Termite Problems w/ outdoor growing

I'm trying to get help from any experienced outdoor growers on how to deal with termite infestations. Around here in the deep woods they are prolific. If you leave anything wooden on the ground for a week it will attract them. My problem is that when the stems mature and get woody about july or so they are infested. I was thinking about some kind of barrier (plastic buckets, plastic bags, that sheeting fabric, something) or maybe some natural deterent like planting with cedar chips. Something besides poisoning my crop with chemicals. Anyway, It's not something you see until the plant starts looking ill or quits growing, then it's too late. You can pull up a plant and the roots almost always have termites. They seem to attack through the roots and eat up into the lower stem. thanks, slabhead

slabhead said:

I'm trying to get help from any experienced outdoor growers on how to deal with termite infestations. Around here in the deep woods they are prolific. If you leave anything wooden on the ground for a week it will attract them. My problem is that when the stems mature and get woody about july or so they are infested. I was thinking about some kind of barrier (plastic buckets, plastic bags, that sheeting fabric, something) or maybe some natural deterent like planting with cedar chips. Something besides poisoning my crop with chemicals. Anyway, It's not something you see until the plant starts looking ill or quits growing, then it's too late. You can pull up a plant and the roots almost always have termites. They seem to attack through the roots and eat up into the lower stem. thanks, slabhead

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yes termites can be a huge problem,I actually use a product called termimesh.
it is a like a fly screen .
i line the plot with that .bit expensive but it lasts forever.

if you grow in pots . grease around the base also stops them(on the out side of coarse).

other than that i have not tried anything else.

O4, I'll see about finding some of that termimesh for next year. I only lost about 5 this year.

Anyone else got any fresh ideas?

At least these ladies have done pretty well so far.

Oh and these. Maybe I'll try to do a journal next year.

dude that is some CRAZY SHITE! im out here in cali and ive never seen termites attack weed...i wish i could help...bummer.

Yeah, it's a bitch. I got one more that looks infected. If you look closely you can see the little thiefs in the clear root pic. I've been thinking this one was nute/def but I'm leaning towards the termites IN it. They will be up several feet of stalk.

I can't find the termimesh. Must be something only a building contractor can get by their website.

slabhead said:

O4, I'll see about finding some of that termimesh for next year. I only lost about 5 this year.

Anyone else got any fresh ideas?

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it may be only available in Australia,cant say for sure but if it is around look in the building supply shops they would have it or know if you can get it...

As a formerly CA Branch 3 licenced, Wood destroying organism inspector I know that termites randomly forage for food at all times, and that all they need is 1/32 of an inch to get into a space, they communicate via pheromone
Unless you had the proper barrier chemicals, like ProBuild (repellent and contact killing chemical) or a bait station like Sentricon or Advanced( none of the above available in stores)
Or Termidor, chemicals are a wast of time. I like the net if it's less than 1/32 of an inch and can last at least 8 months.
Otherwise you in for a battle.

CannaBoss said:

As a formerly CA Branch 3 licenced, Wood destroying organism inspector I know that termites randomly forage for food at all times, and that all they need is 1/32 of an inch to get into a space, they communicate via pheromone
Unless you had the proper barrier chemicals, like ProBuild (repellent and contact killing chemical) or a bait station like Sentricon or Advanced( none of the above available in stores)
Or Termidor, chemicals are a wast of time. I like the net if it's less than 1/32 of an inch and can last at least 8 months.
Otherwise you in for a battle.

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CannaBossThanks for the feedback. It's a battle alright. You can fight the things you can see. A real bitch after all the time invested because they don't usually show up until late summer. I even sprinkled Ortho termite poison into the holes pre-spring groundbreaking this year when I was preparing plots. Then transplanted seedlings about 3 weeks later. I hate to use chems but I had to try something. Maybe why I got better returns this yr. Gotta be something that will save my girls.

Weed eating Termites... it has to be that prick Putin... or has Osama finally figured out where we live. Either one scares me to death.

FYI. You can buy Baiting stations at the Depot or Lowes, I'm in Florida and have them around the house.

Some of the survivors. Would those bait stations be anywhat effective left out in the weather for several months? And also I don't want little box traps sitting around that would be easy to spot. hmmm???

kilos of thanks to you all!!!!

What strain is that Slabhead? Those girls are monsters. If it were me I would nuke the area before the grow and then use perimeter stations, but if they come by air all bets are off. What about that orange oil stuff. They advertise here on the radio about the "nontoxic" termite control.

greenthumb111 said:

What strain is that Slabhead? Those girls are monsters. If it were me I would nuke the area before the grow and then use perimeter stations, but if they come by air all bets are off. What about that orange oil stuff. They advertise here on the radio about the "nontoxic" termite control.

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Just Sativa and a couple Indys. Bagseed is all I've ever grown. I've kicked the seed bank idea around but I'm old school paranoid about those kinda things. LOL. Thanks for the comment.
I've never heard of the orange oil but I'll look into it.

You indoor growers have it made.

greenthumb111 said:

What strain is that Slabhead? Those girls are monsters. If it were me I would nuke the area before the grow and then use perimeter stations, but if they come by air all bets are off. What about that orange oil stuff. They advertise here on the radio about the "nontoxic" termite control.

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The orange oil is a wood petrificant. It basically kills what's in the wood in a home by absorbtion. It is primarily used for Drywood termites, not subterranean. It would not be used for soil treating.
Bait stations are not going to do it either, the ones you can buy won't eliminate the colony. They kill the ones who eat it, as the termite dies, it drops an alarm pheromone, which the other termites smell and avoid, this cause them to search in other locations for a food sourse.
The netting is the best option for you in my opinion.
Also, "come by air" is not a worry, you ar refering to the swarming cast of the subterranean termite, they do not damage wood, they are fed by the worker cast of the colony through regurgitation(trophylaxis). The swarmers job is to reproduce new colonies, which takes a few years.

The bait stations hammer flush into the ground, suppose to be effective up to one year. They seem to work here.

damn and i thought fighting spider mites was a problem.
termites diging into your plant from underground sounds like it sucks ass .
best of luck to you

Phinxter said:

damn and i thought fighting spider mites was a problem.
termites diging into your plant from underground sounds like it sucks ass .
best of luck to you

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Thanks. Yes it's very frustrating because they seem to hit near the end of the veg growth after months and months of hard work. In a matter of days the plant will start to look sick and just quit growing. I've even had a few eaten completely through where the stalk is still standing upright leaned against a bush but completely severed with the little vermin eating there way upwards.

https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/107815-slabheads-late-season.html

slabhead said:

O4, I'll see about finding some of that termimesh for next year. I only lost about 5 this year.

Anyone else got any fresh ideas?

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If growing in the ground? use dolomite when preping your hole...good luck slab!

Hodgegrown said:

If growing in the ground? use dolomite when preping your hole...good luck slab!

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Hey thanks for the advice Hodge. I didn't know that would help keep them away. I only use a few handfuls per hole as a soil conditioner basically but I'll try adding more of it next year.


https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/107815-slabheads-late-season.html