I am absolutely overwhelmed and upset. ðŸ˜
After being Thrip free for almost a year, after fighting those diabolical little bastards 👹 and after successfully eradicating them. They're BACK.
I bought one single plant from Walmart……and I made the mistake of not quarantining. 😤 I know it's my fault
Last time it took 3 months to 100% treat and deal with because there are no systemic insecticides allowed in Canada.🥹 It was trial and error. Reddit helped and I know what to do…. it's so much work and effort. I also have ADHD and GAD.
Talk me out of just giving up and trashing my entire collection I've had for 5 years. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ My plants were just recently thriving and coming back.
Especially my Ficus plants i had to cut back to nothing ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
by AkashaLynnNieminen
16 Comments
Sympathies my friend!
Most ppl will learn to quarantine after fighting pest infestation for 3 months lol.
BONIDE SYSTEMIC GRANULES!!!! Took out thrips from a few of mine in like a week! Haven’t seen them back since
Try Jacks Dead Bug Brew concentrate
This may sound weird but just a thought. I bought two jumping spiders for my tropical plant room. I’ve recently added a fish tank as well.
It’s floor to ceiling with plants and the tank in a sunroom. They handle pest and are happy in the climate. Best wishes on your plant journey.
I just spray my plants down with straight 70% rubbing alcohol when I see pests. Keep plants out of the light until dry. Repeat every day or two until I don’t see any anymore.
Look into buying Spinosad. Spinosad is a natural soil bacteria that acts as a fast-acting nerve toxin for thrips.
I have to tie my hand behind my back sometimes, but I only buy plants from places that have skilled and knowledgeable staff. Yes, they can cost more than the superstore with their untrained staff. But I’m sure that battling thrips for a year wasn’t cheap.
Don’t trash anything. Seriously. You’ve already won against these little bastards once, you know it’s doable.
For stubborn thrips: Spinosad + systemic, alternating (never just one they build resistance fast), every 7 days, minimum 4 cycles to break the egg→adult cycle. Shower them first. Add Amblyseius cucumeris if you want a bio layer on top.
Your Ficus will come back, promise. The roots are there, that’s all that matters. 5 years of work doesn’t disappear in one bad week. 🌱
You can also use some Apps, I use Plantalya to help me understanding needs and got reminders (watering, rotation etc.)
I don’t know if this one is allowed, but these ones are great.
https://preview.redd.it/6712fiqodhwg1.png?width=1220&format=png&auto=webp&s=3d34495d1ee81e3fb53487d92e01c3c1638690ff
I had a thrips and spider mite outbreak at the same time, and ended up going the beneficial mites route and it was a resounding success. I ordered my mites from a company in BC called Optimize Organics, and while a little on the pricey side, I had no regrets. Systemics sound easy but so are beneficial insects, and you don’t have to worry about any toxicities.
Before I placed my order, I called the physical store to make sure that I was ordering the most effective mites for my problem and got to speak with the owner. He was so helpful and accommodating to the point that we spent about 45 minutes talking plants & beneficials. I highly recommend doing the same if you’re interested.
I’ve also since found a much more affordable option in London, Ont. called Tropicouture Plants and plan to use them if/when there’s ever a next time. They offer shipping but they’re also close enough to me that I could make a fun road trip out there if I need to get some mites quick.
I couldn’t recommend beneficial mites enough for thrips. As long as you get the right kind (I bought two different types to use coincidingly – one type for the plant itself, and the other was released into the soil), they’ll take care of the problem in no time and you’ll never even know they’re there.
Where did you get those lights?
Off topic but did you propagate your rubber plant to have the much smaller growth? I’d love to know how you did it! I’ve had mine for several years and I want to have more than just one stem. Good luck with your plants!!
I’ve heard of many people from Canada and UK buying systemic granules from US on eBay. 👀 just trying to help. lol.
Have you tried diatomaceous earth?
I’ve been battling thrips for 4 years. I’m in Europe so no systemic granules, but I also have a cat who’s sensitive to chemicals and he likes to rub on the pots/plants. I’ve already thrown away so many plants because I was just exhausted to battle them.
Nowadays I spray neem with dishwasher, clean leaves of big plants weekly, shower plants when it’s water day and pray.
So I thought I’m in the clear.. until yesterday when I randomly look at my alocasia and see adult thrips hidden in the nook where a new leaf was coming out. I tried qtip with alcohol but they didn’t die until I squished the hell out of them. My method only controls the population enough to go unnoticed but I’m sure my plants will die especially since it’s getting warm and I’ll be opening the balcony door a lot more. My suspicion is that they come from outside because the first plants to be badly infested are right by the door. That’s also my brightest free floor space, so I can’t move them away.
I’m only here in solidarity, I have no solutions.