I don't want to thread jack so just tell me if I should start another thread. I have a huge (imo) RA problem and have to get rid of them. So I want to throw out some observations after rereading my journals for what it's worth. Short term plan is treating with Merit. Long term plan is if I cannot get rid of these things is that I am going to get this batch of clones through flower and then reclone my moms and throw everything out after flower is over.
I have two batches of clones. One was for a friend before I found these demons. One batch is doing much better. I thought it was originally because I put mine (batch not doing so good) under the MH a bit early and they started drooping some. Until then they were, and now are back under T5s. The same day, that I moved mine back under t5s, I sprayed hers with Neem and
Spinosad and a few hours later put hers (good batch) under the HID and they did fine and still are, meaning they are looking much better than other batch and are still under MH. Both batches seem to be infested with the same amount. When I say good batch or bad batch I mean that the good batch is not showing any stress, leaves are totally green and full and pretty, not as much root mass though, will explain later. Bad batch is showing what I thought was light stress. Yellowing, some inward and downward curling, spotting. Still think that it's partly light stress.
Good batch was not treated with any teas, just
calmag plus and Age Old grow. Bad batch (ones that are showing stress) have been treated with bennies, teas, and carboload. Molasses have been added in teas. Bad batch had root expansion much better, quicker and denser than good batch. (more food for RAs) or (could the molasses and carboload maybe feed the RAs?)
I can't find any on the leaves of either batch? One batch (good batch)is in Roots Organic soil, the other is in a Sunshine-R. Organic mix. The bad batch that is not doing so well was also sprayed but with Aza-
Spinosad (I was running low). I sprayed to begin with since I spotted just a few spidermites. I am thinking that those were not spidermites but were RA's.
Can RA's be mistaken for SM's if someone is not really looking close enough? I did look but they looked like spidermites and I have had this happen with new soil before, just a couple spidermites appear. The leaves had speckling (freckling) exactly like spider mites.
I am wondering if the other couple times this happened (that I found speckling and SM.), and each time it was only on like three or four leaves max, if they were RA's? I do know what SM look like and even though I did give them a quick glance I do remember thinking how beefy they appeared and they were green. I know.....duh?
Anyway, I need to keep them as healthy as possible until I can get the Merit. Unless I can find a reasonably priced place that will do overnight shipping, I am going to spray with Neem/
Spinosad again and do a root drench with same. I farmed a few RAs and full strength
spinosad killed them within two to three minutes. I know it's the dilution that matters. I am going to do a couple stronger solutions. What the hell if I am going to lose some stuff might as well experiment.
If anyone knows the best place with overnight shipping for Merit I would appreciate the heads up, I am not going to order for a few more hours.