What Are My Fav's #4

My Favorite HID Bulbs are by far Hortilux both MH and HPS. The are the closest thing to the sun that I have found so far I do not get many bad bulb returns from them either. The Hortilux (EYE) Super HPS grow lamps fine-tune your lighting system to provide optimum spectral energy levels that promote vigorous plant growth. The Hortilux grow lamps provide 17% more total energy and 25% more energy in the violet, blue, and green spectrum than standard High Pressure Sodium lamps. These are environmentally friendly and pass EPA, TCLP test criteria as non-hazardous waste. http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/hps_bulbs1.htm New Hortilux Blue Metal Halide These bulbs are described as daylight in a bottle. http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/mh_bulbs1.htm

My fav. bug preventative and treatments are as follows:

Natural Pyrethrin Concentrate. This is safe because when it dries it breaks down not leaving harmful toxic posions in your yard harming your family and animals. CONTAINS: 0.96% Pyrethrins and 9.6% Piperonyl Butoxide Technical USE ON: Many Vegetables, Ornamentals, Livestock, Pets, and in Households and barns, as a space spray, and to control mosquitoes outdoors. CONTROLS: Vegetables and Ornamentals; Aphids, Whiteflies, Beetles, and Worms. Pets and Livestock; Fleas, Mites, Lice, Flies, Gnats, and Mosquitoes. Households and other areas; Ants, Roaches, Silverfish, Spiders, and many others. Space Spray: Mosquitoes, Flies, Wasps, and others. http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/natural_pyrethrin.htm

Garlic Barrier: 100% natural. A minimum risk pesticide that is effective against spider mites and many other plant-sucking bugs. Molds and fungus. Now I have also found that growing garlic in my garden helps keep the bugs away. http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/garlic_barrier.htm

Azatrol, a broad spectrum botanical product for control of insects and mites on indoor and outdoor ornamental plants, shrubs, flowers, garden vegetables, fruit and nut trees. Azatrol offers an array of effects by acting as a repellent, anti-feedant, insect growth regulator and ovipositioning deterrent. As a molting inhibitor, it prevents insect larvae from developing into adults. Insects will feed less or not at all on treated foliage, ultimately starving to death. They will also fail to mature and reproduce. This complexity makes it impossible for an insect's resistance to develop. Low odor and OMRI listed. http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/azatrol.htm

Neem Oil: Einstein Oil, an all-natural pesticide packed with the power of neem oil, Einstein Oil is particularly effective on spider mites. Einstein Oil is also the smart choice for combating scale, aphids, molds, fungi, & more. This highly concentrated formula mixes with water for lasting control & works by interfering with insects molting rendering pests unable to reach maturity & reproduce. As such, plant pests disappear within one to three life cycles. http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/einstein_oil.htm

So now you find yourself asking why I like so many things> If you constantly use the same bug stuff the bugs start becoming immune. I have been known to mix Garlic Barrier with natural Pyreth. or einstien oil.

Best Caterpillar stuff is
Safer Caterpillar Killer
Caterpillar Killer. For trees shrubs and vegetables. Safely kills caterpillars before they can devour your plants. http://www.simplyhydroponics.com/safer_caterpillar.htm Caterpillar Killer is a BT product that paralizes there stomach and they starve to death.

My Fav. Beneifical Bug is Lady Bugs, Ladybugs eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects, and can be stored in the refrigerator 1-10 weeks at 35-40 degrees F (depending on time of year). For counter & impulse sales the bag of 1,500 is ideal. Ladybugs may not be available during late April & May (ask).