I’ve worked in this client’s greenhouse for 3 years. Im there once a week for maintenance. I maintain 2 other greenhouses for other customers, but this one is just a constant uphill battle of unrelenting, severe infestations. Once one thing is dealt with, something else takes hold. Aphids, Whitefly, Citrus Rust Mites, Spider Mites, fungus gnats, thrips. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. I’ve dealt with mild pest pressure before, but not this back to back to back.
I spray Neem weekly. But it never seems to do too much good. God forbid I miss spraying one week, SOMETHING will have taken hold by the time I come back. And it’s never mild. It always goes from fine, to every-leaf-completely-covered bad.
I don’t know what to do anymore. Thankfully, the customers are very understanding, and we do get some decent production out of there, but it’s incredibly nerve-racking in the spring when we’re starting seeds. I’ll have 20 or 30 different varieties of peppers and tomatoes started all these exotic, rare heirloom seeds, and every night I go to bed wondering if they’re all dead. Covered in aphids. but I’m being made to look like a fool by a bunch of insects 1 billionth my size.
It’ll even happen in the dead of winter. I just don’t understand where these things keep coming from. I’ve tried deep cleaning everything, as in taking everything except the beds out and washed every surface, but I can’t go a month without some serious pest problem in here.
Please help. I don’t know what I’m missing. What am I not thinking of? Why do the pests proliferate so well in here? Why can’t I just have a month without coming in to see aphids covering every pepper leaf ? This is literally my livelihood, I’m a garden consultant. I’m usually the guy someone calls to figure something like this out. But I’m at my wits end. I’m very very close to replacing all of the soil in the beds, And having the place fumigated.
I need advice. much appreciated.
by AJSAudio1002
9 Comments
it sounds like you need more persistent defense than a surface spray; what about importing predator bugs (ladybugs for example) and including carnivorous plants for the flying things.
i think certain fertilizers will help prevent fungus from taking hold as well, maybe you have some severe deficiencies in your soil or PH issues preventing the plants from being able to uptake minerals correctly.
fungus is often due to insufficient air flow, maybe some circulation fans or a dehumidifier if you can’t open the windows
Have you tried any beneficial predator insects? Something that will work for you when you’re not there. Lady bugs make quick work of aphids.
Like the other comments say: predators. Look at Carolina insects… Usually we’ll get an influx of asiatic ladybugs in the fall when we bring things in, also the same time I’m inspecting and treating things before they come in but it is never 100% fwiw.. stuff gets cleared up in the spring on haul out. things just need to survive winter storage (here).
Release beneficial predators and plant things that they like to reproduce on. Release them regularly on a schedule during growing until a stable population has established. I buy mine from Nature’s good guys.
Neem sucks. Check out subs related to growing mj. They usually have lots of organic pesticide control products to recommend. Sounds like you need something stronger to control an immediate outbreak.
I’m sure somebody has mentioned diatomaceous earth already.
I use pure crop,there are several similar products.
Have you tried using actual pesticides?
Azamax is what I used when I grew medical marijuana for a living. A true godsend. It’s like Neem Oil but the active component and destroys mites, aphids, etc. Just spray regularly.
You can’t just spray neem, the pests will become resistant to it pretty quick. You need to incorporate some other pesticides with different modes of action. Once you have them knocked down, you can incorporate beneficial insects, but your pesticides will harm them too. You have to spray like every other day at first to disrupt the pest life cycle . Once you have control, then you can incorporate beneficial insects.