Preventing spider mites

I have read about different sprays you can make to get rid of spider mites once they are there, but is there any way you can do simple preventative measures, like spraying the leaves with plant safe soap for an indoor grow?

just wondering because i cant seem to keep my grow box temperature down, granted it is still like 86 degrees right now outside. ill be flowering in a month and august can be just as hot or hotter now, and i heard spider mites flourish in 90 degree heat.

on a different note, say you keep the temperature at about 80 degrees in your grow box. what is the percent chance of getting spider mites, as an estimate? is it mostly dependent on temperature? i see many threads on this subject and it seems like there is a high probability of getting them and am wondering if i am overly concerned.

I use Neem Oil. But, unlike the bottles instructions, I mix 1/4 tsp with 1 qt water, then use a sponge dipped in the solution to wipe around the edge of my pots. I haven't had a serious infestation so this has worked for me. I avoid adding it to the medium to keep from altering the bud taste....but that's just me. I have a friend who uses it as a spray and is happy with the results. Good luck...

SistaDank

cool beans. ill look into it more. anyone else have opinions?

do spider mites mostly occur during flowering, or should i be weary of them throughout the entire plant life?

meh???????

i have spider mites on one my plants, and boy it suckssss the whole bottom of several leaves are packed with them. I read in another post that lady bugs get rid of them, soo i just added several lady bugs last night, got up today and some of the leaves look a bit cleaner. hope they keep on disappearing

glad to hear it. did you just go hunting outside for some lady bugs?

keep me updated on how effective the lady bugs are

Florida Girl said:

So far I haven't had them.....thank goodness! I inspect the leaves every week with a microscope just to be sure.

I believe cleanliness is the best preventative measure. If you have them now.... then get rid of them and before you grow again SANITIZE the room and all your tools. I keep my room vacuumed, I don't let my dog into the room, I shower and wear clean clothes in the room, I wash all my tools and containers regularly and use bleach to sanitize them.

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wowza. you are quite thorough. probably a good idea for me to spray my room down with lysol, because it is extremely dirty...

Yeah, dirty grow rooms are the worst possible way to start. Not only spider mites, but any dirty room will have more dust, dirt, other bugs, dust and dirt in the air is not good for your plants.

The best thing is to totally overkill with cleaning your grow room, get some bug spray, something non toxic, and kill anything in the room. Disinfect, sanitize, and just make it clean.

Also you should do this after every crop if possible, or every few months at least. It may seem like a hassle But taking the time to make a clean grow room before you start will be way way way better then dealing with infestations after your room is in full flower.

I have been testing Diatomous Earth and it works pretty well. Only problem is that its a powder and yeah with out a puffer its a royal pain. I would really appreciate it if any other Diatom users would post there results. From all I have read it is the best organic pestaside for livestock, pets and plants.

Diatomaceous earth (IPA: /ˌdʌɪətəˈmeɪʃəs ˈəː(r)θ/, also known as DE, TSS, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and Celite) is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of diatomaceous earth is 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron.
Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator.

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Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the cuticle, the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. Beekeepers are apparently experimenting with it, to keep small hive beetles from breeding. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical-grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate a cockroach infestation. This material has wide application in control of insects of grain storage.

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what can you use for flys?

I think that I may have spider mites. There were little specks on my leaves that I would wash off with a sponge and some water. About a week ago I noticed that the leaves with specks were starting to change from a healthy green to a brown. I have been very meticulous about checking the undersides of the leaves for webs. Today I went to my indoor garden supply store and they told me that the specks were the microscopic spider mites sucking the chlorophyll from the plants. I bought some neem oil today and sprayed the plants down. Does anyone have any input? Am I just paranoid about my crop or does it sound like spider mites?

Old thread I know, but I found this info out today and wanted to share it for those searching the forum in search of prevention advice on spider mites This is from ehow:

Prevention/Solution
As spider mites do not like garlic, planting garlic alongside other plants will produce an environment that will discourage spider mites from becoming active.

Effects
Plants stressed by drought can produce chemical changes that make them more enticing to spider mites. Keep plants moist with a vinegar-garlic solution to discourage spider mites from consuming plant leaves.

Considerations
Spider mites often become problems in yards and gardens because of the use of chemical pesticides that destroy their natural predators. These pesticides also harm the environment. Using a natural, garlic-based insecticide will treat spider mites as well as help preserve the environment.

I had a run in with them and treated them very early in flower with Floramax. Soil flush and diluted foliar spray completely eliminated them in a couple treatments. I also cleaned the box and pots with neem oil (Smells like ass!) If you see them on one plant, treat them all IMO. I hate those things, and they can be present at any stage of the process not just flowering.

I will definitely agree with the drought claim. I've seen nasty mite infestations in some gardens and stressing plants with drought is a great way to invite them.

Spray weekly with neem and protec silicon up to flowering for prevention measures.

Spider Mites can infest your indoor plants during ANY stage of growth. From clones to flowers! Preventative measure include a clean (lab clean) environment, no visitors, no shoes, no outdoor clothing & air conditioning to keep temps down below 80F. I've dipped clones (after testing) in Ed Rosenthal's Zero Tolerance as I've transplanted to soil. I've used the product for infestations as well, to good success as I'm sometimes lazy about outdoor clothing in my indoor grow space. Email me for more information on Zero Tolerance Pesticide.