1st grow ever. Dealing with pests.

  • Thread starter darkerfalz
  • Start date
  • Tagged users None
darkerfalz

darkerfalz

30
8
Hey everybody. I recently posted here awhile back asking for help on my first grow. Since then there's been quite a bit of growth on my plants, but recently have noticed a few concerning things.

I first started to notice that it looked like something was munching on my plants leaves. No matter how hard I tried though I couldn't find any pests besides the occasional what I think were fungus gnats but Ive heard that aphids look kinda like fungus gnats once theyve matured and grown wings so idk for sure.

Fast forward to yesterday, was doing some low stress training on one plant a couple days prior and the on this day Inoticed I may have bee a bit too greedy/rough with one of the plants and accidentally snapped one of the main branches at the stalk a bit. It wasn't snapped off completely, but there was a bit of an opening into main stalk and to my horror I see a small gang of VERY VERY tiny white mite looking creatures crawling from INSIDE the stalk! I panicked (and still an panicking) and inspected my other plants. The only mites I could find were outside the pots, but all plants have some chomping here and there on a few leaves.

The plants themselves look pretty okay. A bit of drooping and some leaves getting lighter but nothing crazy. One of the plants is in flower and the other too are showing pre-flowers. I am getting some twisted leaves on new growth. I know my watering schedule is working well because I have a plant in a tent downstairs that thriving.
IMG_0456.jpg


I've done a massive amount of googling but I really couldnt determine exactly what my issue was. I narrowed it down to Aphids/Root aphids, Spider mites, broad mites, or some other form predatory mite. Ive read some mites can be beneficial, but Im new to all this so I just want to make sure I don't do anything drastic and damage my plant further.

I busted out my microscope and snagged a couple of pics. It was very hard because these mites move quite fast for their size. After examining these close though it seems to be some form of baby spider mite or broad mite? The front "antennae" looking things resemble a spider mite/broad mite the most to me as it doesnt seem aphids and from the looks of pics aphids seem to be a bit bigger. There's no webbing though so Im leaning more towards broad mites rn.

Snapshot@2021_0105_132936.jpg
Snapshot@2021_0105_132932_LI.jpg


Anyways if someone could attempt to help me at identifying this that would be great. I was thinking of grabbing some neem oil today but I wanted to get some opinions before I made any moves. Any help is much appreciated!
 
Last edited:
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
263
Fungus gnats will go in cracks In the stalk. Were they larvae from gnats or were these mites that were inside the break?
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
263
Probably something similar to this
 
darkerfalz

darkerfalz

30
8
Fungus gnats will go in cracks In the stalk. Were they larvae from gnats or were these mites that were inside the break?

These were mites crawling out of the stalk, def not larvae.


Probably something similar to this

Hmm yeah possibly. Im REALLYhoping its a predator mite. I think if anything it looks like Hypoaspis Miles or possibly Neoseiulus Californicus?




Hypoaspis Miles Strtiolaelaps A1FK6E large
1151201 neoseiulus californicus 600x600



There's no eggs or mites on the underside of leaves.
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
263
I would grab some parafilm grafting tape for next time you snap a branch. It's cheap enough. I don't think you have anything to be concerned about with those mites. I think it might be a hypo now that you mention it. They just cruise around. Kind of weird they were all in the stalk but still I wouldn't be concerned.
 
Flexnerb

Flexnerb

1,288
163
These were mites crawling out of the stalk, def not larvae.




Hmm yeah possibly. Im REALLYhoping its a predator mite. I think if anything it looks like Hypoaspis Miles or possibly Neoseiulus Californicus?




View attachment 1075834View attachment 1075835


There's no eggs or mites on the underside of leaves.
With mites from how i understand it...its all about the mouth/chewing parts...yours have a sucker thing they poke with and suck the innards out with...h miles for sure does that...i font know about the others..

Im with homesteader on this
 
darkerfalz

darkerfalz

30
8
I would grab some parafilm grafting tape for next time you snap a branch. It's cheap enough. I don't think you have anything to be concerned about with those mites. I think it might be a hypo now that you mention it. They just cruise around. Kind of weird they were all in the stalk but still I wouldn't be concerned.


Yeah I already snapped a branch from before and taped it up and it worked like a charm!

The most recent snap wasnt as bad, a few soft ties to prop it up a bit and its holding up still.

With mites from how i understand it...its all about the mouth/chewing parts...yours have a sucker thing they poke with and suck the innards out with...h miles for sure does that...i font know about the others..

Im with homesteader on this

Ah I see. After examining my plants again Ive noticed some strange things.

On the flowering plant the new growths look like this

IMG 0458


While on the plant next to the "infected" plant, we have just a few of the fan leaves with some small white/yellow specs that resemble mite damage.

IMG 0459
IMG 0460



And across all plants we have lots of little holes like this

InkedIMG 0462 LI


Is it possible that I have both predator and pest mites??
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
263
I would assume they have a food source. That flower is not happy
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
263
The fan leaf damage looks nutrient related to me and not pests. Thrips are probably present somewhere if you have the mites but I didn't see any damage. The flower was looking like this for how long?
 
darkerfalz

darkerfalz

30
8
The fan leaf damage looks nutrient related to me and not pests. Thrips are probably present somewhere if you have the mites but I didn't see any damage. The flower was looking like this for how long?

Flower started looking like this maybe 3-4 days ago? It started off as droopy from underwatering, I watered and the next day it perked up but the newer growth started to come in like that afterwards.

I’m using fox farm happy frog soil with down to earth dry amendments. I waited until about the 35 day mark to amend. Since these are autos and were showing signs of preflower, I mixed in 2 tbsp per gallon of 4-8-4 rose and flower bloom with some worm castings. Been watering them with calmag here and there since I don’t have dolomite lime and been watering about once a week with a mix molasses and great white mycorrhizae. Using RO water.
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
263
Nutrients interact in strange ways. Too much of one locks out another from the plant. What is npk of happy frog? Sounds like it will be fine but just hold off adding anything for a bit and let someone chime in who has grown in happy frog. How much molasses are you using?
 
darkerfalz

darkerfalz

30
8
Nutrients interact in strange ways. Too much of one locks out another from the plant. What is npk of happy frog? Sounds like it will be fine but just hold off adding anything for a bit and let someone chime in who has grown in happy frog. How much molasses are you using?


Really appreciate all your help. I chose Happy Frog because I've heard its a bit less hot than the Ocean Forest. Off the back of the bag it says 0.30%-0.30%-0.05% N-P-K with 1% Calcium.

Im using 1 tbsp of molasses per gallon of water roughly once a week.

My next grow Im planning on coco and bottled nutes. I don't like the lack of control I have with basic dry amendments and soil so far.
 
Last edited:
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
263
When did you feed it the rose food? How often? Just that once?
 
Flexnerb

Flexnerb

1,288
163
Really appreciate all your help. I chose Happy Frog because I've heard its a bit less hot than the Ocean Forest. Off the back of the bag it says 0.30%-0.30%-0.05% N-P-K with 1% Calcium.

Im using 1 tbsp of molasses per gallon of water roughly once a week.

My next grow Im planning on coco and bottled nutes. I don't like the lack of control I have with basic dry amendments and soil so far.
Molases i wouldnt go more than 1 tbsp per 5 gals. Theres your issue...ill bet you have too much K in the pot and its muckin up the magnesium...its a start...how to fix it?

What is you runoff ppm? You can do a little flush how many gallons are your pots?

Look into mulders chart. It will get you on the right track. Coco you have to water feed 3 to 5 times a day or more..depending on the obvious variables temp, air flow, and humidity...
 
darkerfalz

darkerfalz

30
8
When did you feed it the rose food? How often? Just that once?


Top dressed the soil around day 35. That was maybe 15 days ago give or take.


Molases i wouldnt go more than 1 tbsp per 5 gals. Theres your issue...ill bet you have too much K in the pot and its muckin up the magnesium...its a start...how to fix it?

What is you runoff ppm? You can do a little flush how many gallons are your pots?

Look into mulders chart. It will get you on the right track. Coco you have to water feed 3 to 5 times a day or more..depending on the obvious variables temp, air flow, and humidity...

Hmm okay, Ive only watered with that molasses mixture twice so far since I started late in the cycle, about right after I top dressed them, but Ill cut back. I just got my TDS meter in the mail a couple days ago so Ill get some runoff tomorrow test it out. Im just going off of someone else's recommendations and 1 tbsp per gallon every week is what they said they did in FFOF.

Im also okay with a more intensive watering/feeding schedule if it means I can more quickly remedy nutrient issues.
 
Flexnerb

Flexnerb

1,288
163
Top dressed the soil around day 35. That was maybe 15 days ago give or take.




Hmm okay, Ive only watered with that molasses mixture twice so far since I started late in the cycle, about right after I top dressed them, but Ill cut back. I just got my TDS meter in the mail a couple days ago so Ill get some runoff tomorrow test it out. Im just going off of someone else's recommendations and 1 tbsp per gallon every week is what they said they did in FFOF.

Im also okay with a more intensive watering/feeding schedule if it means I can more quickly remedy nutrient issues.
How close are the lights and what lights are you using?

Hey, homesteader knows his stuff too so do a lot of other folks on here
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
263
I think the rose food made your flower limp. Could be wrong but I bet it comes back in a day or two healthy
 
darkerfalz

darkerfalz

30
8
How close are the lights and what lights are you using?

Hey, homesteader knows his stuff too so do a lot of other folks on here


Im using a Mars Hydro TSW2000 at 100% at 18" above the canopy.

I appreciate both of yalls help.


I think the rose food made your flower limp. Could be wrong but I bet it comes back in a day or two healthy


Hmm okay. I did go out and get some Dr. Earth Bud & Bloom recently for my next dry amendment attempt.

Do you think I should feed at all again or should I just ride this one out?
 
Flexnerb

Flexnerb

1,288
163
Top dressed the soil around day 35. That was maybe 15 days ago give or take.




Hmm okay, Ive only watered with that molasses mixture twice so far since I started late in the cycle, about right after I top dressed them, but Ill cut back. I just got my TDS meter in the mail a couple days ago so Ill get some runoff tomorrow test it out. Im just going off of someone else's recommendations and 1 tbsp per gallon every week is what they said they did in FFOF.

Im also okay with a more intensive watering/feeding schedule if it means I can more quickly remedy nutrient issues.

Do the runoff test when its time to water....ph and ppm...your ph is more important in soil than ppm. Unless you over fed them which might not be the case. Ppm will tell you if over fed. Ph will tell you whats available and not. Im still learning myself brother....i got a veggie garden outside been doing it for 7 years. I have a little exp...i can say this if you were outside straight away in the ground 1 tbsp molasses per gal would be ok....the microbes would eat the hell out of it..indoors no!
 
Top Bottom