Has anybody used Diatomaceous earth all the way through flower?

[bguwop420]

I've been using DE the whole time ..but in flower only on the soil, the problem is when I use the duster it sends little bits of DE dust flying in the air and I'm worried about that dust residue getting on my buds.
In week 4 and 5 of flower right now
Idk what else to do to protect my soil
Any advice or tips are appreciated

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

I don't use DE on my plants at all, only on the soil. Be careful not to breathe that stuff.

 

[BudBogart]

We don’t use the duster. We apply to the soil around the base.

 

[PahPahCee]

DE is high in arsenic unfortunately

 

[bguwop420]

We don’t use the duster. We apply to the soil around the base.

What do u use to apply it

 

[bguwop420]

I don't use DE on my plants at all, only on the soil. Be careful not to breathe that stuff.

Do you think if any residue did fly up on buds that it would come off with bud washing

 

[bguwop420]

We don’t use the duster. We apply to the soil around the base.

And by base do you mean the stalk or around the pot

 

[Zill]

DE is Si. What does it do? A fine powder like that won’t help with soil structure.

 

[BudBogart]

And by base do you mean the stalk or around the pot

Around the stalk aka trunk.

 

[BudBogart]

DE is Si. What does it do? A fine powder like that won’t help with soil structure.

When dry, de has very sharp edges that will cut up small insects, killing or preventing access. We don’t use nearly enough to affect soil structure

 

[BudBogart]

What do u use to apply it

Latex type gloves and spill around trunk, maybe six inches.

 

[Zill]

Bud,

I think you’re referring to boric acid crystals. Those crystals get in between the legs and exoskeleton of insects. The leg movements and crystals wear holes in the exoskeleton. They essentially evaporate to death.

Not sure if dine as finely divided DE powder does the same thing.

Zill.

 

[Zill]

Sorry…

Not sure if finely divided DE powder….

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Sorry…

Not sure if finely divided DE powder….

It desiccates them, but I'm not sure if the way it happens is the same way as Boric Acid. DE absorbs oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect's exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive make it happen faster. It's only effective if it's kept dry. I drilled holes in the lid of a jar to make a shaker and use it to spread DE when the top of the soil dries after watering. I mostly use it for fungus gnats.