I need to know about rotenone and pyrethrum sprays. What the hell is it with the spider mites? They seem to begetting worse. Under the microscope they are starting to look like Bush and Cheney!Mr. Steven KLooking at spider mites close up is definitely a scary thing! Avoid weapons of mass destruction! Pick the properRotenone is an extract of roots of several plants including Derris species, Lonchocarpus species, and Tephrosia species. This poison is allon-selective contact insecticide, stomach poison, and slow-acting nerve poison. Rotenone controls of beetles, caterpillars, flies, mosquitoes, thrips, weevils, and beneficial insects. They have to eat it to die. Rotenone does not kill spider mites.Pyrethrum, a botanical pesticide, is extracted from the flowers of the pyrethrum chrysanthemum, Chrysanth-emum coccineum and C. cinerariifoliu. Pyrethrins— pyrethrins, cinerins, and jasmolins—are the active ingredients in natural pyrethrum and kills insects on contact. Pyrethrum is often combined with rotenone or ryania to ensure broad spectrum effectiveness. Aerosol forms contain synergists. It is abroad-spectrum contact pesticide, that kills aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and insects including beneficials. It is very effective to control flying insects, but they must receive a killing knockdown dose, or they may revive and buzz off.Spot spray plants infested with spider mites. Aerosol sprays are most effective on spider mites. The spray is ice-cold when it exits the nozzle and if applied closer than 30 cm it can burn foliage. Aerosol spray contains a synergist, piperonyl butoxide (PB0) or MGK264. Both are toxic to people. Pyrethrum dissipates within a few hours in the presence of air, HID light, and sunlight. 0vercome this limitation by applying just before turning off the lights, the circulation, and vent fans for the night. 0ne manufacturer, Whidmere®, offers encapsulated pyrethrum in aerosol form called Exclude®. As the spray fogs out of the nozzle, a bubble forms around each droplet of pyrethrum mist. The outside coating keeps the pyrethrum intact and extends its life for several days. When a pest touches the bubble, it bursts, releasing the pyrethrum. Liquid and wettable pyrethrum applied with apumptypesprayer isdifficult to apply under leaves where spider mites live.

I recently purchased a clone machine, fully equipped including net baskets. After the clone has rooted, how do you remove the clone and roots from the net basket without damaging the roots?GmanRemoving roots, especially if they are more than a 2 cm long, without damaging them a little is virtually impossible, without cutting the net pot. You can minimize the damage and young roots will grow anew, but there will be scrapes, and open wounds in the delicate little roots, an open door to pests and diseases. You can submerge the root ball in cold water to slow biological activity. llet pots are inexpensive and can be easily replaced. Use a pair of pointed scissors or pruners to cut away the net pot so that the roots suffer a minimum of damage. If you are growing in expanded clay pellets, the roots will be jostled around and suffer more damage. If the net pots are filled with rockwool roots will suffer less damage. Ifyou are transplanting into soil or soilless mix, you can plant the entire net pot. If you plan to harvest the plant in a less than three months this could be the best option. If the plant grows much longer roots will gain girth and the plastic netting could impair growth.

Does it slow down the plant by topping the main bud? Does it affect other buds and knock them back from their full potential? I’m talking about 3-4-metre sativas that are in the last two months of flowering.ZotPruning or topping plants redirects their growth hormones. By pruning selectively you manipulate auxin hormone levels in branch and flower tips. Removing a branch or branch tip causes hormonal balances to shift. Cutting the meristem (top growth tip) of a cannabis plant will diffuse hormones (auxins) and cause greater concentrations in lower branch tips, which will cause lower buds to gain girth and weight.Always use clean instruments when pruning. A sharp pair of pruners will work best in this case. Sanitize clippers and blades between cuts by dipping in rubbing alcohol. After pruning, the open wound invites diseases and pests. Wash your hands and tools before and after pruning. Make cuts at a 45-degree angle to discourage moisture from sitting on wounds. When you prune during flowering, floral Hormones are diffused and flowering is retarded. It takes a month or longer for hormones to build up to pre-pruning concentrations.Remove spindly branches and growth that is not collecting light energy, including dead and dying leaves. Pruning lower branches concentrates auxins in upper branches which forces growth upwards. Cut lower branches off cleanly at the stem so no stub is left to rot and attract pests and diseases. Ifyou must harvest a little smoke prematurely, removing a few lower branches will diminish the harvest the least. Pruning out spindly branches and growth inside plants opens up the interior and provides more and better air circulation. It also allows light to reach deeper inside plants.