Did you know that by purchasing bottled products instead of sachets you could be costing yourself large amounts of money and a decrease in pest protection?
We get a lot of questions asking:
- What formulation a customer should use?
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What is a predatory mite breeder sachet?
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How do they work?
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How long do they last?
This article was developed to answer all these questions and point you in the correct direction in choosing which predatory mite formulation to use for your growing situation.
What is a predatory mite breeder sachet?
A predatory mite breeder sachet is a small climate resistant packet containing a predatory mite, a feeder mite (for the predatory mite to feed on), and a carrier, such as bran (food source for the feeder mite).
How do they work and how long do they last?
Predatory mite breeder sachets are designed to maintain a high internal relative humidity to keep the bran moist so that the breeding system continues cycling for 3-8 weeks depending on the type of sachet.
Why is this important?
This is important when comparing sachets to bottle applications because in low humidity climates (common with house plants or cannabis), eggs of predatory mites have difficulty hatching. For instance, only 50% of Swirski-Mite (Amblyseius swirskii) eggs will hatch below a RH (relative humidity) rate of 63%. This drastically decreases the chance of a second generation from developing on the plant, as most homes and cannabis grows do not grow at this RH. A sachet will allow continued reproduction due to the higher humidity levels inside the sachet.
When are bottle applications used?
Bottle applications are typically only used:
- To provide an immediate short-term predator mite boost due to an increase in pest pressure
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In ornamental crops that use Thripex-V (Neoseiulus cucumeris in vermiculite)
- In greenhouse growing conditions where there is high humidity, and the predatory mites can reproduce outside of the sachets
Beyond these situations, sachets are always the best choice for growers.
Why choose sachets?
The most compelling reasons to use predatory mite breeder sachets over bottles are:
- Cost
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Higher predatory mite walkout numbers
- Preventing contamination in crops, like Cannabis
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Less repeat applications
Where bottled products are one-time releases that need to be applied weekly or bi-weekly, sachets provide a breeding system that releases a constant stream of predatory mites into the crop, only needing to be re-applied every 3-8wks, depending on the type of sachet you have purchased.
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Read our sachet guide here: Plus, Ulti-Mite or LD. Which Sachet is Best for You?
The total number of predatory mites that walk out from these sachets is a far better value for your wallet and protects your crop longer than a bottled application. For example, if you compare the total predatory mite walk out of most of our Swirski-Mite sachets to bottle formulation, you find that bottled product works out to be 225% more expensive per mite released into the crop.
Aside from predatory mite sachets being substantially cheaper when it comes to the total number of mites released, they are also a great way to prevent carrier material from contaminating certain crops (i.e. Cannabis). You do not want carrier material in your flower.
Note: Boost Sachets are NOT breeder sachets.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve explained why selecting the right type of predatory mite formulation is crucial for effective pest control and cost efficiency in your growing space. By understanding the mechanisms and benefits of sachets and bottles, growers can make informed decisions tailored to their specific growing conditions, ultimately optimizing pest management strategies and maximizing crop health and yield.