Yeah! It's Bud Worm Season. Pics

yellowcreek

New Member
I guess BT at the start of flowering and throughout is the only real solution? I have same issue with my tomato plants, freakin' worms/caterpillars. I live in thick humid forest, so there are TONS. Problem is it rains a lot too, so if I sprinkle BT powder, will get washed off often. Every solution seems impossible. I assume fine netting won't even work. Sealed greenhouses get way too hot. The worm/caterpillar problem sucks.
 
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jbcCT

Well-Known Member
BT works wonderfully. In my region bud worms become known late July, first week of August. You want to mist your entire plant, vegetables & marijuana in my case, early July. Every two to three days in the morning. Let their first bite be their last. You want to catch these things as soon as they hatch, while they are super small, before they can do damage.

Don't get me wrong, it will knock out an infestation, but by then it can be too late.

Make sure the product is properly diluted according to instructions. Get yourself a hand sprayer for smaller grows. You can buy a hose sprayer attachment with a bulb for concentrate to apply for larger grows.
 

mordynyc

Well-Known Member
Friend or foe?
A month ago I also had this weird green bug under a stem...when I went to flick it off it would rapidly move. I poked it with a stick and it was the funniest thing it would do a perfect 180 roll so fast many times. I gave up figired it wanted it more than me lol but it's been doin fine.
1562738983218244156253956292286.jpg 20190709_225532.jpg
 

jbcCT

Well-Known Member
Do u use both bt and neem? I don't wanna f up my plants or deter good predator bugs. I get a lot of those hover flies from my other plants though.
No I don't use neem at all. You really only need the BT if it's worms your fighting. It works that well. The idea is to start spraying shortly after they start to flower so you never see any worms. Make that first bite their last, while they are microscopic.

Let us know how it turns out.
 

jbcCT

Well-Known Member
Friend or foe?
A month ago I also had this weird green bug under a stem...when I went to flick it off it would rapidly move. I poked it with a stick and it was the funniest thing it would do a perfect 180 roll so fast many times. I gave up figired it wanted it more than me lol but it's been doin fine.
View attachment 4362845 View attachment 4362844
' seen a few unusual
Friend or foe?
A month ago I also had this weird green bug under a stem...when I went to flick it off it would rapidly move. I poked it with a stick and it was the funniest thing it would do a perfect 180 roll so fast many times. I gave up figired it wanted it more than me lol but it's been doin fine.
View attachment 4362845 View attachment 4362844
Funny you should mention that. I've watched many unusual, unknown strangers visit my plants. First thing on my mind is freind or for. Part of the fun and wonder of growing outdoors.
 

potroastV2

Well-Known Member
Do u use both bt and neem? I don't wanna f up my plants or deter good predator bugs. I get a lot of those hover flies from my other plants though.
I've always thought that you don't want to mix any beneficials with neem oil, because the neem will destroy them. But now I'm using SoluNeem, on Ed's suggestion, as a pesticide and it's a water-soluble neem seed powder. The label says you can mix it with BT, and spray both at once. That sounds good to me.

SoluNeem is an organic pesticide that is much more potent than Neem Oil.


:mrgreen:
 

jbcCT

Well-Known Member
I've always thought that you don't want to mix any beneficials with neem oil, because the neem will destroy them. But now I'm using SoluNeem, on Ed's suggestion, as a pesticide and it's a water-soluble neem seed powder. The label says you can mix it with BT, and spray both at once. That sounds good to me.

SoluNeem is an organic pesticide that is much more potent than Neem Oil.


:mrgreen:
Great post. Did not know you could mix that BT. Us peeps growing outdoors are always looking for ways to combat a host of pests, some as deadly as those dam worms.

I noticed last summer Japanese beetles starting to appear. Just great. This summer more prevalent. They can buzzsaw a plants folliage down to the stalk. They have a hard outer shell. Tough sob's.
 

CanadianJim

Well-Known Member
Great post. Did not know you could mix that BT. Us peeps growing outdoors are always looking for ways to combat a host of pests, some as deadly as those dam worms.

I noticed last summer Japanese beetles starting to appear. Just great. This summer more prevalent. They can buzzsaw a plants folliage down to the stalk. They have a hard outer shell. Tough sob's.
Nematodes are the only preventive I know of for those. They lay eggs in your lawn, grubs overwinter, leaving big brown patches, then the adults emerge hungry in the spring. Nematodes kill the grubs. Problem is if your neighbours have them too, they'll come on over to your yard no problem. My neighbour neglected her yard for years, now I'm getting the beetles in my yard.
 

jbcCT

Well-Known Member
Nematodes are the only preventive I know of for those. They lay eggs in your lawn, grubs overwinter, leaving big brown patches, then the adults emerge hungry in the spring. Nematodes kill the grubs. Problem is if your neighbours have them too, they'll come on over to your yard no problem. My neighbour neglected her yard for years, now I'm getting the beetles in my yard.
Totally agree. I have one of those attachments for my garden hose that you can fill with concentrated pesticides. I spray once a week after I mow. It has been very successful against the jap beetles. You have to spray once a week though.

On another note, began preventative BT spraying this week. Just in time too. Preflower is in full swing and I found one tiny bud worm. They start off almost microscopic and translucent, until they chomp those plants. I've got high hopes for this strategy, excited to see how it turns out.
 

jbcCT

Well-Known Member
Nematodes are the only preventive I know of for those. They lay eggs in your lawn, grubs overwinter, leaving big brown patches, then the adults emerge hungry in the spring. Nematodes kill the grubs. Problem is if your neighbours have them too, they'll come on over to your yard no problem. My neighbour neglected her yard for years, now I'm getting the beetles in my yard.
Dude you nailed it. Your neighbors got em. It's to the point I'm spraying general pesticide 10 ft out from my yard on both sides to extend my kill zone into my neighbors yards. I too have notice those dam jap beetles increase every year. I got a hose attachment sprayer, I use a concentrate. Spray once a week after I mow and Ive almost fully eliminated the beetles. If I stop they will run right over me.
 

jbcCT

Well-Known Member
Just got in from my late night BT misting. Critical stage in pre spraying BT test. On my 4th or 5th treatment since end of first week of July. Very to full on flower.

For me, what makes the worms so deadly, you can hardly spot them till it's too late. I got high hopes for this little experiment. In this doesn't work not what will.
 

SuperNutz

Well-Known Member
Should I spray tonight or wait till morning. Daytime temps are just below 80 with morning temps around 55 and low humidity. Just got my BT in the mail and anxious to get spraying but idk if 55 is too cold to be wet or if the morning dew will make it less effective then drying in the morning sun. Thanks

Also it doesn't say to add dish soap like neem oil does.. Should I add it anyways at the same rate?
 

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