello,

First off you need to positively ID the pest before you can treat (excet with NPS). the problem. I say this because I ruined a crop trying to rid myself of an insect that was not harmful (springtails).

Once you ID the critter-use predator insects against them.

minds_I

 

[420ponics]

Hello,

First off you need to positively ID the pest before you can treat (excet with NPS). the problem. I say this because I ruined a crop trying to rid myself of an insect that was not harmful (springtails).

Once you ID the critter-use predator insects against them.

minds_I

Well, I failed to mention that the kids are going outside really soon. I'm not quite sure that predetor insects would work.

Ponics.

 

[Closet Funk]

I'd go with Neem Oil also. It's organic and 100% safe for your plants. I've been using it on my bonsai moms and it seems to do the job. I got a small bottle of it at the hydro store for like $8. All you need is a little drop along with some dish soap and then you spray it on. I use it once a week for best results. I wouldn't use in in flower though unless you really need it. Maybe you can gently apply on the leaves but not on the bud. It's supposed to give the buds a nasty taste if you use in flower. It works for alot of pests including spider mites.

 

[Guest]

Per gallon of water a few drops of Dr.Bronner's liquid soap, two heaping TBSP baking soda, 1 TBSP Neem Oil.

 

[I.M. Boggled]

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4485
Neem Oil and Why it works and what it does

Neem compounds have a very similar shape and structure to several critical insect hormones.
This look-alike feature tricks the insects’ bodies into absorbing the neem compounds as if they were the vital hormones.
The neem infiltrators shut down the endocrine systems, and the hormonal chaos that follows sees populations plummet. ...

REPULSION, REGULATION, DISRUPTION AND DETERRENCE

- SEVEN DISTINCT MODES OF ACTION

Neem limonoids produce seven distinct modes of action, and they include the following:
1) Feeding Deterrence:
This is the most commercially significant property of neem.
The presence of Azadirachtin, Salannin and Melantriol on the leaf surface disrupts the gut of leaf-eating insects, creating the equivalent of a vomiting sensation.
The associated feeding deterrence is so profound that, after experiencing the sensation, many species will never eat again.

2) Insect Growth Regulation:
Ecdysis or moulting is the shedding of skin to facilitate the growth stages of larvae or nymphs, and it is governed by the enzyme Ectyzone.
Neem suppresses Ectyzone, and the insect becomes trapped in the larval stage, eventually causing death.
If there are insufficient neem triterpenes present, the larvae may enter the pupal stage, but dies soon after, and if in the presence of very low neem concentrations, the adult emerges from the pupal stage sterile and malformed.

3) The disruption of mating and sexual behaviour:
It is not known if independent hormonal disruption is responsible for this complete confusion in mating routines or if the insects just feel so bad that they are sexually incapacitated.
Whatever the cause, the end result is a population retarding effect and is probably quite hilarious.

4) Oviposition Deterrence:
Neem also reduces pest populations by deterring females from laying eggs - a phenomenon called oviposition deterrence.

5) Repulsion:
Neem oil contains several sulfur-like compounds that can repulse insects in much the same way as garlic sprays. Some insects are particularly susceptible to this repulse response, while others cannot detect neem by taste and do not find it repulsive.

6) Adult sterilisation:
Most susceptible males are sterilised by neem compounds, and many of the female species are similarly affected. The sterilisation of eggs has also been recorded.

7) The poisoning of larvae and adults:
As previously mentioned, neem does not have a universal knockdown capacity. However, there are some species, including mosquito larvae, fruitfly and headlice, which are killed on contact.
There are also other less important modes of action, which include the blocking of the ability to ‘swallow’ and the inhibition of the formation of chitin (the hard section covering the exosceleton).

NEEM-AFFECTED INSECTS

Some 390 insect species are affected by neem extracts, including many that are resistant to conventional pesticides.
There is such a complex interrelationship between the many components of the neem compound that, to date, there has never been a recorded case of developed neem resistance....

Per gallon of water a few drops of Dr.Bronner's liquid soap, two heaping TBSP baking soda, 1 TBSP Neem Oil.

I am curious as to what purpose/benefit does the large dose of baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate) serve in this particular recommendation?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baking_soda

Lose the baking soda and I'm on board with this recipe.
A commonly available non detergent dishsoap sold under the brand name "Joy" in the states would be another good choice as would be "Ivory" brand dishsoap.
Definitely stay away from using the "anti-bacterial" brands (detergent dishsoaps) with the popular antibacterial/ antifungicidal active ingredient "Trichlosan" if biological flora is part of ones gardening program.

IMB

 

[mo_herbz]

ive used neem hate it, dawn & cayenne pepper worked better. now i use no pest strips successfully

 

[Guest]

It will clean your leaves while spraying for bugs. I dont know, a friend at my medical marijuana meeting gave me the recipe. It has worked great for me...

 

[420ponics]

It will clean your leaves while spraying for bugs. I dont know, a friend at my medical marijuana meeting gave me the recipe. It has worked great for me...

Are you referring to the neem oil or the pepper as stated above?

Ponics.