What to do about thrips?!

[MrSmokeyMacPot]

So about a month ago I found thrips infesting my outdoor garden. This is my first grow in this locale and I have never dealt with thrips until then. We thinned out the middles of the plants and pruned them all around, followed by 2 foliar applications of neem oil. the thrips seemed to have all died or moved on, until I noticed a new wave of them a few days ago. They are not all that aggressive at the moment (much lower population than last time) and the seem to localized in one or two rows in my garden which are adjacent to the few blue dreams that first harbored the thrips.

Everything is at least 2 weeks into flower, and while some of my strains will finish in 4-5 weeks, others will go into early November. I don't want to spray my flowers with Neem or Spinosad if I can avoid it. Although I have been looking into Spinosad as an alternative.
I have also begun watering with the Pro-Tekt silica...

Do thrips pose much of a threat outdoors?
Do they damage flowers?
Is it safe to continue spraying? (I have had some leaf and flower burn from a little too much neem)

Am I worrying too much?

All feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

I'd use the spinosad.

 

[Dank Demon]

When I had thrips mate they only damaged the leaves but did not touch the bud, its the bloody spidermites you need to watch

 

[IeatCubes]

You still have plenty of time to spray with Spinosad.
Mist them twice a week; make sure you get underneath the leaves because this is where the thrips really like to hang out. I use coco indoors and outdoors and see the larvae in the medium. Some people do a Spinosad flush but I haven't felt the need. Clean out some juicy areas and thin the scrub out to allow for airflow. They don't really like the wind. Also, make sure that there are not a lot of leaves close to the ground; they like to jump.
You can also get stick traps for thrips; the blue ones. They'll work outside even if it rains. Put them close to the ground and you'll be amazed at how many get stuck to the traps.
You can spray till the last 2/3 weeks of flower just be sure to 'clean' them off with straight water a few times. And also be sure your plants will have time to dry to prevent mold/mildew. They won't necessarily ruin a harvest but if you're a perfectionist, it's going to bug you.
Go hard on those thrips and nuke their asses back to the stone age, man.

 

[johnkneefive]

i usually just spray the dirt and stems ,thrips live in the dirt/medium and climb up the stem daily,high noon (there time) .so get those stems good .that should keep em under control

 

[Pragma]

Spinosad..
Spinosad...
Spinosad....

Gone in a few minutes right after u spray. You will have to spray again after a week or so when the eggs hatch to break the cycle and get rid of them completely.

ps: Damn, just noticed you were talking outdoor.. You can't keep new thrips from coming over so that sucks.. You will need to keep sprayin em over and over, you can do it throughout flower too but I wouldn't spray the buds only the biggest leafs.. From what I understand the spinosad lasts a bit where u spray it so if new thrips come to feed on that tissue they will get exposed to it as well.

 

[MrSmokeyMacPot]

well the trips have been reduced to literally just a few from dozens. i prune the large fan leaves anyways and i am watering with silica to strengthen the leaves. the thrips are not really posing any threat to my flowers...so im gonna hold off on spraying anything.

 

[Jhhnn]

well the trips have been reduced to literally just a few from dozens. i prune the large fan leaves anyways and i am watering with silica to strengthen the leaves. the thrips are not really posing any threat to my flowers...so im gonna hold off on spraying anything.

Not to be a pessimist, but thrip populations can explode rather quickly. They have a short life cycle, lay lots of eggs.

This stuff works great outdoors-

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/s...=2&zmap=1718&gclid=CIKUnPGOurkCFYhAMgodN3IAoQ

Spray the hell out of everything, the whole area including the dirt, repeat a week later. You'll never get 'em all, but they'll be damned hard to find for quite awhile.

 

[OrganicBuds]

Mr Smokey - Spinosad will work late into flower, but what works even better on low level populations is lady bugs. Order some on the internet or at your local garden store. They devour thrips.

 

[Majo]

My grandfather uses a old recipe for thrips. It's just mixed tobacco leaf and hot pepper.
Leave it in the water for 3 days and than spry it.

Nothing but organic!