Neem oil is great until it she starts flowering
I’ve encountered some bugs too but it looks harmless. But if you see a whitefly one day that’s a harmful one… 
(look for something that looks like this)
Neem oil, Yes Yes!!
Also lightly mist your leaves with a spray bottle & sprinkle some Diatomaceous Earth powder on the wet leaves. This will dry out after a little while, insects, bugs & flies will almost instantly die. This is harmless to your plant, as well as humans.
- You can also add a few ladybugs to your tent which is actually the best, they love thrisps & leafy spiders, ect.
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH: EFFECTIVE NATURAL PEST CONTROL
Nobody wants to see this first thing in the morning when they head out to the berry patch.
And if you’re visiting my homestead during the gardening months, you’ll hear us refer to “D.E.” almost daily.
The powdery substance, also known as diatomaceous earth, is one of my favorite weapons against garden pests.
What on Earth is DE?
Diatomaceous earth, the official name for DE, is not new.
A popular topic of discussion by many gardeners in recent times, it is an organic gardening pesticide that has been used by some farmers and pest control professionals for decades.
In fact, the powder is often a go-to remedy for household flea infestations as well.
The compound is made from the ground-up bodies of prehistoric diatomic fossils.
When ground, these tiny oceanic skeletal pieces are very sharp, and produce the effect of many miniature razor blades on the respiratory systems of any smaller insect or bug that inhales it. It also causes drying of the mucous membranes of breathing holes and lungs in bugs.
Highly magnified diatomaceous earth shows the intricate fossils that make up the substance. Photo courtesy of Auburn University Food Systems Institute. Used with permission.
Effective against slugs, beetles, worms, fleas, mites, and most any spider or insect, it is not much of a concern for larger creatures. Because the particles are so small, DE is safe to use around other wildlife, children, and pets.
Anyone who is particularly sensitive to particulates (such as those with asthma or any other type of breathing condition) will want to avoid directly breathing in the dust.
My husband is one such person, and he wears a dust mask to avoid coughing fits and temporary irritation.
What’s the Best Way to Apply It?
My husband carries around a recycled carpet cleaning powder container that he uses to sprinkle liberal amounts of diatomaceous earth on plants in our garden that are the most susceptible to insect damage.
While we may have used Sevin or another toxic product in the past, DE works just as well for us – without the worry of our children ingesting trace amounts of toxic chemicals with each garden snack.
You can sprinkle it directly on the ground where slugs are most likely to reproduce. Or, you can apply a light dusting to the plants themselves.
Diatomaceous earth must be reapplied after every rain or heavy dew to be effective. It’s important to remember that wet DE does not have the drying, cutting effect that’s needed to be work against pests.
All DE is Not the Same
It is important to note that “food grade” diatomaceous earth is the only kind appropriate for use in gardens, and around pets and kids. There are other types that may contain contaminates that are harmful if inhaled or ingested.
Studies on food grade DE, however, have shown it to be relatively harmless to people, even if inhaled in rather large amounts.
As harmless as the food grade version can be for your household, the regular stuff may cause major problems.
The type that is often used in pool filtration systems is not safe to use around kids and pets. Be sure to purchase food grade only and check the packaging for this designation.
As helpful as many garden store employees can be, many are not aware of the differences. It is up to you to protect your family and flock by reading labels, and ensuring that you are introducing a safe pest treatment to your garden.
For more information on the safe use of diatomaceous earth, we like this helpful resource from our friends at Pest Strategies.
DE in the Environment
I want to keep our acreage, and the neighboring land around it, free from harmful chemicals. It’s important that it continues to be a source of food and shelter for my kids, grandkids, and their families.
Diatomaceous earth gives me some piece of mind in that area, as it doesn’t negatively affect the soil or surrounding waterways when used over time. In fact, DE is a sustainable source of silicon dioxide, an essential ingredient needed for poultry development.
Chickens that eat vegetation treated by diatomaceous earth may potentially experience significant health benefits.
Note: While I do not live near the oceans or any major waterways, runoff containing DE simply redeposits the silicon that originally came from the ocean back into it. The silicon continues, undissolved, until it can be used by certain marine life species in building their exoskeletons!
Squash Bugs: A Case Study
If there is one foe of our garden that I have despised more than any, it is the squash bug. Our soil is perfect for inviting these destructive creatures in, and they have taken out hundreds of pounds of potential pumpkins, butternuts, and melons over the years.
Before diatomaceous earth, we would wait anxiously for them to hatch, then move quickly to harvest before they overtook everything. Now, we have a new plan:
- Each day in late summer that the squash beetle is likely to lay eggs, check the undersides of the squash plants. If we see eggs, we act!
- Using gloved hands, carefully remove the eggs, being careful not to tear the leaves.
- Immediately sprinkle DE on the tops of all of the plants.
- Reapply after each rain.
- Continue checking for eggs and apply DE throughout the life of the squash plant.
- Discontinue application when the harvest is done.
It seems like work, but the reward is sweet! We experience an abundant squash harvest, with no rotting or dead vines, and organic food for my family.
I can’t tell you how good it feels not to worry about chemical residue getting into my family’s meals.
We have more tips on identifying and controlling squash bugs here.
Other Uses for DE
Food grade diatomaceous earth can be a powerful tool for many home and garden ailments.
Added to a sandbox filled with dirt, it makes a good dust bath for chickens, and can keep bird lice and fleas away.
For this use, look for concentrations of the product that contain less than 1% of other ingredients to make sure you are using the purest form for animals.
It is also a potent remedy for fleas in the house. After you find your first flea, liberally sprinkle DE on your carpet and other cloth surfaces, and allow to sit for a minimum of 12 hours before vacuuming.
You may need to repeat this after a week, or when flea eggs are likely to hatch. Repeat 3-4 times to rid your home of stubborn indoor fleas.
A Word on Bee Protection
Bees are our friends. Gardeners should be especially mindful of any products used that may cause issues for our pollinators.
If your garden happens to be attractive to bees, you may consider covering any treated plants with a sheet during the day when bees visit.
Keep an eye on which plants are more likely to bring the bees around, and make note for when the time comes to apply DE.
Most of the plants will be in a flowering stage, which may or may not be during the same time pests are likely to attack.
Another option (that I used and it worked beautifully) is ladybugs… This was before I switched to coco though. I had a ridiculous infestation of fungus gnats. I dumped this bag of live ladybugs in there and they ate tf out of them in a week.
By infestation, I mean I had to wear a mask to open the tent or I would inhale several of them. It was bad and this worked very well.
Don’t get me wrong, DE is probably better for preventative and quicker elimination haha. Also, I did lose a couple dozen ladybugs to my fans 
Yes of course!! I use Diatomaceous Earth only for treating unwanted crawlers, bugs, insects, Gnats, Mites, Worms, ect…
I sprinkle it around my tent as-well…
Ahh I love that idea. I’ll pick some up after work. Nothing has annoyed me more than pests -_-
Lightly mist your trees with a spray bottle, then sprinkle DE onto your canopy… It will then disperse evenly. Just have to wait for it to dry again for the DE to be effective.
*Preferably during a warm sunny day to avoid excess humidity…
Here’s a great podcast. In this cultivation section they talk about white fly control and the harm it does to the plant. They explain what to look for and just really good info on pest control.
Not sure where in the world you are, but I’m on the west coast of B.C. and had these same bugs on my outdoor last summer. I kept an eye on them and noticed they caused 0 damage to leaves and flower. I just let them be.
OR Kill them!! Especially indoor cultivars you dont want pest/infection spores in your grow tent space… I wouldn’t even leave them on my outdoor trees tbh…
There are multiple ways to treat pest/bugs/mould, it comes to personal preference & style i guess. DE Works wonders for me. TBH I’d rather try something.
“Better to try & Fail, as failing to try” Get the point… lol
@QuickMaffs @Stoney1BudTokie @Yogi420420
If anyone is interested in getting a very very good light for a 4x4 tent/area but this light is for a 4x4 minimum or bigger but for a 4x4 area it will be the best possible performance because your plants will get the most light intensity and then you can add about 30% more nutrients and supplement with CO2 and you will see your harvest weight will be between 30 to 40% higher than normal. This Black dog led light is tuned specifically for cannabis/hemp plants and they are one of the top companies in the industry today. Watch some of their grow along videos and see how much weight they harvest from four plants in a 4x4 tent and it’ll blow your mind what this light actually does. This light used to be $2,300 but now it’s $1,700 and only because the new model came out which I purchased already and received it back in January 
I was one of the first guys that got that new Phyto-Max 3 light 
This price of $1,700 just happened because even though the new series came out they still were selling them at their regular price.
Just so everyone understands I don’t get paid for this post and I don’t work for Black dog led and I don’t market for them and I don’t have any affiliate programs with them either so this is strictly to share this information with anyone who is looking to get a very good light and save $500 from the sticker price. They never discount their lights that much, it’s usually up to $100 off and that’s as far as it goes, so to see $500 off is unheard of and I thought of sharing it with you guys in case anyone is looking for a good light.
I might actually grab this haha. Just did taxes and looking at nearly 20k. Thanks kids 
@QuickMaffs oh yeah, you got to love those tax returns
If you do end up getting this light you’re going to thank me because you’re going to change your game completely and you’re going to get addicted to Black dog led like I am LOL
Bro since you got kids, you might know about this strategy and you might not so I’m going to share it with you and whoever else wants to learn how to pay your children the money you already given to them anyway which is a tax write-off and it’s tax-free. Now you can make them earn it instead of just giving it to them. Just watch the video and you’ll see how powerful the strategy is 
Paying Kids the money you’re already giving to them anyway: https://youtu.be/4SNH3hrneLw
Yeah bro we actually do this. It’s been a wonderful strategy. My girls have taken off with responsibility since we implemented this last year!
@QuickMaffs Smart move!
If you liked that one here’s a strategy that will blow the socks off your feet 
This strategy is about an hour long so get a pen and a piece of paper and go in a quiet room without any distractions because this strategy will save you hundreds of thousands of dollars for the rest of your life!
SECRET BANKING STRATEGY 
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Click the link below to watch a Live Recording
If you need help implementing it or you want to chat, let me know and I’ll meet you in my private zoom room. I’ll send you my login link.
Nice man, I’m going to bookmark this and check it out when I get a chance to get some quiet time 
There’s several apps you can use to identify bugs and itll tell you if they are a concern or not.