What do all you weed nerds use to prevent bud-worms?

Budologist420

Well-Known Member
Just wondering... I've been spraying neem oil every two weeks and I've got a bug zapper up since January to zap the moths before they lay their larvae, but what are some other safe, organic things I can do to prevent bud worms outdoors.

-Bud:leaf:
 

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
they got me for about a pound last year because i didn't know enough to spray. i've already sprayed once this year, gonna be hitting them up every two weeks or so until about early september or so.
 

nugbuckets

Well-Known Member
great thread, thanks guys.......

cutworms can be devastating.....i am however dealing with the typical little pink/orange bud worm....i am pretty sure i know who is responsible for laying the egg in my area, but every area is different, and has different critters......scratch that, thought it was the buffalo tree hopper, but probably not...more research needed...i do know this....whatever it is, they prefer laying the egg or grub right at the onset of flower...it must be an evolutionary survival method they use instinctually knowing that the flower is about to form creating cover and food for the grub.......that being said, i have started neeming every other day, from a week before onset, til week three of flower, and it seems to have taken care of the problem....my theory is the neem kills the little egg before it has a chance to hatch a tiny grub....it is a shit ton of work, but i feel it is worth the trouble......the worst part, is they always damage the most prized part of the terminal flowers, like bud mold......potentially devastating....good luck fellas, and thanks for this thread Bud!...nugs
 

nugbuckets

Well-Known Member
BT is deff the win for budworms. (but i would spray in morning not evening so's not to have them wet all night, perfect for mildew)

Azamax for gnats, root aphids, springtails, basically anything in soil except..

Spinosad for thrips

i like the sheen you get from using neem but i hate the smell soo freakin much, azamax is basically super concentrated neem oil with an insect grown inhibitor, doesnt stink nearly as much as neem does.

keep it green you guys!

Ccoastal

this is Ccoastal's input.....excellent info, much appreciated, thanks again brother, hope you don't mind i shared your wisdom..........nugs
 

kushking42

Well-Known Member
round here cabbage loopers are prevalent.. safer bt is basically water, bt and neem from my experience dont work! you need agricultural grade stuff. i use akari for mites/bugs and conserve sc for budworms these products are $$ but its application rate is 1 tsp per gal. dont think that spraying "organic" means your buds are safe, neem is some nasty shit. if your gonna spray, spray somethin that works. the bud borers arent even out yet fyi. . . i spray with that blower sprayer with the fine mist, name escapes me at the moment, but the fine mist ensures you dont soak the buds. spray in the evening because the sun degrades the spinosad.

i have lost more to worm/rot damage than id care to admit, lets really get into this topic.. bless it up folks
 

HeartlandHank

Well-Known Member
The cutworms that attack the base of the plant?

If so, next year, take a number 10 tin can and bury it about half way deep. Plant your seed/clone in the middle of the can.
 

HeartlandHank

Well-Known Member
You can also call your County Agrilife Extension office.

A volunteer master gardener would be there to answer your call.

Or, call/email your county entomologist. He/she would be familiar with the worms in your area.

They typically will recommend everything else before chemicals. So if you want them to suggest chemical, just say you tried whatever they suggest until they get to chemicals. Or ask for chemicals specifically..
 

nugbuckets

Well-Known Member
right on KK42.....i think it should be noted that we are collectively dealing with a few different borers depending where we are located......it sounds like you guys are dealing with some nasty fuckers in cali....the ones i am dealing with suck balls too, but seem to respond well to neem.......KK42, can you share your thoughts on why you believe neem to be some nasty stuff? thanks much brother.
 

kushking42

Well-Known Member
certainly neem during veg seems ok all in all. we could split hairs about its impact on benificial organisms on the plant and its impact on beneficial insects. but in flower i just cant see coating buds with that oil. although neem seems to be effective for you i would never personally recommend that for someone as an effective means of dealing with borers or other worms. i would disagree with your assertion that neem kills the egg. although i cant prove it. More likely you are knocking off the egg from the plant. And any that dont get knocked off are unable to survive because they cant eat the neem soaked plant. All of the plants posted in my log have yet to be sprayed with anything that doesnt promote growth of the plant and beneficial organisms. Ca25 and my brix mix are all these ladies have seen to date. no bugs no mold etc. now when flowering sets i will apply spinosad in the evenings for the first month of flower weekly.
 

nugbuckets

Well-Known Member
certainly neem during veg seems ok all in all. we could split hairs about its impact on benificial organisms on the plant and its impact on beneficial insects. but in flower i just cant see coating buds with that oil. although neem seems to be effective for you i would never personally recommend that for someone as an effective means of dealing with borers or other worms. i would disagree with your assertion that neem kills the egg. although i cant prove it. More likely you are knocking off the egg from the plant. And any that dont get knocked off are unable to survive because they cant eat the neem soaked plant. All of the plants posted in my log have yet to be sprayed with anything that doesnt promote growth of the plant and beneficial organisms. Ca25 and my brix mix are all these ladies have seen to date. no bugs no mold etc. now when flowering sets i will apply spinosad in the evenings for the first month of flower weekly.
would you agree that neem could kill the tiny, tiny freshly hatched grub that is ingesting the neem coated bark trying to enter the pith?.......that is what makes sense to me...
 

kushking42

Well-Known Member
i would say a little worm doesnt like to be soaked in neem. and certainly would kill it. but if an egg hatches after u spray it could bypass all the neem covered stuff and go directly in between flower sites and start eating non-affected areas. first thing they eat is their egg, better to have spinosad/bt on the egg so they get taken out right away.
 

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
neem doesn't kill shit. it keeps the mites from reproducing, that's why you have to apply in 3, 5, and 7 day intervals, to neuter the new ones that hatch.
 

dbkick

Well-Known Member
would you agree that neem could kill the tiny, tiny freshly hatched grub that is ingesting the neem coated bark trying to enter the pith?.......that is what makes sense to me...
as with any oil IF it contacts the tiny tiny bug it's gonna suffocate it. most oils contain nothing toxic and kill by suffocation. Pyganic for a totally organic and also toxic mix.
 
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