Professional Marijuana Grower May-June 2019 Issue | Page 10

Identifi cation The most obvious initial signs of a spider mite prob- lem are leaves that appear misted with yellow spray paint. This “spray paint” effect is caused by the spider mites sucking precious nutrients from the undersides of the leaves. Another defi nitive spider mite sign, which appears once they have become fi rmly established, is spider mite webbing. This looks like a tightly woven spider web. These webs can be found on leaves or in the intersections of branches. In extreme cases, canna- bis fl owers may be fully encased in the webbing. The spider mites themselves are very small and diffi cult to see with the naked eye. With a pocket magnifi er, a grower can usually make them out. They look like a tiny tick and can be red, brown, green, or spotted in color. (smoking). Until there is more acceptance of cannabis as an agricultural crop, it is better to be safe than sorry and just avoid the use of chemical miticides. Spider Mite Treatment Options There are many different treatment options available for combating spider mites. When dealing with spider mites in the fl owering stage of cannabis, it is strongly advised to avoid any chemical miticides. Most chemical miticides can be extremely dangerous and even the ones designed for use on edible plants are not neces- sarily safe for cannabis. Agricultural regulating agen- cies rate the safety of a product for its known consump- tion methods, namely eating; however, the main mode of consumption for most cannabis users is combustion NOW available in the US Actively seeking Distributors in the United States Unleash the Beast After six years of research, testing & development Diablo introduced its complete line of nutritional products, supplements, rooting enhancers and growth promoters to the Indoor gardening market. Read about our Smart Nutrients technology on our website at www.diablonutrients.com For more information contact Tim at [email protected] or [email protected] 1 - [phone] 10 • Professional Marijuana Grower Benefi cial Insects Benefi cial insects are the safest pest insect control when it comes to the health of both the grower and the cannabis product’s end-user. Benefi cial insects leave no residue or potentially harmful substances on the plant, which means they can be safely used during the can- nabis plant’s fl owering/ripening stage. There are many different benefi cial insects available that will effectively combat spider mites, including spider mite preda- tors  (phytoseiulus persimilis, neoseiulus californicus, mesoseiulus longipes), spider mite destroyers (stethorus punctillum), predatory midge (feltiella acarisuga), and ladybugs (coccinellidae). Miticides There are many chemical and organic insecticides available that are designed specifi cally for mites (miti- cides). Above all else, diligence is the key to eliminating a spider mite infestation. Miticides (insecticides created specifi cally for mites) are generally the best option for complete eradication. To achieve complete eradication, a cannabis grower should treat the garden every 3-4 days for at least a month. This rigorous treatment will kill any new spider mites that may hatch (hatching occurs every 3-4 days). Although some miticides may claim to destroy the eggs, spider mite eggs are extremely durable and seem to hatch no matter what is sprayed on them. Chemical Miticides Although I, personally, never use chemical miticides re- gardless of the stage of growth, many cannabis growers employ chemical miticides during the vegetative stage. Some chemical miticides can cause serious health issues to, not only the end consumer, but also the grower during the application process. This is why it is so important to follow the application instructions explicitly. Some chemical miticides commonly used by cannabis growers are Avid (active ingredient abamectin), Akari (active May/June 2019