Fem. Seed project & Spider Mites - Drama?

I've got a small Leda Uno Fem. seed project on the go (first time using STS), but the tent seems to have developed a spider mite infestation.



The recipient plants aren't looking too healthy & I'm continuing to just feed veg. nutes (coco/perlite). This is about 4 weeks-into 12/12.

I could spray them with neem/soap/alcohol etc., but as they're not intended for consumption, I'm unsure whether to actually treat the problem, or just let it ride for the next 4-ish weeks it will take for the seeds to mature & relax about it, then give the tent a thorough going-over once done?

Thoughts?

Keep them outside for starters.
Try to control as best you can - alternate treatments . The BORG can be a bitch , but if you are after seeds , you will need at least 6 weeks to get some useable ones. Sounds like you STS the entire plants - no problem if not consuming.

Next time run 2 simple 12/12 solo size grown plants for seeds. No need to grow out a large plant. One cup under 12/12 gets the STS / CS spray , the other cup moves to flower under 12/12 ( when it’s ready ) …… use first cups pollen to to dust the flowering one - toss pollen solo.

Grow that pregnant cup under 12/12 - harvest seeds when ready.

Budzbuddha said:

Keep them outside for starters.
Try to control as best you can - alternate treatments . The BORG can be a bitch , but if you are after seeds , you will need at least 6 weeks to get some useable ones. Sounds like you STS the entire plants - no problem if not consuming.

Next time run 2 simple 12/12 solo size grown plants for seeds. No need to grow out a large plant. One cup under 12/12 gets the STS / CS spray , the other cup moves to flower under 12/12 ( when it’s ready ) …… use first cups pollen to to dust the flowering one - toss pollen solo.

Grow that pregnant cup under 12/12 - harvest seeds when ready.

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Thanks for your response. I know it's simple to create your own seeds. The question was more around the infestation - Is it worth worrying-about, or not?

Just for clarification & in case there's more you want to add:

I created a swag of female clones & most of them are already outside in the glorious Aussie sunshine. I kept 2 back for this project & they're the ones I pictured.

They were chosen to be kept in 20cm pots & grown as "recipients". The others were kept in solo cups & dosed with STS, purely for producing pollen. They have already been trashed, as they've done their job.

I don't like the idea of putting these ones outside unless there's a bloody good reason to do so, as I could end-up with a spider-mite infestation in all of my OD girls. That would be a problem.........

Unless I'm missing something?

I'm unclear. Plants are already pollinated and seeds are starting to grow or plants are about ready to recieve pollen ?

If the plants are already pollinated and seeds are starting to form, I'd hit them with a trip into the shower and give them a good rinse, don't forget to get under the leaves. (containers look small enough to do that) After you dry them , I'd spray them with citric acid on a regular basis for mites.

I've sprayed pregnant plants and it hasn't seemed to mess with the seed growth ,although I bet there's some stuff you could spray that might. If you're not sure, you could spray one and leave the other one alone and see how that goes. Don't be surprised if the mites migrate to the unsprayed one if they occupy the same tent etc.

If they are about ready to recieve pollen, I'd do the shower rinse, dry them with a fan, then pollinate. After it's evident pistils are withering and the girls are "with child", (a few days) I'd proceed to the citric acid or other mite killer you use. Not sure if I'd want to spray with something that will wither pistils first and then try to pollinate.

Thanks for the suggestions. They're already pollenated, so I'll go with the shower & citric acid treatment.

Good to know you've successfully treated pregnant plants in the past, which gives me confidence that I can't hurt them by doing it.

Cheers!

TerryTeacosy said:

Thanks for the suggestions. They're already pollenated, so I'll go with the shower & citric acid treatment.

Good to know you've successfully treated pregnant plants in the past, which gives me confidence that I can't hurt them by doing it.

Cheers!

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You're welcome.

If you're not going to consume the seeded plants, I'd even consider using pepper spray on them. Mites don't like pepper spray.

Mind you, I'm no scientist so I'd hesitate to say you can't hurt them if you put the wrong thing on them, but I've used citric spray on seeded girls before and the resultant seeds germinated and grew okay. Normally I'd steer clear of water on any buds if they are in flower (possible mold) but if you do it at the beginning of the light cycle and put them in front of a fan you should be good to go.

Good luck!