Best spider mite eradication method

I wouldn't use DE during flowering. You don't want that stuff on your buds. It's dangerous to inhale.

I personally like to get predatory mites from a local nursery. I get little 'tea bags' full of predator mites that you hang on each plant. They slowly climb out of the hole and make their way over the entire plant over time. I believe Persimilis is the stuff for spider mites. they'll eat the mites and then cannibalize themselves when the spider mites are gone.

There will still be dead bodies on the plant so I also do a budwash after harvest. If there are a few still alive I'll do a 3 step wash. If they're all dead I'll just do a basic water wash.

 

Can we get a better pic of the damaged leaves? Can’t easily see them in the pic you provided. And that just a spider, he’s a good guy.

 

I have had spider mites a few times. What I found that works the best is Ladybugs. They will clean up and save your crop.
Spidermites are a terrible problem if you let them get well established. Their eggs may survive to come back on your next crop if you don’t kill the adults before they lay their eggs. Ladybugs will clean up the eggs too, but they may not get them all if the infestation has gotten too bad. A second round of Ladybugs will probably do the job.
Ladybugs are available on Amazon year around. Get them now!

 

I’ve had minimal success with ladybugs against SM. They are great for aphids and I’m sure that they do some good against SM, but my go to it Persimilis. Very common, most Insectories will carry them.

 

Ladybug chowing an aphid!

 

As DaPhats mentioned above.
Phytoseiulus persimilis are the mites I've used. The shipping will cost more than the mites themselves. But, I've had excellent results. Again, as DaPhats mentioned you'll need to do a bud wash as the dead bodies will stick to buds. Here's a link to the supplier I use.

Phytoseiulus persimilis

 

Yes @ZellGrows. I've used them in my home and in my greenhouse. Click the link I gave you it's a very informative site.

 

It’s a small grow and should be relatively easy to keep ‘em knocked down enough for a harvest. It could be done w lavender oil alone. It’s difficult to use effectively without zipping it up in a blender. Start w 1tsp lavender and a 1/4tsp of Dr Bronners. Give it about a minute in the blender. Only mix what you’ll immediately use. If need be you can gradually increase the lavender to around 1tbs before any leaf damage occurs. If you have sandalwood around it’s an even more effective EO. You could spray every single day if need be.

After this harvest I would toss the soil and clean the room with bleach. If you have clones coming up after this run keep ‘em as far away from this room as possible and don’t go near them after working with the mite infested plants.
RD
Edit: recipe is per gallon

 

I thought I'd add that the quality of the essential oils does make a difference. I have found that Liberty Naturals has some of the highest quality EO available. This is what you're looking for.

 

Oregon Tilth is probably the best organic certification entity in the US.

 

I've used that EO myself. Great product.

It literally makes spider mite eggs explode. Visually verified under a microscope...

 

It may have been you that suggested Liberty Naturals to me. I wasn't sure. I didn't want to give credit to the wrong member. Some folks get hurt over things like that. So, whoever advised me to use them. Thank you very much. High quality and great service.

 

S'all good. "Credit" doesn't really matter to me. As long as we're passing along useful, insightful information that works, I'm a happy camper.

I don't know if it was me. There's been a lot of discourse of years concerning the use of EO's for battling the Borg. I do remember being introduced to the topic by 'Coot, many moons ago...