Hick
Git "R" lit
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- Apr 19, 2005
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aeroman said:I have had trouble with spider mites in the past. One post mentioned keeping temp down and humidity up. You want to down just the oppiste. Spider mites stay on the under sides of the leaves while your lights are on where it is cool and humid. Plants transpire from the under sides of the leaves. You want under 50% humidity if possible. When you spray neem oil are you spraying the under sides of the leaves. I wear rubber gloves and turn the leaves over. If you have a healthy looking mother plant in another area they may be migrating from her. You could also be bringing them in from outside or your pets or kids could be bringing them in. I hope that was helpful
..definately.. temp's down and RH up...to help curb reproduction and control population
A female lays about 100 eggs during her lifetime. Depending upon climate conditions, the eggs hatch in as little as 2-3 days, and the adult stage is reached in 7-10 days. The females reproduction is greatly affected by climate and humidity with a significant difference in the days till their maturity dependant upon the temperature i.e.) egg to adult. For instance at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it takes 30 days for the egg to become an adult, at 70 degrees 14.5 days and here is the astounding number - 90 degrees Fahrenheit they reach adulthood in just 3.5 days! So now imagine those populations increases over a month when the offspring start to reproduce less than a week after hatching - at 70 degrees she and her offspring number 13,000; at 80 degrees she and her offspring represent a staggering potential of 13,000,000 individuals over a single month - huge population increases!
Mites evaporate large quantities of water from their bodies, so they must suck juices from the plants. This is easier for them to do in a dry environment. Humid environments (above 60% RH) slow down their metabolism, life span and reproductive rate. Mites may be controlled somewhat by lowering the temperatures (at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit they start to hibernate), thus slowing down their life process considerable. Even if you only decrease the temperature during the indoor dark cycle (when it is easier to lower temperatures), the progression rate of the infestation is slowed considerable