Spider mite problem - please, please help

I have got a spider mite problem with my current plant, and since it was ready to be harvestd by the time I actually saw the pesky little critters (this is only my second attempt) I thought it was best to harvest it rather than spend weeks trying to kill them.

So here are the pics of my current harvest.





The crop looks pretty big to me (not sure how much in weight I have got), and is a sight (and smell) to behold

HOWEVER...

This next pic shows the spider mites that have made their way to the top of each stem! There is quite a lot!



I have since taken the vacuum cleaner to these little bastards (on its lowest setting) and that seems to have got rid of quite a few from the top.
However I can still see some of them on the buds and smaller leaves...
Please can someone let me know what to do to get rid of the rest of the mites as I want to kill them off before smoking it...

nB

Additional : I use rockwool cutting cubes, in pots with small rockwool cubes and clay pellets. I have noticed that the top of the rockwool cubes turn white - I presume this is mold. Could this be the cause of the mites, and if so how do I get rid of it?

 

For Spider Mites, or many other pests, use predators - the dreaded "Ladybug" eats just about all small pests and can be found at garden centers everywhere. There are other predators that "specialize" on spider mites, they might do a better job - but wont eat anything else! Anyway, better luck next time!

 

Do you mean you can get ladybugs from out of the garden (the ones with red backs) and they will eat the spider mites?
Or are their "specialized" ones just for eating spider mites?
How many would you think I need?

Cheers
nB

 

Yeah, the ones with the red backs - regular Ladybugs! They eat aphids and mites and all sorts of pests. I wouldn't try to catch a bunch "out in the garden", the few that are there are already doing good for other plants! They are sold at nurseries and garden centers everywhere, you get like a couple of thousand of them in a little package - just get the smallest size they offer, maybe 500 or 1,000, something like that! One time, several neighbors and I went in together on a big package, we ended up with over 7,000 Ladybugs each for about $15. apiece, it was crazy - but they cleaned up the neighborhood!

There are also other varieties of insect predators (other species of insects) that specialize on just eating Spider Mites, they are also sold at garden centers. Get the smallest size package they have, or get your neighbors to split a bigger batch.
If you have to mail order them, I know they can be stored for quite a while so they are there, ahead of time, when you need them.

 

Ok so I have phoned around loads of garden centers near me and none of them sell ladybirds or any other predator mite.

Is there any solution that I can spray onto my already harvested buds to kill of the mites/eggs without affecting the taste of the smoke??

Or, can I just leave them now and they will start dying off as the buds dry out (and hopefully drop off the buds)?

Or, will they just keep hatching after the buds have dried out causing bug infested dried weed?

 

Try making garlic tea:
Spoon a couple of teaspoons of powdered garlic into a pint or so of water let set for 24 hours then strain into a spray bottle then spray the girls once or twice evry light cycle for several days. Voila! no more beasties...... works for most pests. I also hang a pest strip in the room for gnats and flys etc.

The prob I've seen with ladybugs is keeping them in the room, next thing you know they're all over the house.>\

 

Oh for Pete's sake....don't spray anything on those buds! Go out, get a nice tasty potted shrubbery and let those hungry little mites move on to something living. They're starving on your drying buds, you know. Just give 'em something tender and alive and they'll vacate all on their own. Then take the shrubbery outside and drench it in Neem Oil to kill those little buggers....

 

Listen to Lady Greene. Do not spray buds. The mites only eat the live plant so they will eventually leave your harvested crop on their own. All you want to do is speed them along as above. For the future Neem the garden every couple week to keep the bugs out. Once the plants start really budding (couple weeks into flowering) you will not want to spray them at all to prevent mold.

 

all you have to do is hang the bud upsidedown the mites instictively move up so they will crawl up the stem then when there up there remove it (stem) you may have a few stragglers that you will have to deal with and as the plant dries the will die off or find a new live plant. DO NOT SPRAY THE BUDS there is no way to remove the spray befor you smoke them