Spider Mite

Spider mites are members of the Acari family Tetranychidae, which includes about 1,200 species. They generally live on the undersides of leaves of plants, where they may spin protective silk webs, and they can cause damage by puncturing the plant cells to feed.

Losing a crop is the worst possible outcome for a grower. Even worst is when you find out it could have been prevented. Applying and staying on top of your IPM can save you a world of heartache.
After losing a crop to PM and having to reset my garden because of spider mites. I have vowed to never run into these problems again (Knock on wood).

Besides a few fungus gnats here and there. Most gardens stays free of any damaging pest (mites, aphids, etc.)

Like to know how you can do it?
IPM,IPM, IPM. Treating your garden like you have the problems before you actually get the problems is key. Pest can be controled. A weekly spray application of different products is all it takes to keep pest at bay.(*Remember to use products with organic ingredients, you’ll eventually be smoking this stuff *) My go too’s are Method 1 PPS  Green Cleaner, Neem Oil

Autoflowers are a little more difficult to set up proper IPM practices with. Average flowering starting around the 30 day mark this leaves you little time to eradicate any problems. All though most of the products on this list state you can spray up to the week before harvest. I wouldn’t recommend spraying anything once you see buds starting to form. This leaves you only a few weeks of “veg” time. It’s crucial that you stay on it. Autoflowers are a little more sensitive than photo’s but is important that you follow the labels of whatever product you are using. Don’t apply anything at half strength or three-quarters. Use the exact amount directed.

If you only apply a pest spray at half strength there is a good chance it wont be affective. So how do you combat the sensitivity of an Auto with this? A few ways. One, spray only the bottom set of leaves. Wait a day and see how the plant took it. If no negative effects are visible you can spray the plant. Another way is to spray the plant wait a few hours then spray/rinse the plant off with water only. Finally, instead of spraying you can saturate a qtip with whatever product you use and wipe underneath the bottoms of the leaves only. This is where most pest lay their eggs and hang out. Don’t forget when you are spraying, not only the tops of the leaves but underneath as well.

After finding what products work best for your needs, keeping up a spraying regimen is quite simple. Pick a product, apply. Wait 8-10 days apply another product. Repeat. Don’t wait for a problem be pro active about your growing. Start an IPM regiment today

What causes spider mites?

A: Honestly, mites are so tiny that you might be carrying them into your garden or indoor grow room yourself. They can ride in on your skin, your shoes, your clothes. Your dog or cat might have mites on them. But the most common source for spider mites is actually live plants

How do you get rid of spider mites?

To get rid of spider mites, start by removing any affected parts of the plant by cutting off leaves or stems with gardening shears. Then, begin to regularly wipe down your house plants with soapy water on a cloth or paper towel, to remove any additional mites that might be living on the plants.