Community #PestControl

PestControl





@MusicalRedmint avatar @MusicalRedmint · 3w
Hi, my lovely Greggers. Please send love and strength. Or, if that's not your thing, a bottle of a good single malt will do as well, I'm not picky. Mites. False spider mites. With big hoya collection, after having moved plants around everywhere. And maybe having spotted some signs of virused plants as well (please, please, no ) Need I say more? I could really kick myself for my hybris here. (So maybe forget the whisky, transatlantic kicks from all of you would maybe be more appropriate. I've noticed signs of the infestation for a long time now. But every time, I checked the plants I suspected, (seemingly) diligently. With my more practical magnifying app/glass. Nothing. additionally, I had high trust in my seller, had a comfortably established rest predatory mite population in some pots and am absolutely pedantic about quarantine (which, of course, is basically useless if you don't see/ acknowledge the problem when it presents during that time). Can any of you give a better example for false confidence? I even traded some plants recently, so I even checked those particular ones diligently (I thought). Now I noticed signs of weird dechlorinated leaves spreading, which before I had attributed to a nutrient deficiency. Virus? Nah. Where would that have come from on my absolutely treasured bella PES-03. I've had her for v long, I never share water, no signs of pests, so no plant sap exchange. ... ... Again, feel free to kick me. Anytime. Yesterday I saw signs of those spots on other plants where the deficiency theory makes no sense, got freaked out and finally took out my jewelers loupe. Because logic hasn't failed me completely. if spread of virus, then sap transfer. If sap transfer, then pests (in my case). And if undetected pests then a) pests tiiiiiiny and b) I'm truly fuuuuuu.... well, you know. Fundamentally angry with myself. Gosh, those things are tiny. Undetectable by best magnification my very solid glasses could offer. Even after I knew where to look because I could just make them out with the jewelers loupe. I think part of the reason for my false confidence was my experience with broad mites and some flat mites on a tomato plant a while back. With my glasses on both of those could be spotted with the magnifiers. The tiny bit the broad mites are bigger, made all the difference. And even the flat mite seemed to be a softly bigger species, so that the stark contrasting red dot could be spotted. This time? Nah. And to give me a great start fighting this problem: I planned to get up early to get myself a truckload of predatory mites before work, but I overslept after a sleepless night. Maybe I'll manage tomorrow. Or not. Things have been stressful as is. If you've followed this rant along this far, thanks. I needed to vent. Don't forget to send virtual kicks. I will deceptively attach a picture of a rose because a) hoyas make me sad rn, b) I don't think you would appreciate a huge flat mite picture in your feed c) that rose was gorgeous and d) who cares, I myself can't see it anyway. For me, Greg's been completely without pictures for a while now. Again. #pestcontrol #hoya #hoyahangout #mitesarestupid #sadplant #formitessake



@Idplantthat avatar @Idplantthat · 1w
I normally wouldn’t make a post like this, but I wanted to share this with you all. Please take it as just me explaining monosilic acid vs. potassium silica. I’ve seen a lot of people who have been asking but don’t fully understand. So I just hope this can help. *Beyond the Hype: Monosilicic Acid vs. Potassium SilicateSubtitle: The actual chemistry of plant armor and soil health. 1: The Core Problem with Garden GossipThe Myth: "Silica is a chemical hype product that builds up salts and ruins plants long-term."The Reality: Silicon is the 2nd most abundant element in the Earth's crust. Nature uses it to build plant skeleton and defense systems.The Confusion: Not all silica bottles are created equal. Mixing up the forms of silica leads to terrible advice. 2: The Two ContendersContender A: Potassium Silicate (\(K_{2}SiO_{3}\))An old-school, industrial, raw mineral salt.Contender B: Monosilicic Acid (\(H_{4}SiO_{4}\))A highly refined, bio-available organic molecule.The Golden Rule: Plants can only absorb Monosilicic Acid. 3: Potassium Silicate (The Heavy Salt)What it is: Raw silica melted down with potassium carbonate.How it works: It is a massive, complex molecule. The plant cannot absorb it directly; soil microbes must break it down over weeks into Monosilicic Acid first.The Danger: It is highly alkaline (pH of 11+). It dramatically spikes soil pH and leaves behind heavy potassium salt residues.The Result: If you don't flush your soil, this is the form that causes the nutrient lockouts people complain about. 4: Monosilicic Acid (The Specialized Tech)What it is: Fully bioavailable, pre-broken-down silica (like PowerSi).How it works: Because it is already in the exact form the plant requires, the roots absorb it instantly within minutes of application.The Safety: It is completely pH-neutral and highly concentrated. You use tiny, microscopic doses compared to raw salts.The Result: Zero salt buildup, zero soil pH drifting, and instant structural armor for the plant. 5: The "Marijuana Hype" Reality CheckThe Claim: "Silica is just a gimmick popularized by cannabis growers for fast growth."The Fact: High-value commercial growers adopted it because they invest heavily in laboratory testing and plant tissue analysis.The Agriculture Truth: Massive commercial agricultural operations use bioavailable silica on rice, wheat, and sugarcane to prevent lodging (falling over) and combat high-heat stress. 6: Physical Structural Density vs. Fake GrowthSynthetic Hormones (e.g., Superthrive): Artificially forces cells to stretch and grow longer. This can create weak, watery, floppy tissues that easily snap or burn in high heat.Monosilicic Acid: Deposits a rigid, glassy matrix inside the existing cell walls. It creates "leathery" leaves and thick stalks that mechanically block pests and lock in water during heatwaves. 7: How to Safely Use Silica Without LockoutPrioritize Rainwater: Rainwater is naturally soft and slightly acidic, which beautifully dissolves nutrients and keeps soil pH balanced. The "Weekly Weakly" Method: Feed lower, consistent doses of premium inputs rather than heavy, shock-inducing concentrations.Routine Flushes: A clean water flush every few months prevents any potential trace mineral accumulation, completely invalidating the "long-term death" myth. 8: Summary: Work with Chemistry, Not TrendsChoose Monosilicic Acid for instant absorption, zero salt buildup, and complete pH stability. Avoid Raw Silicate Salts if you want to prevent long-term soil crusting and nutrient lockout.Look at the Leaves: Thick stalks and un-tearable, leathery leaves don't lie. The plant's physical structure is the ultimate proof of health. The Planetary Reality Check (Earth's Crust Chemistry)The Science: Oxygen (46.1%) and Silicon (28.2%) are the top two most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust. Together, they make up 4 out of every 5 atoms available on the surface of the globe. What is Silica?: Silica is simply Silicon Dioxide (\(SiO_{2}\))—a natural bond of the two most common things on Earth.The Logic Gap: Claiming silica is an artificial "hype chemical" is like claiming water or oxygen is a fad. Earth is silica. The True "Hype" vs. Actual Plant ArchitectureSynthetic Vitamin Blends: Products relying heavily on synthetic growth hormones (like NAA/Auxins found in Superthrive) trick the plant into rapidly elongating its cells. This forces fast growth but creates weak, bloated cell tissue. Monosilicic Acid: Does not manipulate plant hormones. It provides the literal physical building materials. It places a solid, glassy layer between the plant's outer cuticle and cell walls.The Verdict: One stretches cells thin; the other reinforces them with physical structural armor. Here are some sites to look into if interested https:// https:// https:// #TheThread #TheWateringHole #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #SucculentLove #PlantTherapy #GrowLights #NewPlantMom #OrchidLovers #PetsAndPlants #MonsteraMonday #PlantCorner #BeforeAndAfter #PestControl #PlantShelfie #RarePlants #Hoya