Aaargh! First battle with bugs

Hook Daddy

Hook Daddy

Well-Known Member
Well I noticed some white spots on the leaves the other day and brushed it off as spray from when I foiler sprayed with SI or CalMag earlier. Today it had spread some, but I didn’t spray, and I realized right away my fears had come true. Worst thing is I knew better. I started my veggies in my grow room, it is the perfect environment, but new soil, etc. Anyhow, on to the battle. I have diatomaceous earth and safer brand insecticidal soap. The plants are beautiful other than the new infestation at 4 weeks in flower. Anyone have any suggestions before I go soak these plants in soap? Here’s a pic of the spots on my clones, yep they got them too.

0B8FC649-6B91-4A31-A9B3-E8AB90FF3EE7.jpeg

And here’s a close-up of the bug, I am assuming they’re thrips, correct me if I’m wrong. You can also see quite a few eggs as well.

7D5B1222-64A7-44E7-AB29-0F67BA550598.jpeg


Any ideas to try and save them other than the insecticide soap or DE? I read the eggs don’t do well in low humidity so lowered it to 35% to see if that helps as well.
 
Hook Daddy said:
Well I noticed some white spots on the leaves the other day and brushed it off as spray from when I foiler sprayed with SI or CalMag earlier. Today it had spread some, but I didn’t spray, and I realized right away my fears had come true. Worst thing is I knew better. I started my veggies in my grow room, it is the perfect environment, but new soil, etc. Anyhow, on to the battle. I have diatomaceous earth and safer brand insecticidal soap. The plants are beautiful other than the new infestation at 4 weeks in flower. Anyone have any suggestions before I go soak these plants in soap? Here’s a pic of the spots on my clones, yep they got them too.

View attachment 5459761

And here’s a close-up of the bug, I am assuming they’re thrips, correct me if I’m wrong. You can also see quite a few eggs as well.

View attachment 5459762


Any ideas to try and save them other than the insecticide soap or DE? I read the eggs don’t do well in low humidity so lowered it to 35% to see if that helps as well.
Click to expand...
Yep, thrips. If you weren't in flower, you'd have more options. DE and the soap will slow them down. Make sure to wear a mask if you're throwing DE powder around. You'll need to do a budwash at harvest.
 
Hope you get them dealt with HD. Had a thrips infestation on my second grow. I got clones from someone, and had no idea what to look for, so they were on their way to a robust infestation. I should have known better. I had read all the warnings on this site about accepting clones from others. But, live and learn I suppose. GL
 
natureboygrower said:
Do you know the mixing ratio on that? I've been using flying skull on my outdoor for aphids but i have citric acid I could use. . Any soft bodied pests are absolutely destroyed by citric acid. I do a bud wash at harvest because they usually show up around 3 weeks from chop.
Click to expand...
I believe it's 1tblsp citric acid to 1 gallon water. You might wanna do a double check on that though.

Edit.... the concentration of citric acid, makes a difference. Find out what you have.
 
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Hook Daddy said:
Well I noticed some white spots on the leaves the other day and brushed it off as spray from when I foiler sprayed with SI or CalMag earlier. Today it had spread some, but I didn’t spray, and I realized right away my fears had come true. Worst thing is I knew better. I started my veggies in my grow room, it is the perfect environment, but new soil, etc. Anyhow, on to the battle. I have diatomaceous earth and safer brand insecticidal soap. The plants are beautiful other than the new infestation at 4 weeks in flower. Anyone have any suggestions before I go soak these plants in soap? Here’s a pic of the spots on my clones, yep they got them too.

View attachment 5459761

And here’s a close-up of the bug, I am assuming they’re thrips, correct me if I’m wrong. You can also see quite a few eggs as well.

View attachment 5459762


Any ideas to try and save them other than the insecticide soap or DE? I read the eggs don’t do well in low humidity so lowered it to 35% to see if that helps as well.
Click to expand...
Lost Coast Plant therapy and can use that almost to harvest
 
Thrips are a bitch
My advice is to use a bunch of different things. For the first 3-5 days spray everyday then after 3 days spray again I've been battling these things for a long time they just keep coming back
Been using Dr zymes, neem oil and insecticidal soap and it seems I've been making some progress now after a week or so of spraying
 
Last edited:
Hollatchaboy said:
I believe it's 1/2 cup citric acid to 1 gallon water. You might wanna do a double check on that though.
Click to expand...
I have a ton of citric acid, I might try that if the soap doesn’t do anything. I gave the leaves a good soak then wiped the ones I could get to top and bottom with a soaked paper towel, read somewhere that helped some. I saw a couple then wiped and they were gone, either squished or dying in the towel I don’t care, be gone! Here’s a pic of the Wagyu Donuts, she’s too nice looking to give up on.

154060F6-AAAB-44F0-B57F-99788A7BE749.jpeg


This is the worst leaf damage I could find, so hopefully I caught it in time.

7585AB2E-BE5B-4FC0-80C4-40603426B656.jpeg


Thanks for all the replies, it’s great to have a support group so quickly when needed!
 
Hook Daddy said:
I have a ton of citric acid, I might try that if the soap doesn’t do anything. I gave the leaves a good soak then wiped the ones I could get to top and bottom with a soaked paper towel, read somewhere that helped some. I saw a couple then wiped and they were gone, either squished or dying in the towel I don’t care, be gone! Here’s a pic of the Wagyu Donuts, she’s too nice looking to give up on.

View attachment 5459779


This is the worst leaf damage I could find, so hopefully I caught it in time.

View attachment 5459780


Thanks for all the replies, it’s great to have a support group so quickly when needed!
Click to expand...
Yea I wouldn't give up on her either. She definitely looks save able. The dilution ratio is have was wrong. I corrected it, on the post, if you end up trying it. Be sure to check what concentration you have, and maybe ask around on the ratio.

I had thrips once, in veg. I used dr zymes, as directed, and I had no problems the rest of the way through veg and flower.
 
Citric and a wetting agent should work, fyi they're both important the wetting agent makes water deadly to insects, water has surface tension making it kinda viscose so bubbles can be formed with hairs on insects making a safety bubble around them, with a wetting agent upon contact they're engulfed and drown/suffocate...if you fly fish you'll already be well familiar with surface tension.

To try it put a few drops of dish soap in with springtails...they instantly fall through the surface, the end!
 
Star Dog said:
Citric and a wetting agent should work, fyi they're both important the wetting agent makes water deadly to insects, water has surface tension making it kinda viscose so bubbles can be formed with hairs on insects making a safety bubble around them, with a wetting agent upon contact they're engulfed and drown/suffocate...if you fly fish you'll already be well familiar with surface tension.

To try it put a few drops of dish soap in with springtails...they instantly fall through the surface, the end!
Click to expand...
I use yucca extract with mine. It makes a big difference.
 
I sampled a bit then looked at the underside of about 50 random leaves. I found 3 thrips, and couldn’t verify if they were alive before squishing, so I believe way less than before. I’m going to wait 2 days and spray again. I’ll keep you posted.
 
Star Dog said:
When I had mites I dunked the whole plant/stem in citric and wetting agent down to the coco gave it a little swoosh around waited 5 minutes and repeated I've not see them again it's been about a year.
Click to expand...
That sounds like a great idea. I can see myself trying to hold a 17 gallon sip with the 30” x 30” scrog nets upside down and swishing them around in my jacuzzi filled with insecticide soap. I can also hear my wife behind me as I do it. At least I actually laughed when thinking about it, thank you for that! It’s a good argument for growing smaller plants.
 
Hook Daddy said:
That sounds like a great idea. I can see myself trying to hold a 17 gallon sip with the 30” x 30” scrog nets upside down and swishing them around in my jacuzzi filled with insecticide soap. I can also hear my wife behind me as I do it. At least I actually laughed when thinking about it, thank you for that! It’s a good argument for growing smaller plants.
Click to expand...
I believe trimming is the best argument! Lol
 
Dang, don't take this the wrong way but I've seen your grows in the past and was surprised to see you as the OP when I clicked on this thread. Hey at least you know what to look for now, next time you'll notice it sooner.

Sounds like you've got a treatment plan going already, I'd also add that it's a good idea to remove any leaves with significant damage, even if you've killed off all the pests that were on them. It just makes it easier to tell if the damage is still spreading to new areas.
 
weedstoner420 said:
Dang, don't take this the wrong way but I've seen your grows in the past and was surprised to see you as the OP when I clicked on this thread. Hey at least you know what to look for now, next time you'll notice it sooner.

Sounds like you've got a treatment plan going already, I'd also add that it's a good idea to remove any leaves with significant damage, even if you've killed off all the pests that were on them. It just makes it easier to tell if the damage is still spreading to new areas.
Click to expand...
I did remove a lot of leaves. When I first realized they were thrips I was really pissed and almost just ripped them all out of the sips and into the fire pit. I think with a few treatments I can get them to limp across the finish line ok, then it’s time to clean house. This is all my fault, I knew better than to bring soil or start seeds in there while flowering but did it anyway. Lesson learned, sometimes I need to learn the hard way for it to sink in.
 
Hook Daddy said:
That sounds like a great idea. I can see myself trying to hold a 17 gallon sip with the 30” x 30” scrog nets upside down and swishing them around in my jacuzzi filled with insecticide soap. I can also hear my wife behind me as I do it. At least I actually laughed when thinking about it, thank you for that! It’s a good argument for growing smaller plants.
Click to expand...
lol yeah ok, it's a bit bigger than I pictured
0B8FC649-6B91-4A31-A9B3-E8AB90FF3EE7.jpeg
I was thinking about this plant, that's what made think about the way I done mine.
 
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