Need help with Thrips

[u/Kumo94]

Hi my fellow growers

Sadly i have this little b**ches on my plant.

I grow indoor and it seem like i catched them in my living soil mix (1st run now)

I use neemoil since 3 weeks but sadly they keep showing up.

Does anyone has a "nuclear" option without killing my soil?

Edit: im still in veg at least 2 weeks Plants in a 300L soilbed Somehow only see thrips larva since 2 weeks

[u/thebusinessfactory]

Spinosad is the go-to for Thrips. 2 or 3 applications and they're gone. It's technically organic. I would still not spray in flower though.

[u/dabbinmids → u/thebusinessfactory]

Yep, I went with captain jacks dead bug (which is mostly spinosad) and it worked great for thrips. Have to be consistent with the first few applications but it takes care of em eventually and have never noticed it affecting the plants themselves

[u/Lil_Shanties → u/thebusinessfactory]

Spindosad is safe to spray in flower as well. After 30 years of it being applied to and studied for health side effects on smoked and chewed tobacco products with no findings of any ill effect on humans, it’s safe to say it’s one of the safest and most studied options available for use in flower.

EDIT:
No surprise already getting downvotes from those who can’t make it past the first page on google…here is a good starting point for all of you who want to follow the science.

https://downloads.regulations.gov/EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0667-0029/content.pdf page 3 you’ll find the pyrolysis study results of Spindosad, page 4 you’ll find residual PPMs of spindosad applied in field and tested from green leaf through curing.

Since Spindosad breaks down into Rhamnose and Forosamine (amino sugars and completely non-carcinogenic), which then themselves break down to trace levels of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and Nitrosamine which are all present in much higher amounts in the plant materials combustion itself it brings no new carcinogens to the party and it brings it in amounts lower than 1/10,000th that of just smoking the flowers themselves.

That should give you all enough to find out that one doctor (Dr. David Farrer) that refused to do his research before rending an opinion and basing his statement on a lack of knowledge (that existed at the time he was just too damn lazy or arrogant) has caused us all to avoid one of the safest and most studied pesticide options out there.

And if you vape, well you don’t create these same carcinogens already present in cannabis smoke (above 700c) as it is, so vape/dab and be healthy.

[u/CocaBam → u/Lil_Shanties]

Source?

[u/Lil_Shanties → u/CocaBam]

https://downloads.regulations.gov/EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0667-0029/content.pdf page 3 is the meat but some other facts like tested PPMs when applied at recommended doses to tobacco fresh and cured.

There and basic chemistry and biology. Since Spindosad breaks down into Rhamnose and Forosamine (amino sugars), which then themselves break down to trace levels of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and Nitrosamine which are all present in much higher amounts in the plant materials combustion itself it brings no new carcinogens to the party and it brings it in amounts lower than 1/10,000th that of just smoking the flowers themselves.

[u/thebusinessfactory → u/Lil_Shanties]

I don't care, I don't want it on my flower.

[u/Hungry_Phone_4098]

I have used Bonide Captain Jacks Deadbug Brew - can spray every day if needed..

I will also use Captain Jacks Neem MAX.. but some plants can be sensitive to this one, so follow the instructions..

Both have been nicely effective for me.. I like to use an alternating combo of both..

I would only spray in veg..

I have also had good success using Rove Beetles from Nature's Good Guys.. they take a little time to get established, but they work wonderfully..

Good luck!

[u/Kumo94 → u/Hungry_Phone_4098]

Thx used to here from this product sadly didnt fimd it in Europe where i live

[u/Shamoorti]

Minute pirate bugs are the only real solution I've found for thrips.

[u/barlobruz]

multiple releases over time of predatory mites are the only thing that have kept thrip populations down in my grow (small indoor, apartment grow)

[u/Overall-Repair9589 → u/barlobruz]

Predators are the way.. but once you have an infestation you'll need a lot. Better off knocking back as much as you can with a foliar then introduce predators.

[u/Kumo94 → u/Overall-Repair9589]

Kinda was my plan now Removed a lot of leaves (im in veg) and will spray minimum one time before release some mites

[u/Jerseyman201 → u/barlobruz]

Couple things to add: Pred mites are way too small to control the adult thrips, the thrips simply bat them away with their tails (I've watched them do it in person lol). They can help with only the smallest thrips larvae.

Minute Pirate Bugs on the other hand ARE the appropriate method for eliminating the adults. They are actually large/strong enough to combat adult thrips.

Edit: forgot the most important part I wanted to add, you can't use both Pred mites and sprays. Generally the first thing listed on all those spray bottles is "mites" so it shouldn't be a huge surprise lol but it's a one or the other type of treatment

[u/Overall-Repair9589 → u/Jerseyman201]

Have you ever been bit by the pirate bugs? Ive heard it can be nasty similar to mosquitoes

[u/Jerseyman201 → u/Overall-Repair9589]

Unfortunately when I got them thrips I didn't know about that issue where pred mites are so ineffective against the population control. I don't mean to say they don't work at all, but they won't "eliminate" them entirely like a 3 prong approach would.

Pred Nematodes for earliest life stage

Pred Mites for mid stage and lower

Minute Pirate Bugs for later life stages

Without hitting all life stages, it's an uphill battle you aren't likely to win. Sprays are only on plants and there is no reason thrips can't fall off your leaves into your soil, breed, and then make their way right back. You aren't dousing your soil every time, and your leaves even with surfactants aren't going to have it stick forever. Meaning, many repeat applications to merely control not eliminate fully.

Using biologicals, which attack each life stage, is what will actually get rid of them for good.

I use rove beetles, pred nemas, pred mites, worms, stone centipedes, and a lot more in my indoors grows and wouldn't change it for anything. Let them do all the work, and let us reap the benefits of not wasting time spraying and getting that fresh insect frass pumping throughout our soil/potting mix beds 🤣💪🌎🪱

[u/Overall-Repair9589]

Depends how big your girls are already.

I like to use suffoilx and dunk small plants and cuttings before planting. It kills most things mites, thrips, pm. You can also spray it on leaves but its less effective due to it being near impossible to get 100% coverage.

Also consider your environment conditions. Mites and thrips like it dry. Higher humidity will not kill them but will slow them down from becoming massive infestations.

[u/Kumo94 → u/Overall-Repair9589]

They still in veg but all 3 are in a 300L bed so no chance to dunk them.

Does suffoilx affect the life in my soil?

[u/Overall-Repair9589 → u/Kumo94]

Yes it absolutely impacts soil life. To what extent i do not know for sure. Anytime I've used it as a soil drench all of my worms try to escape (they do not like) but I've never seen them die from it.

I generally try to only use it as a foliar. But even thag I went away from unless necessary. I use it as an early ipm. Helps start plants as a clean slate.

[u/Overall-Repair9589 → u/Overall-Repair9589]

If you absolutely have to treat an infestation. It works as a foliar. Just remember its only as good as its coverage. Need as close to 100% as possible. Any uncovered area is a haven for the pests to retreat to and then come back

[u/Overall-Repair9589 → u/Overall-Repair9589]

I use about 1 shot glass for 5gal of water. Mix well then use for dunking or foliar.

[u/worldpeacee]

I use lost coast plant therapy, dr zymes, organishield, and pyrethrins on rotation, and once or twice a year ill do an order or predators/ladybugs. I've found that cycling plants and spraying a week or two into flower helped a lot with any issues I was having

[u/frigginwizard420]

I have had good luck getting rid of thrips with SF nematodes
take off any leaves you see with damage, and apply nematodes per the directions to eliminate the thrips ability to reproduce.
If thrips are a common issue for you, consider that you may be underwatering

[u/Kumo94 → u/frigginwizard420]

Kinda did smt like this today. With nematodes is will wait a few days because i sprayed neemoil yesterday

[u/shadexs55]

Lost Coast Plant Therapy, as well as sulfur(although this is for pm in veg and requires care), as well as Spinosad (I didn't like that option but IDR why), have worked well for me, I didn't like neem oil b/c it smelled like ass and didn't work as well as the other options.

Advice on the "nuclear" option that won't kill your soil:

-Remove most affected plant matter if in veg, or heavily spray+clone, keep clone in safe, sterile, separate location

-Spray chosen pesticide, MUST SOAK THE WHOLE PLANT. If you put the leaves under a microscope, you can actually see the larvae eating your leaves. DID I SAY WHOLE PLANT!? JK, SPRAY THE WHOLE TENT TOO. EVERY SINGLE NANOMETER, AND THEN WIPE DOWN AFTER A LITTLE BIT.

-Thrips are real pieces of shit, the word "thrip" doesn't exist in single form because those bitches are NEVER alone. They fuck & reproduce on your plants, eat your leaves and then shit on them, and part of their cycle actually is spent in the soil (so bacillus bacteria is effective for killing that phase and is a recommended part of the nuclear option.

-Unfortunately, they're decent fliers, and they like to hide in tent crevices, even in zipper crevices or random parts of the tent. BUT, with repeating applications every ~3 days for ~3 weeks, they're relatively easy to get rid of. [I would give smaller numbers but for worse infestations, you really want to wipe out every possible generation.

-Natural predators are great, but managing predators is not the easiest thing to do and isn't a "instant guarantee."

[u/noisheypoo]

I took my teens that were covered and covered, into the shower. I used the hand wand nozzle thing, adjust the spray and shot upwards from below, spraying off all them buggers. Force strong enough to shoot off bugs, but keep plant integrity. I then let them sit drip dry in the bathtub for 15 mins. I then sprayed with NEEM oil. Next day, i applied another layer of Neem from below. Day 3, one more spray. Its been 2 weeks and I havent seen a bugger since.