Hydroponic gardening's popularity has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years, especially in North America. No matter what you need when it comes to Hydroponic Gardening, we have it all. So whether it be hydroponic systems, nutrients, growing media or just information you be assured of getting from us. Most importantly, you will always get correct information and just what you need.
Good Bugs
To
create the perfect growing environment for your Hydroponics project,
and to ensure the optimum growing conditions to produce a beautiful,
tender, dirt-free, flavorful product. We suggest you utilize
beneficial insects, or "good bugs", to eat the "bad bugs", which
keeps your produce free of harmful pesticides.
Although bringing in good bugs to eliminate a bad bug problem might
not always solve the problem, you might have to resort to a
pesticide. In cases like this, our staff is very educated and can
direct you to the best product to use.
The Good Guys
When possible, it is always recommended to
use these guys to fend off the "Bad Bugs" that might take home in
your hydroponic garden. The important thing to remember is
that these bugs are a protector of your plants and you do not want
to eliminate them.
|
Aphid
Predators
|
|
White
Fly Parasites
|
|
Ladybugs |
|
Green
Lacewing
|
|
House
Fly Parasites |
|
Mealybug Predators
|
|
Pirate Bugs
|
Praying Mantis  A
Praying Mantis can grow to be four inches long in just
one season and will feed on almost any insect it can
overcome. Allow several weeks of warm weather for
hatching. |
Spider
Mite Destroyers  Spider
Mite Destroyers breed twice as fast as spider mites and
eat up to five mites or 20 mite eggs every day! Over
time, your spider mite populations will dwindle. To
control spider mites in six weeks, estimated use is one
predator for every 20 spider mites. |
Whitefly Predators Whitefly
Predators are fast eaters; they eat one whitefly larva
in just 30 seconds. Imagine what these hungry helpers
can do for your garden as they munch up to 600 whitefly
eggs every day! 300-500 predators cover 1,000 square
feet. To use, just shake the predators out of their
package onto plant foliage. Predators do best between
65-90 degrees |
Fungus
Gnat Predator  Nature's
alternative to chemical insecticides, Fungus Gnat
Predators feed on the larvae of fungus gnats and other
small soil-dwelling creatures including thrips, mites,
and springtails. Five thousand predators treat up to 200
square feet of growing surface. |
Predator Mites  Predator
Mites usually gain control of spider mite infestations
after 4 weeks. Release 100 mites per 25 square feet.
Predator mites will be effective in a wide variety of
conditions: from 55-90 degrees Fahrenheit and from
45-90% relative humidity. |
Thrip
Predators  These
predators feed on immature thrips (soil and leaf
pupating) and an occasional spider mite as well. Use
100-500 per plant or 200,000 per acre to control thrip
infestations. For maximum effectiveness, humidity must
remain between 70% and 85%. |
Beneficial Nematodes  Beneficial
Nematodes control over 250 different insects in the
soil, including weevils, loopers, borers, moths, and
fleas. They are harmless to earthworms and leave plants
alone. Not to be confused with pest nematodes,
beneficial nematodes are parasitic, and invade the
bodies of their prey, leaving behind the dead insect
carcasses. One batch fits onto a small, 2" sponge and
will cover up to 2,000 square feet. To use, submerge the
sponge in water and soak into soil with a watering can
or pressure-sprayer. Nematodes may also be injected into
borer holes with a syringe. If necessary, Beneficial
Nematodes may be stored in the refrigerator (40-50
degrees F) for up to 2 months. |
Predators
of small insects, these tiny black ladybugs are
effective, proven beneficial insects that have been used
commercially for over 100 years. They really enjoy
mealybugs but will eat aphids and scale when the mealies
get scarce. Apply 2-5 per infested plant or one for
every two feet of planted area. Repeat about twice a
year as needed. 
Pirate
Bugs (Orius insidiosis) are used on many crops to
control thrip, aphid, spider mite and whitefly
populations. Release 5-10 per 100 square feet. For
extreme thrip infestations, use in conjunction with
Thrip Predators.