Crash Journal

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Thrips, definitely. Positive identification 30 seconds after I setup the first sticky trap. So forget bug bombs, Raid, ammonia and painting as eradicators. There are none in the tomato tent, and the only difference is it has positive air pressure. The fan blows in through a filter, not out. I'm going to set that up in the grow room tomorrow.

In the mean time, this isn't my first thrip rodeo. DE in the dirt is pointless, but DE on the leaves works pretty freaking well. You just can't do it in flower. It probably stunts their growth, but if I can't get rid of the bugs I'm not about to take these to harvest. I used dry DE this time, but when they are a little bigger I will use a water DE mix.

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I don't know if it will stunt them in flower, but you don't want to smoke it. It cuts your lungs up like asbestos does.
I wouldn't use it anywhere near flower if I planned to smoke it. I did use it on a GDPA in flower last year, but I was only interested in her seeds. Even though it was in a tent with other plants infested with the bastards, the DE - water spray stopped them cold on the GDPA.
 
I found just 3 adults on the stickies, so hopefully any larva that hatch will die a horrible death crawling over the razor sharp DE... I used an acid brush to sweep off some of the excess DE. I was more than a little buzzed when I spread it, vodka and weed. Surprised I didn't bury a plant or two in the stuff.

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Five of the eight seeds I had soaking sprouted after I cracked them. Not sure if the others would have sprouted as well, I only wanted 4, so culled the rest. None of the 3 that had been sitting in the tray for days sprouted, so I guess there a time limit. Anyway, since I have tons of these seeds I'm pretty happy with the results. With some luck I will have M/F Supafreak and autos to cross next month.

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These two tomato plants came from the backyard. I have a bunch of them that sprouted after I chopped all the others down and tossed the bird mangled tomatoes into the yard. The ones in the yard look healthier than these, but these are growing faster and I have a sonic toothbrush pollinator. I need to find somewhere else to put them, though. This is where the freaks are going to live soon.

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I arranged the 6 inch fan to draw air in from the shop and blow out through the carbon filter. No thrips are going to make it past that filter! Also discovered I had a tripod hanging on the wall in the shop which made setting up the camera nicer. No idea why I want a live view, but the thought of removing it now is intolerable : )

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I moved two of the SFs into the grow room. Can't even seem em in the pic, but they are there. I apparently damaged the other three when I cracked them. I learned later the only safe way to crack them is make sure the "pointy ends" are vertical, or you risk crushing the sprout before the shell even cracks. I cracked them along the edges leaving some visible marks on the sprouts, and I don't think they are going to make it. Going to try again when I get home, though.

I also moved the GDPA I had in the tomato tent into the grow room. It has been growing super slow for some reason. I suspect it's because I used some generic raised garden soil instead of my usual coco-perlite mix.

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These two tomato plants came from the backyard. I have a bunch of them that sprouted after I chopped all the others down and tossed the bird mangled tomatoes into the yard. The ones in the yard look healthier than these, but these are growing faster and I have a sonic toothbrush pollinator. I need to find somewhere else to put them, though. This is where the freaks are going to live soon.

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A window sill or bay window.
 
I took out the yellow stickies. Not one thrip stuck to any of them for at least the last week, and I didn't want to risk one of the jumping spiders getting stuck.

Here's two days of growth, from Monday morning to today.

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Now that the weather is finally cooling I'm going to add a 4" fan to draw air in from the outside vent, and use a temperature switch to turn it off only when the temperature hits some low, say, 50 degrees. The door to this room attaches to the gym which is making for some miserable sweaty workouts.
 
Hmm, big lay offs coming tomorrow. Not me, but most of my fellow engineers and coders. Going to be some crazy times ahead.
Man that sucks so close to the 2 biggest Holidays of the year. It couldn't come at a worse time.
 
Man that sucks so close to the 2 biggest Holidays of the year. It couldn't come at a worse time.
It's going to be bad, yeah. I stuck up for several people, even offered to work without pay for a few months, but the company is extremely cash poor. Lots of companies and governments owe us big, but they have all been pushing back payment due to recent, err, events.
 
What's recent events got to do with your company getting paid what it's owed?
I've lived through several events and it never stopped me from getting paid what was owed to me or the company I worked for.
 
Hmm, big lay offs coming tomorrow. Not me, but most of my fellow engineers and coders. Going to be some crazy times ahead.
What's up with that? Fking Stock Market is booming and jobs are everywhere here.
If you don't have a job in Texas,,you aren't looking very hard.
What does your company do?
 
What's recent events got to do with your company getting paid what it's owed?
I've lived through several events and it never stopped me from getting paid what was owed to me or the company I worked for.
For Boeing it was the strike, I'm told. No idea how that keeps them from paying their bills, but whatever. Really, no idea on any of the reasons I heard that other groups used.

I'm hoping my coworkers find decent positions elsewhere. I'm still bummed they will be leaving. It's as easy in VA as it is in Texas as well, though a similar paying job in this part of VA might not be so easy, and who wants to uproot their family this time of year.
 

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