Was wondering if i could use this product as a preventative measure? Or only use if i see signs of pests?
this is the back label http://drearth.net/products/organic-killer-sprays/yard-garden-insect-killer/ i'd just get some neem
It'll probably keep them off. Lots of essential oils in that product. If you ever get caterpillars you want safer brand garden dust with bt. ~ poke P.s. Be careful, there's salt in that product...
I can't make a recommendation in that aspect. If I had to use a preventative I'd use dr bronners soap with lavender or mint. It's got many of the same essential oils without the salt. ~ poke
No it's just in a bottle. But a little goes a long ways. It's considered an insecticidal soap. You could use a sprayer head from something else. You have caterpillars?
For caterpillars.BT (bacillus thuringiensis) is your best choice followed by Spinosad. Both are bacteriums, and with BT, there are specific sub-species that are listed for caterpillars (lepidoptera larvae). Make sure you follow the directions on the label with any pesticide whether it's considered organic or not. With Spinosad, be aware that it is toxic to bees and fish so make sure to follow the directions on the label. EDIT: Hiya Poke
Since it's that time of year I've been fine tuning this bit of text I paste where and when needed.. Got tired of typing it out time after time.. Let me know if it needs corrected or added to.. any constructive criticism is welcome.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If your growing outside your going to need an IPM ( integrated pest management ) routine.. This one is mine.. BT bacillus thuringiensis.. Caterpillar control.. sold under several names Safer = http://www.hydroponics.net/i/132569 Bonide = http://www.territori...CFQaBfgodk0UAug Garden Safe = http://www.gardensaf...2845931900.ashx Monterey = http://www.domyownpe...-bt-p-2821.html? Green Light = https://www.google.c...=2&ved=0CHkQuiQ Green Cure.. For Powdery Mildew control.. https://www.1000bulb...earchButton.y=0 Neem oil.. For spider mites, thrip, helps with the caterpillars too but don't use once you start to flower.. http://www.homedepot...googleadspla http://www.gardensaf...2845931795.ashx Spinosad as my change up hitter.. So things don't get resistant.. https://www.1000bulb...SUN-704606.html? Captian Jacks = http://www.hydrogala...CFQphfgodNUsADw BT-I as mosquito dunks and bits for Fungal Gnats... http://www.pondbiz.c...ges/Sum1156.jpg To avoid the sprayer contamination issue I had last year I simply bought 4 sprayers http://www.lowes.com...ayers= Most all of this can be found at Home Depot or Lowes except the Green Cure.. Hydro shop for that.. Buy a new sprayer and rinse really well between solutions or buy multiple sprayers like I did.. I do my treatments like any good farmer.. up well before dawn Spray BT on Monday.. Green Cure on Tuesday Neem on Wednesday.. Only in veg Spinosad Thursday as needed Attached Thumbnails Most of this stuff has no real persistence and needs to be applied every week or 2 in order to maintain control.. Having lost much of my first good crop to Caterpillars and the rest being covered in Powdery Mildew I learned not to let my guard down if I want a consistently clean crop.. I run a bug zapper as well to help control the moths
For creepy crawleys like caterpillars you can sprinkle diatomaceous earth AKA DE around the base of your plants. Pretty cheap at the pool store. For an all around bug and fungus preventative you can't beat neem oil.
Caterpillars are moth larva and come in from the sky not the soil.. I won't spray Neem oil once in flower.. All them moths hanging out at your porch light at night are spending the rest of their nights laying eggs in my cannabis buds.. While I think my primary enemy is the tobacco budworm I can't be 100% sure.. What I do know is unprotected grows here In So Cal are not worth harvesting.. After harvest as the bud begins to dry the worms will start to hang down on a silk hoping a friendly wind will carry them to a better plant.. At first it's just a few small ones so you sweep them off.. Returning an hour later more are out.. Over the next day or 3 you remove dozens if not hundreds of the little shitters in all sizes from the near microscopic to inch long ones.. If that's not bad enough as you start to clean the buds from the branches you find everyplace a cattie crapped you have a patch of mold.. It's everywhere and the whole crop is contaminated with mold.. Sorry to be so graphic but until you see it you don't really understand the heartache of seeing months of work down the drain.. I didn't understand the scope of the problem at all.. BNW Edit:: the DE covering the soil would only stop the now fully developed cattie from it's final soil stage long after it's eaten and destroyed my plant..
You mind if i sticky this in my journal? Ill just post a link back to your post if youre okay with it ~ poke
and fwiw, some caterpillar larvae bury themselves with soil around the base of the stem. No idea why, but I see it quite often, so Ive gotten into the habit of disturbing the top inch of soil with plants effected. I nearly always find a buried caterpillar or two.
Great info! This is exactly what I use for these bastards and it works better than anything I've tried to date...