Mites, will neem oil prevent this problem in the first place?

I'm going to be growing some plants outside, so of course I'm a bit concerned about spider mites.
Based on everything I've read, spider mites should build a taste aversion after so many days, if not... they should die. If they consume a small quantity it should make them sick a few hours later. If they consume more than that, they should die a few hours later.
However I'm somewhat confused, I see all these people with spider mite problems. If you apply neem oil at the beginning of planting the seed (lightly coating the inside of the pot before filling it with soil, so not to affect the seed in the beginning) then wouldn't that prevent the problem from ever occurring?
I can see spider mites lingering for what was once good, but not for too long or for what was never good.

Did they just use neem oil improperly or not at all?
3 times a week, about 1-6 sprays per plant, depending on its size, to coat the entire thing. (stopping ≈3 weeks before harvest)
 

ebgood

Well-Known Member
I swear by it. Ill usually start once my seeds have sprouted. Spray the plant and the dirt around it. As the plant gets bigger i just apply more to the plant ( top and bottoms of leaves, everywhere. Ill spray until the whole plant is dripping and i do it right at sundown). I grow in the ground. Have been for 5 yrs now and the first year, i had mites BAD. started using neem and have never seen spideys since. Now i dont wanna say do this but what i do is use 2 tspn to a gallon for veg then for flowering i mix the neem with 1 tbsp of bt ( caterpillar killer) and 1/2 tspn of dawn dish soap. I havent seen mites, thrips, or caterpillars on my plants for 4 seasons in a row now.
 

SenorBrownWater

Well-Known Member
imo neem is frustratingly unfriendly to use...
you got an oil that is solid at room temp...so you gotta warm it up first...
so then you gotta add some dish soap..and keep shaking it...
the smell is awful....and it only "kind of" works...
this year i used axamax and azatrol...
they work better and are easy to spray...(but they are expensive)
 

HarmlessPlants

Well-Known Member
I have three times bought neem oil and all three times it was a different substance. The first one was very dark and smelly, I bought another bottle from a different shop and it was bril, the third time I wanted the same brand but it was sold out and got again a different composition and smell which was the best of all and the only one that said 100% neem oil. Be aware what you buy, 100% neem oil doesnt smell awful, not good either, and is a liquid at room temperature.

I swear by neem oil too but must say I haven´t tried anything else, with neem oil you mist every eight days, you can combine it with ivory soap but I prefer to first give it a mist with plane water which I do twice a day, then a mist with neem oil every eight days apart from the last four weeks cuz you don´t want the grass to smell like neem oil and only in case of an investation with soap. Not mixed with neem oil but first a mist with soap and when the plant is almost dry a mist with neem oil. The next day misting with water so the smell of neem oil doesn´t linger. I had twice an investation because I didn´t mist at all which is really bad, you should really every day or better twice. Since the investations I mist every day and never had another problem and never sprayed with soap nor neem oil after. BTW do not leave the mister filled with neem oil, that ain´t good for your mister and the smell lingers too.

When you don´t have the possibility to mist daily then I would mist with neem oil every eight days to prevent.
The soap ruins their protection, the water drowns them and the oil makes the survivors invertile.
 
Thank you all for the input :)
I'm glad I bought the correct type.
I bought 16 oz of the:
Dr Adorable Inc Neem pure organic cold pressed Azadirachta Indica.
Which should last through the whole cycle my 6 plants. From what I'm hearing it seems like the pure neem oil (100%) of any brand seems to work best for applying it and for getting results. It seems to be just as runny as veggy oil (maybe very slightly thicker) at room temperature.

Again, thank you :]
 
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