5.0 out of 5 stars Avid. It works.

M.G. · December 29, 2020

So you've tried neem, pyrethrin, clove/cinnamon/habanero/cottonseed oil, low temps, high wind, predatory mites, ice water, spinosad, high humidity, no-pest strips (getting a bit more frustrated, eh?), rubbing alcohol, diatomaceous earth, foggers of every sort, SNS 217, horticulture oil, insecticidal soap. And yet here you are, reading this review in a panic. And also, it's funny that all those solutions cost about the same, I call 'em the $19 solutions.What do they all have in common? None of them work.More specifically, they DO work at what they are designed for, which is *prevention*. If you dear reader already have an outbreak then none of those will work completely. Now, if you are in more than 2 weeks into flower you don't have a choice. Use several of them and 5 hours of hand spraying Spinosad on the underside of leaves every day and try to bring that ship into port. If you caught that borg from other growers of the same crop, you are in even more danger due to resistance, those $19 products won't even slow them down. Even mighty Avid warns to not use just one thing.However, if you are in veg still (or *just* into flower, or growing non-consumables), then you have 3 choices: Avid, Floramite, or Forbid 4f. These don't cost $19 rather they cost $100s of dollars, you will be shocked. Note they don't cost more to make, it's just that they work and everyone wants them. Again, the Avid label says to be careful using any single product on subsequent generations, so you may want to bite the bullet and buy two. Yes, that will be at least $350 for the small bottles, though they will last years. One spraying in veg on Dec 18 and I haven't seen anything move yet. NOW is the time to aggressively implement 5 of the $19 solutions. Luckily my infestation is just from our outside garden, those non-resistant things never knew what hit them. Almost total destruction in 5 minutes, mites really don't like Avid.Now some will say Avid works, sure, but is too dangerous to use. Those folks are wise to recognize the danger, but perhaps misguided. Avid is not systemic, it's translaminar that generally is detectable via sensitive GCMS for only about 28 days. As a thin film on things it has a 4-hour half-life, not exactly radioactive. So just never, ever spray on buds. If you spray on leaves you'll never consume, it seems a simple and safe product to use. Care must be taken in application, I use a $15 throw-away haz-mat type suit, and an $85 respirator that I use for perlite/diatomaceous applications anyway. TAKE THE APPLICATION VERY SERIOUSLY, and you'll be fine. Avid is ancient, it's been used in California on all sorts of crops (wink wink) for decades. I know the label is scary but that's what labels are, they are for the lowest-common denominator among us. I read the label of my wife's estrogen patches and it's just as terrifying, although we pretty much just ignore all the seemingly-hysterical warnings. I guess it also helps to have a biology/chemistry degree from one of Missouri's finest institutions, but you certainly do not need that shameless self-plug to use Avid successfully. We used gallons of formaldehyde at University as a matter of course, and check out the warnings on that product!So if the borg has invaded you there in reality is only one decision to make, and that is which of the 3 products to pick from. Or maybe which two products.Happy harvests!

5.0 out of 5 stars 3 Drops to problem solved

S. · October 2, 2012

I have 9 indoor tomatoes that were getting rocked by spider mites. Problem was far too intense for neem oil, and I didn't want to loose my crop.When I received the product, I was almost afraid to use it because so many people are against this stuff, but I finally read the MSDS and decided to pull the trigger.According to the MSDS, and some basic math, it would take 10 drops ingested to kill the average human. (assuming we respond similar to the lab mice that were tested) That's some pretty scary stuff, but I'm not going to be drinking it right?Here is how I proceeded.1. Put on long sleeve everything, and rubber gloves as well. You will need a decent sprayer, I recommend Solo 418 1-Liter One-Hand Pressure Sprayer. This has served me well for many things and is an invaluable tool.2. Fill sprayer with on liter of water, and add 3 drops of Avid to the water and close sprayer and shake well.3. Have a plan of action before you start spraying, the best way to minimize contact is to minimize contact. Try and get things arranged, trimmed, and tied in such a way that you can get all plants quickly so you can vacate the area after the application.4. Spraying is pretty straight forward. Mist isn't the right word, since you want to minimize vapor. Choose a nozzle setting that has decent coverage, and no water vapor being created. Keep your face high and spray at a downward angle so anything that doesn't end up on the plants, lands on the ground. I also spray the soil on top of the pots and it seems to help ensure death to bugs; not too much though.5. Throw clothes in washer once completed, and take a shower. Depending on the humidity, plants should dry in a few hours. Wait at least a few hours to handle the plants.I triple rinsed the sprayer with hot water after dumping the residue, allowed it to dry and repeated; this may be a bit excessive ;)At any rate, 3 drops on an entire crop, and results that are beyond spectacular. All that was left of my mite infestation was a bunch of dead mites, and some webs full of more dead mites. 2 weeks later, the problem is still solved and the plants couldn't be a happier.This product is industrial, and extremely concentrated. You will never need to by this again if you are a hobbyist like myself.

5.0 out of 5 stars Bye bye bug's!!

B. · March 28, 2022

Avid worked great, I had a russet mite problem mixed the avid at recommended dose on the bottle, used full protection suit, gloves also a respirator and goggles, this stuff you don't want to breathe or get on your skin. Sprayed top n bottom of all leaves stems everything, within 2 days I saw improvements in growth and overall plant health. Seven days later I really hit em hard, I mixed the avid at 4 milliliters per gallon which is way way more than recommended on the bottle but no harm to the plants at all. I'm going to let them be now for at least 30 days to veg out before flowering to be safe. They look amazing and no signs of russet mites so far.