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Comment by TCLynx on September 27, 2013 at 11:43am

Yellow sticky cards can help catch the adult whiteflys and hopefuly help reduce their populations without killing too many good bugs.  The sponge or cotton ball with neem or alcohol actually sounds like a fairly good safe option for wiping out some whitefly larva or aphids on a smooth but heavily infested plant, but tedious if you have more than just a small section of plant to treat.

I know of people who have done a "drop cloth" method around a plant over the grow bed to treat a particularly badly infested plant and avoid dripping into the media.  However if there is one particular plant that is that badly infested, It might be better to just remove that plant.

Comment by John Doty on September 27, 2013 at 9:05am

Sorry, I failed to mention I have used Dipel (BT) with excellent results on caterpillars and, as it is with BT, never a problem with fish. I used Dipel Pro DF by Valent at 1/4 tea per quart. I have been able to find caterpillars early so I haven't had to spray other than small spot sprays. One of the ingredients other than BTk is listed as insecticidal toxins(?) so I am very selective when spraying. Worms are usually black and shriveled up the next day.

Comment by John Doty on September 27, 2013 at 8:50am

Thank you for the list of these products. Today for the first time in awhile the aphid lyons appeared, I thought I had seen the lacewing eggs last week. They usually take care of the aphids fairly quick so I will hold off on any sprays that might affect them. Worst is the white fly. They are taking over here. I assume anything I use targeting whitefly will possibly nail the lacewing and their larva, so it's a dilemma.
I read somewhere (can't remember)that neem has a 48 hour UV breakdown of the oil rendering overspray on media safe from wash-down. Even with that I'm still too spooked to even spray it lightly. I used 2 opposing neem-dilute sponges where they wouldn't drip and sandwiched the leaves of various whitefly infested plants, very tedious but successful so I know neem is effective. I'll try the extract after the aphid lyons have worked the aphids.
Thanks, JohnD

Comment by TCLynx on September 26, 2013 at 2:32pm

There are some things that you can use around aquaponics with relative safety to the fish.  Beware that many of the products are NOT cheap and that you have to spray often.

Against soft bodied insects things like

Botaniguard WP (if you want organic there is Mycotrol O which is an emulsion which I didn't like using myself because it was a bit oily) and SucraShield which is Organic can be used but you need to wear goggles while spraying since it can cause severe but temporary eye damage if you get it in your eyes. 

I have also used AzaMax which is an extracted ingredient from Neem Oil and exhibits some of the anti feedant properties of neem as well as messing with the natural molting process of some insects the way need oil does without the issue of Oil and fish.

I'm careful not to pour these things into my aquaponics but so far with catfish and a little bit of overspray it doesn't seem to be hurting my fish.

If you are only battling aphids, you might be able to get away with simply making some good aerated worm compost tea and spraying that to combat the aphids.

Spraying with some molasses can also help the plants fight off certain pests.

My biggest issue during hot months has been caterpillars so I will often just use the Bacillus Thurengensis products that target caterpillars specifically.

Comment by John Doty on September 26, 2013 at 2:23pm

Hi Alecia, after my first aquaponics summer down here in Stuart Fl everything has worked great. I have fantastic tilapia beginning to breed. I have huge plants I have carefully administered micro nutrients to and they look great. everything is poised for great fruit once the night heat falls down, BUT our old buddies whitefly and aphid seem to be winning the war. Even my lacewings seem to be on vacation. I really need to discover some new miracles for controlling these bugs they are doing in the entire operation. I'm beginning to lock at the deadly thought of spraying things I have read are bad for fish ie:neem oil, diatomaceous earth. I know you grow in the open in Florida and that makes you a true Florida aquaponics expert and highly admired I might add. As Murray said in the video "she's growing in a very hot and humid place".
If you have any suggestions please let me know.
Thanks John D

Comment by TCLynx on May 11, 2013 at 8:02pm

Aquaponics in a Nutshell

Comment by TCLynx on February 20, 2013 at 4:36am

During a real blow like a hurricane, they would probably get pretty beat up and I expect some would fall down off their screws.

But I've only ever had 2 towers actually fall down in the two years I've been using them and that was due to a weak or small screw holding it up on a frame that was moving quite a lot in the wind.

Heavy winds may beat up the plants a bit but if you get lots of wind often you will want to position the towers in a protected enough location that the plants have a chance to get started.

Comment by Stephanie Bader on February 19, 2013 at 11:05pm

Hi TC, just a quick question, with the zip grow towers that you have outside do you have to do anything special if there is a storm with high winds? do they get blown around a lot or are they heavy enough that they don't get too roughed up. I'm thinking of buying some but I'm afraid of what happens when it gets really windy.

Comment by Chris Carr on December 22, 2012 at 10:10am

Very cool. Thanks for the update.

Comment by TCLynx on December 22, 2012 at 6:41am

For those who were interested in the results of the air/no air non recirculating lettuce growing tests

I posted some pictures

Air/no Air test

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