As I am also an abuse survivor, besides my mild PTSD from the 1995 car accident that lasted for the next three years after, for much of my life, my autism has looked like PTSD. As auDHD art therapist and my friend, Jackie Schuld recently wrote, the main differences lie in the causes of the behaviors.

Usually Avoiding Other Kids as a Kid Myself

For example, when I was a little kid, most of the time, unless the adults were facilitating the activity, I avoided interacting with the other kids like the plague. While situations with loud noises akin to those with their original trauma can be very triggering for people with PTSD, my owl sharp hearing that I had until I was 10 ½ was my main reason. It was mostly my hearing that led me to mistake the other kids’ rough-and-tumble play for bullying. Plus, adult facilitation was much more predictable and orderly than kids’ play alone.

Constant Hypervigilance

Since the brain is not that great at distinguishing the present from the past, people with PTSD constantly feel as if they’re in danger again. That was partly the case with me right after the 1995 accident. Although at that time, it was mostly due to not knowing what was going to happen next, or the first thing about my place in a completely new-to-me world in which I was suddenly not made to feel as if the outside world was dark, and I was not being blamed for inviting that darkness in. And not understanding why I was having sudden flashbacks of the accident, and that it wasn’t my fault that they were there.

Also, due to my hearing sensory issue, I was constantly trying to prepare myself for loud noises and, most of the time, failed miserably. Honestly, I don’t think anyone ever noticed me jumping at gunshot sounds on TV, as no one ever offered to change the channel or turn it off when that happened. So I guess I managed to hide that pretty well. Today, I don’t even flinch when I hear the pops of what I think is illegal gun “target” practice at the golf course in my neighborhood. It happens mostly at night, too, when no one’s there.

Until just these last few years, I was also very afraid of being judged, and not just because I’ve been so misunderstood my whole life. But also because, since practically the beginning of my life, I’ve often been made to feel as if everything I do is wrong or even that I’m wrong to exist the way that I do. Like many fellow autistics and other neurodivergents, I have felt that that’s what everyone thinks of me. Which I now know was also one of the main contributors that triggered the making of my Depression Queen, what I have affectionately called my intrusive and depressive thought patterns since college.

Today, about the only things that I’m hypervigilant of are awareness of my burnouts and when I become at a high risk for a meltdown. My meltdowns have always scared me, no matter what form they take! In my case, it’s only been about once or twice that they’ve looked like a tantrum since childhood. Since then, they’ve come in the form of hypnotic anger. In which I break out into a drenching sweat, throw things not caring if I break them, my falsetto vocal cords take over, making me sound possessed, I can comfortably drive 100mph without a seatbelt, and I feel like volcanic lava that can’t be held back from destroying everything in its path.

And then just after, I’m left to feel as if I’m licking my wounds, cleaning up whatever messes I make right after, and just wanting to be alone to cool down for awhile. When I’ve taken an ice-cold shower or bath in that state, the water feels lukewarm on my skin; that’s how much my bodily temperature goes up!

And it’s even made me scared that I could end up seriously hurting someone I care about and then end up in jail for assault. That’s why I absolutely do not want to be around anyone when they happen.

When I’ve broken things, my mother has stood right in my way, and even when I’ve SCREAMED at her to “LEAVE ME ALONE!” she doesn’t budge, but just stands there snottily saying, “Oh my gosh!” or, “What’s going on?!” Which only makes it even worse. And what makes it even worse is that it’s one of the only times she even tries to be there for me. I don’t know if that’s because it’s honestly hard for her due to her mental illness or because she thinks it’s some kind of an in to try to control me again, or what. But I’ve mostly long given up trying to guess her intent anyway.

Childhood Memories Going By the Way Side

Memory loss or inconsistent memories can be a symptom of PTSD as well. Which only makes sense as our brains and bodies can only take so much before they shut off and shut down.

For the longest time, I made my past my whole identity, felt as if that was the only thing I had going for me. You know, the whole “who am I without my story?” phenomenon. Many people, bless them, tried to let me know how unhealthy that was. But, unfortunately, did so mostly in ways that, to me, were guilt-trippy and made me feel as if I was doing something heinously wrong. You know, did so in the “just let it go!” kind of way.

Well, in the first place, due to our heightened anxiety-and that’s on top of our heightened sensory issues- it tends to be extremely difficult for us autistics to just let things go. Second, I thought that they were insulting and blaming me for having that issue. And even insulting my memories themselves, and with it, also my existence.

My grandmother, at some point, told me that I tended to talk about the past “as if it wasn’t overwith” and that I needed to stop doing so. Well, in a lot of ways, for me, it wasn’t, though. And second, she didn’t give me any examples of what I could talk about instead.

It wasn’t until I was close to 30, around the time I was taking my abuse/addiction recovery coach training, that I realized that clinging onto my past like that was, in fact, nothing but detrimental to my life. Particularly of my ability to move forward and re-build my life for the better. Which is what I’m starting to do, especially now that I’m 40.

However, since I have, I’m finding that my childhood memories have become inconsistent, vague, and/or appear to have left me altogether. But that doesn’t scare me one bit. If that’s what it’s going to take for me to be able to rebuild my life, then so be it!

From here…

I know that a new me is trying to emerge. I can feel her. I currently still have too many residual blocks in many of the above-mentioned areas for that to happen easily, and still can’t see my future even a year from now. So I’m basically rebuilding with a sheep’s vision. But hey, better late than never, right?

I’m filling right now my inner reservoir of happiness. I saw dandelions for example today, and I sat in a folding chair, the type you have in the forest, and drank a beer in the warm sunshine, listening to the geese by the pond, as they made their strange noises

And I thought of how the turkeys last spring was bathing in the dirt just a ways off from where I sat; clucking happily

Now they are gone, but I am still here

Even though it didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to, I am still here

And there are dandelions growing nearby

And the sun is warming my skin

The ocean did what it always does: showed up. Made noise. Pretended it wasn’t trying. I went there for no reason. stayed for no reason. Watched waves repeat themselves like they’re proud of it.

People call it calming. I think it’s just honest. It doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t expect anything back. It just keeps coming and leaving like it owns the concept. I like that.

Sat there longer than I planned. Not thinking anything important. Or maybe thinking too much and pretending I wasn’t.

Water looked different today. Not better. Not worse. Just different enough to notice. Which is annoying. I didn’t do anything, didn’t fix anything, didn’t break anything either.

Still counts as a day, apparently.

The ocean doesn’t care, That’s probably why I keep going back.

I wrote this as I was there: ”The ocean is not quiet. People just lie in that matter; it’s constant noise. Not loud enough to be unbearable. Not soft enough to ignore. It’s just there. Repeating itself like it’s stuck on the same thought. The waves don’t come in evenly. Some are weak, some hit harder, some collapse halfway like they changed their mind. The water looks flat from far away. It’s not. It’s uneven shifts, never actually still. Just convincing enough to look stable. There’s salt on everything. Air, skin, eyes. It sticks whether you want it or not. It keeps pulling things in and pushing them back out. Doesn’t matter what it is. It doesn’t keep anything for long. People stand there staring at it like it’s supposed to mean something. It doesn’t. It just does what it does. And somehow that’s enough to keep them there. It hides things too. Not in a clever way. Just by being too big to check. Anything that disappears into it stops being your problem after a while. Not because it’s gone. Just because you can’t prove it’s not, no one’s counting. No one’s keeping track. It doesn’t return things the way they were. Sometimes it doesn’t return them at all. And no one really questions it. That’s the part people don’t say out loud, how easy it is to stand there and feel like whatever you brought with you doesn’t follow you back.”

Sincerely, Ahmed.

It has been a rotten start to my flat season punting (currently -9.10), but April can always be dodgy so I’m carrying on with a smile on my face and there’s some decent action to get stuck into at Thirsk, one of my favourite small courses.

I’m putting this one up now as might not have time for any more tomorrow …

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2.47 Thirsk I backed LORD ABAMA on his seasonal reappearance LTO and I’m going to do so again and much of the same reasoning applies as it did then. This time though he’s out of apprentice company and effectively down a further 3lbs and he may well get the run of the race out in front. He would be a strong bet if the going was good to firm, but with 5 places generally available, I think he’s another great each way chance.

LORD ABAMA // 0.5pt E/W @ 9/1 5 places (Bet365)

Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: Don’t Forget Texture Play: Blue and brown get even better when you mix textures, Tattoos, Carbohydrates, and Saffron Saga Indian Restaurant

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Don’t Forget Texture Play: Blue and brown get even better when you mix textures: Satin blue blouse + matte brown trousers Navy crepe dress + suede brown heels Light blue cotton shirt + structured leather bag Texture makes the outfit feel expensive—even when you’re shopping smart at the big city boutiques like FashionGhana shop Asylum down. Why This Combo Feels So Right for the Corporate Girl Blue represents trust and intelligence. Brown represents reliability and stability. Isn’t that exactly what the modern Accra corporate woman embodies? You’re navigating traffic, meetings, side hustles, networking events—and still showing up impeccably dressed. Blue and brown understands that duality. Style Note : If black feels too predictable and red feels too loud, blue and brown is your sweet spot. It’s classy. It’s mature. It’s fresh. It’s corporate confidence wrapped in warmth. So next time you’re standing in front of your wardrobe thinking, “How do I look powerful but different?” Reach for blue. Add brown. Walk into that office like you own shares. Because honestly? You probably will soon. Tattoos. We see them more and more, but I do suggest you use stickers which can be taken off after the party. Tattoos affect your immune system in ways we're just beginning to understand. From wrist designs to full sleeves, body art has become so common that it barely raises an eyebrow. Tattoo inks contain pigments that give colour, liquid carriers that help distribute the ink, preservatives to prevent microbial growth, and small amounts of impurities. But most of these pigments were originally developed for industrial applications such as car paint, plastics, and printer toner, rather than for injection into your skin. Some of these inks contain nickel, chromium, cobalt, and occasionally lead. These are toxic and are well known for triggering allergic reactions and immune sensitivity. Tattoo inks can also contain organic compounds, including azo dyes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which can break down into aromatic amines which are linked to cancer and genetic damage. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are produced during the incomplete burning of organic material and are found in soot, vehicle exhaust, and charred food. Tattooing involves injecting ink deep into the dermis, the layer of skin beneath the surface. The body recognizes pigment particles as foreign material. Immune cells attempt to remove them, but the particles are too large to be fully cleared. Instead, they become trapped inside skin cells, which is what makes tattoos permanent. Tattoo inks do not just remain confined to the skin, pigment particles can migrate through the lymphatic system and accumulate in lymph nodes, small structures that filter immune cells and help coordinate immune responses. Tattoo ink is taken up by immune cells in the skin. When these cells die, they release signals that keep the immune system activated, leading to inflammation in nearby lymph nodes for up to two months. Tattoo ink present at a vaccine injection site alters immune responses in a vaccine-specific way. Notably, it was associated with a reduced immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine. Thus tattoo pigments can interfere with immune signaling, the chemical communication system immune cells use to coordinate responses to infection or vaccinations. Many cancers take decades to develop, making these risks difficult to study directly, especially given how widespread tattooing recently has become. All this can be avoided by using stick-ons. But if you really insist to put his name on your buttock? Nothing is permanent, but a tattoo is.

Carbohydrates. There’s a lot if them in cassava, plantain, yam, maize, millet, and rice. Typically about 70 % of our diet consists of carbohydrates, call them a form of sugars. That may have been fine when we lived in the village, got up early, walked to the farm, used hoe and machete to plant and weed and harvest, walked back home with some food and firewood when it was starting to be hot, and repeated same in the afternoon. Yes, that took a lot of energy, and carbohydrate supplied that. But now our lifestyles have changed, we hardly do any manual labour again, we even simulate it by going to the gym, and we don’t walk much again. So the carbohydrates are not burned and there’s a lot of sugar in our blood for long periods. This will result in weight gain, and an increased diabetes risk. Recognize anybody? So eat more veggies and bring that carbo thing down to 40-50 %. Veggies expensive? Yes, some are. Others, like e.g. carrots and cabbage are affordable.

Saffron Saga Indian Restaurant. 11th Lane, Salvation Road, behind La Villa Boutique in Osu, Accra, of late is one of my favourites. Service is very prompt, the manager is constantly in the restaurant supervising, they have Heineken draft beer @ 52 GHC per half liter (funny price, taxes). We had the crispy canvas humus, a must try though it is too big for 2 persons, a great South Indian fish curry which I found a bit disappointing, the fish was slightly overcooked and I had expected the curry to be “hotter”. Curry in fact is a mixture of spices, mainly turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger and chilies, and Indian curry, Thai, Japanese and Caribbean are all versions on their own. South Indian curry typically is hotter than northern. We also had friend rice chicken where the chicken is cooked into the rice, with spices, a bit like beef into jollof. Nice.

Lydia...

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Cubs vs Mets

This Friday's MLB Game of choice features the New York Mets playing the Chicago Cubs. The game's scheduled start time of 1:20 PM CDT will give me an afternoon full of baseball, and leave me an evening to structure as I please. I like that.

And the adventure continues.

I like to watch sports every now and then, but I don’t watch sports news. Then again, I don’t read much news. Anyway, I’ve been interested in the Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel drama for the past few days. Not because I like drama but how a private investigator played a key role in it.

I’ll spare you the details of the fiasco. Look can look them here on The Shadow League link. The following couple pictures I’ll talk about next come from the TMZ Sports Page link. They photos were taken from an Arizona resort.

The first picture you see is Russin and Vrabel standing in front of each other, on top of some wooden patio, with their hands forward and interlocking fingers. Notice how the photo is a little grainy, but not too much that you can still tell who they are by their faces. That usually means the PI was at a distance where the camera’s optical zoom was at its limit before picture quality fades.

The second photo you see is Russin and Vrabel (wearing swim trunks and bathing suit, respectively) lying on the pool. Notice the picture quality is better than the first. The PI must have been pretty close to them. Either the PI was next to the pool or still outside the resort where anyone can see in.

Keep in mind, Russin and Vrabel both have spouses. And while there’s no kissing or sexual activity it still doesn’t look good for the two. And it’s more than likely that Russian’s husband and Shake Shack senior manager, Kevin Goldschmidt, hired the private investigator.

As a former private investigator with thirteen years of surveillance work (mostly workers comp) I’m still amazed on the quality of the photos and the work done by the PI in charge of the infidelity case. Those two still shots are more than likely taken from whatever video the PI recorded. Video evidence is often more powerful than photos when it comes to infidelity and workers comp cases. If a photo is worth a thousand words, a video is at least three times that if not more.

I guess there are two lessons in all of this: 1) there will never be a shortage of cheaters, which means more PI work, and 2) in the long run, cheaters never prosper. Don’t be like Russini and Vrabel. You never know who’s watching.

#cheating #drama #fiasco #infidelity #photo #pi #privateinvestigator #Russini #sports #video #Vrabel

During my first year in teacher college, I read a stat that said between 30-50% of teachers leave the field within the first 5 years. Don’t leave the field. Give the job at least 3-5 years. It takes time to get through the early growing pains. My first year was terrible. I wanted to quit almost weekly, and I would spends upwards of 6-8 hours on Sundays grading and creating lesson plans. It was awful. The “Sunday Scaries” were always filled with dread. It really made me question the profession. Good news! It gets easier in time—way easier. It really is like learning how to ride a bike; once you learn, you’ll really enjoy the profession. I would say 90% of the time I have a smile on my face and really look forward to work. We all have bad days. We’re human. Every job is like this. So please don’t judge the profession right away. There is much to learn when starting out, and it truly feels like being tossed into the frying pan as they say. Surviving is the key to your development.

Here are 20 tips to survive the first year.

1. Get a good mentor. You’ll need someone to bounce questions off of and somebody you can trust. Don’t go to everyone. Be selective because teachers do like to talk; faculty rooms can be the wrong place to hang out. Unfortunately, every school has someone who will try and kill your vibe.

2. Don’t reinvent the wheel (Get lesson plans and materials from other teachers or websites). Take advantage of the web and don’t think you’re being a bad teacher. You’re in survival mode the first year. Every little bit helps!

3. Aim to create one really good lesson each week. Don’t strive for 5 perfect lessons. You will really burnout. Have fun creating that one lesson that will really shine.

4. Laugh at your mistakes. You will make plenty. I still do.

5. Toss out “crap” lessons and worksheets. Don’t grade everything. I will occasionally toss out a packet of paperwork (filler worksheets, or assignments that took me too long to get to) that has been sitting my desk for a few weeks.

6. Use multiple choice assessments to keep yourself on your feet. If you feel caught up, give out something that is more time consuming to grade.

7. Stay calm as possible. Fake it until you make it. Faking your confidence is sometimes necessary. Students, for the most part, will think you know all the answers.

8. Stay away from burnout coworkers and negativity.

9. Give less homework (homework 4-5 days a week may be too much for you and your students). Start off with 1-2 assignments per week. Make sure you feel comfortable with this and it’s okay by your district. Classwork that is not finished becomes homework in my classroom.

10. Get to work early and stay later to prepare for the following day. This will take all the stress off you with the morning rush.

11. Don’t grade everything. Aim for 2-3 things per week if you can. I grade participation, homework, and classwork. Sometimes I grade more or less.

12. Work-life balance might swing harder to the work aspect of your life. Your weekends should be doing something fun and completely unrelated to teaching. Pick 1 day on the weekend to plan and prepare. I like Sunday morning really early. Friday night—please don’t work. Enjoy your Saturdays too!

13. Put more work on your students. They should be working harder than you. Give a 2-3 day assignment or computer project. Use educational websites with auto-grading features that will allow you to catch up with the admin side of the job.

14. Designate Fridays as a quiz or test day. These assessments can be short too. This will give you a chance to grade and keep you organized and staying on top of things.

15. Plan your lesson plans with the end goal in mind? What is the big picture? What do you want them to be able to do by the end of the quarter? Is it a project or presentation? Work backwards from there.

16. Have a snack and water at your desk. Please eat lunch because you might become lightheaded and might feel more agitated dealing with students.

17. Drink coffee or tea for a little energy. I love my coffee, but I understand that it’s not always the best for anxiety. For me, it puts me in a good mood. Moderation is key.

18. During your lunch period. Get outside and take a break from teaching. Spend time with a funny coworker or sit in your car. This can be hard to do when you have a lot work. Make a point to give your mind a break from teaching stuff!

19. Develop a faster grading system. See the chapter on grading faster.

20. Read 1 positive quote for the day that is motivational and relating to what you’re going through.

Consider these tips. Maybe try 1-2 this week and see how it goes. I know you got this!

You adjusted your cal-mag for two weeks. The yellowing got worse. Then you saw the webbing.

That's how most growers discover spider mites – not when the problem starts, but when it's already out of control. The early damage looks so much like a nutrient deficiency that your first instinct is to adjust the feed. Meanwhile, a single female mite is producing thousands of descendants in a month.

Spider mites are the most destructive pest in indoor cannabis cultivation. Not because they're hard to kill – they aren't, when caught early – but because their early symptoms mimic nutrient problems so convincingly that growers lose their detection window treating the wrong thing entirely.

This guide covers visual identification at every stage, how to tell mite damage from a deficiency, and what actually works for treatment.

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Quick Identification

Spider mites on cannabis produce tiny yellow or white speckles (stippling) on upper leaf surfaces where mites feed from below. Unlike nutrient deficiencies – which cause broad, uniform color changes across leaves – stippling appears as distinct pinprick dots scattered irregularly across the leaf. The damage is caused by Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite), an arachnid that punctures individual plant cells and drains their contents. By the time webbing is visible, the colony has been feeding for weeks.

Quick checklist: – Tiny yellow/white pinprick dots on upper leaf surface – Dots are irregular and scattered, not following veins – Leaf undersides show tiny moving specks (mites are 0.3-0.5mm) – Fine webbing between leaf tips or at branch junctions (advanced) – Damage starts on lower/inner canopy where airflow is poorest – Leaves eventually bronze, curl, and drop

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Why Spider Mites Are So Hard to Catch

They look like a nutrient deficiency

The single most common spider mite mistake has nothing to do with treatment. It happens at identification.

Early stippling – those tiny yellow dots where mites have punctured cells – looks like the beginning of a calcium deficiency or light stress. The dots are small, scattered, and appear on older growth first. A grower sees yellowing dots on lower leaves and reaches for the cal-mag bottle. Two weeks of feed adjustments later, the dots have spread, the plant looks worse, and then the webbing appears.

This is not a knowledge failure. It's a pattern recognition problem. The visual difference between early mite stippling and early nutrient deficiency is subtle enough that experienced growers miss it regularly.

Feature	Spider Mite Stippling	Calcium Deficiency	Magnesium Deficiency
Pattern	Irregular pinprick dots	Irregular brown spots	Interveinal yellowing
Distribution	Scattered randomly across leaf	Concentrated on newer growth	Starts on older leaves
Symmetry	Asymmetric, random	Roughly symmetric	Symmetric between veins
Leaf underside	Tiny mites or eggs visible	Clean	Clean
Texture	Leaf feels slightly rough/gritty	Spots may feel crispy	Leaf stays smooth
Progression	Dots multiply, never merge into bands	Spots expand and merge	Yellowing expands between veins
Touch test	Gritty feel from mite debris	Normal	Normal

The diagnostic key: flip the leaf over. Nutrient deficiencies don't leave anything on the underside. Spider mites leave everything there – adults, eggs, shed skins, webbing. A 10x loupe makes this definitive, but even a phone camera zoomed in on the leaf underside will show the difference.

They breed fast enough to outrun your diagnosis

Spider mites reproduce faster than almost any pest a cannabis grower will encounter.

• Generation time: 7 days at 30°C (86°F). Egg to egg-laying adult in one week.
• Reproductive rate: A single female lays up to 100 eggs. Her daughters start laying within a week.
• Population math: One mite becomes thousands in a month at optimal temperatures. Two months of unchecked growth reaches millions.

This is exponential growth in the literal sense. The population you can't see on Monday is visible by Friday and webbing by the following Monday. The detection window – the gap between “early enough to treat easily” and “too late for simple solutions” – is approximately 5-7 days.

Every day of misdiagnosis as a nutrient issue is a day lost in that window.

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Visual Symptoms by Stage

Days 1-7: Invisible Phase

Mites have arrived but the colony is small. Fewer than 10 adults on the plant. No visible damage to the naked eye.

What to look for: Nothing you can see without magnification. Preventive inspection with a 10x loupe on leaf undersides is the only detection method during this phase – or an AI that can catch the earliest stippling pattern in a leaf photo before your eye does.

Days 7-14: Early Stippling

What you see: – Scattered yellow-white dots on upper leaf surfaces – Dots are pinprick-sized, irregular spacing – Lower and inner canopy leaves affected first – Leaves may appear slightly dull or dusty

This is the critical detection window. The damage is visible but the population is still manageable. Treat now and you win. Wait, and you're chasing exponential growth.

What growers confuse it with: Calcium deficiency, magnesium deficiency, early light stress, pH fluctuation damage. The distinguishing test: check the leaf underside with a loupe or zoomed phone camera.

Days 14-21: Moderate Infestation

What you see: – Stippling thickens into visible patches of yellow/bronze discoloration – Fine webbing appears at leaf tips and where leaves meet stems – Leaf edges may curl upward – Multiple plants now show symptoms (airborne spread via “ballooning” on silk threads)

Webbing marks the transition from “problem” to “crisis.” The silk isn't just housing – it protects colonies from predators and spray treatments. Once webs are established, contact sprays have to penetrate the silk to reach the mites.

Days 21+: Severe Infestation

What you see: – Dense webbing covering bud sites, connecting leaves – Leaves are bronzed, curled, and dropping – Mites visible as tiny moving dots on webbing – Plant growth has visibly slowed or stopped – Webbing on flowers makes bud unusable

At this stage, the plant is losing more photosynthetic capacity than it can replace. During flower, this level of infestation is often a total crop loss for affected plants. The mites are feeding on sugar leaves and bract tissue, leaving webbing embedded in the flower structure. Even if you kill every mite, the webbing and fecal matter remain.

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Where to Look: Detection Hotspots

Spider mites prefer warm, dry, still air – the conditions that exist in the center and lower canopy of most indoor grows.

Check first: – Undersides of lower and inner canopy leaves – Where two leaves overlap (creates still-air microclimate) – Near intake vents (common entry point) – Any plant closest to heat sources

Check second: – Leaf undersides on middle canopy – Branch junctions where stems create sheltered pockets – Nearby houseplants, clones, or recently introduced plant material

High-risk conditions: – Temperature above 27°C (80°F) and rising – Humidity below 40% RH – Stagnant air in lower canopy – New clones or plants introduced without quarantine – Adjacent rooms or gardens with ornamental plants

One fact most growers don't realize: spider mites travel on clothing, pets, and skin. If you've been in a garden with mites and walk into your grow room, you may be the vector. This is why quarantine protocols matter even for indoor-only grows.

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They're arachnids, not insects

This matters more than you'd think. Spider mites aren't insects. They're arachnids – closer to ticks and spiders than to aphids or thrips. A lot of insecticides just don't work on them, and growers figure this out the expensive way: they buy whatever pest spray the grow shop recommends, apply it twice a week for a month, and the mites keep spreading.

If a product label says “insecticide” but doesn't specifically list mites or arachnids, it probably won't work. You need a miticide (specifically targets mites) or a broad-spectrum acaricide (targets arachnids generally). Some biologicals and organic options work by physical mechanisms – suffocation, desiccation – that don't depend on the pest's taxonomy. These are often the safest first-line choice.

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Treatment Strategies

They evolve faster than you can spray

Spider mites develop pesticide resistance at a rate that makes most agricultural pests look slow. With a 7-day generation cycle, resistance emerges in weeks, not seasons. Some strains of T. urticae are resistant to dozens of active ingredients simultaneously.

Worse: some pesticides cause “mite flaring” – the surviving mites respond to the chemical stress by increasing their reproductive rate by up to 30%. The intuitive response of “spray harder, spray more” can accelerate the infestation rather than control it.

Single-product treatment strategies fail. Always rotate between different modes of action.

During Vegetative Growth

Immediate response (first 48 hours): 1. Isolate affected plants if possible 2. Remove and dispose of heavily infested leaves (bag them, don't compost) 3. Spray leaf undersides thoroughly with a contact miticide or biological

Biological controls: – Phytoseiulus persimilis – predatory mite that feeds exclusively on spider mites. Effective in vegetative growth and early flower. Needs humidity above 60% to thrive. – Neoseiulus californicus – predatory mite that tolerates lower humidity and also eats thrips. Better for dry grow rooms. – Amblyseius andersoni – generalist predatory mite, survives without prey by eating pollen. Good for preventive releases.

Organic sprays (moderate infestations): – Neem oil (azadirachtin) – disrupts feeding and reproduction. Apply to leaf undersides only. Do not use in flower – affects taste and may not fully degrade. – Insecticidal soap (potassium salts of fatty acids) – kills on contact by desiccation. Must directly contact the mite. Repeat every 3-5 days for 3 applications to catch new hatchlings. – Spinosad – organic-approved, effective on thrips but weak against mites on its own. Can supplement a rotation but shouldn't be a primary miticide.

Spray rotation protocol: – Week 1: Product A (e.g., insecticidal soap) – Week 2: Product B (e.g., neem oil) – Week 3: Product A again (or a different miticide) – Never use the same active ingredient twice in a row

During flower

This is where most growers panic, and for good reason. During flower, almost everything that kills mites also ruins buds.

Safe in flower: – Predatory mites (biological control – no residue, no taste impact) – Water rinse with slightly elevated pressure (dislodges mites physically, must reach undersides) – Cold snap trick: drop temperature to 15°C (60°F) for 3 days if possible. Mite reproduction nearly stops below 18°C (65°F). This buys time for predatory mites to work.

Avoid in flower: – Neem oil (taste contamination, doesn't fully degrade on flower tissue) – Pyrethrin sprays (residue on buds) – Sulfur (burns trichomes, affects terpenes) – Any systemic product (absorbed into plant tissue including flower)

If webbing is on buds: The honest answer is that those buds are compromised. Webbing contains fecal matter and shed mite skins that don't wash off. You can salvage the plant by removing affected flowers and protecting remaining buds with predatory mites, but heavily webbed buds should be discarded.

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Prevention

A few euros spent preventing mites saves hundreds in lost crop. Prevention beats treatment every time, especially with a pest that breeds this fast.

Environmental controls: – Keep humidity above 50% RH during veg (mites thrive in dry conditions) – Ensure airflow reaches the lower canopy (oscillating fans, open plant structure) – Run temperatures below 27°C (80°F) when possible – HEPA filter on intake if growing in an area with outdoor mite pressure

Good habits: – Quarantine new plants for 7-14 days before introducing to your grow – Change clothes before entering grow room if you've been in other gardens – Inspect leaf undersides weekly with a 10x loupe – make it routine, not reactive – Remove dead leaves and debris from the grow space (harboring sites) – Avoid overly dense canopy – defoliate lower growth that gets no light and creates still-air pockets

Preemptive predators: – Release Amblyseius andersoni or N. californicus at transplant. These predatory mites establish a background population that intercepts spider mites before colonies form. Cost: roughly €20-30 per release for a small grow, every 4-6 weeks.

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How AI detection changes the timeline

The spider mite problem is a timing issue. The window between “just arrived” and “exponential growth” is about 5-7 days. Most growers catch mites after stippling is already obvious – right at the edge of that window, or past it.

The main reason growers miss that window isn't inattention. Early stippling – those first scattered yellow dots where mites have punctured cells – looks almost identical to the start of a calcium or magnesium deficiency. Same distribution, same size, same location on older growth. A grower sees the dots, checks pH, adjusts the feed, and waits a week for results. By the time the nutrient hypothesis is ruled out and a loupe comes out, mites have had 7-10 days of uncontested growth. At one generation per week, that adds up.

PlantLab's model covers 31 cannabis conditions including spider mite damage. It catches the stippling pattern at the 10-dot stage, from a routine photo. Not a replacement for the loupe – nothing is – but it flags the pattern before you've mentally filed it as “probably cal-mag” and moved on.

Catching mites at day 7 instead of day 14 is the difference between wiping down some leaves and losing a crop.

Free at plantlab.ai – 3 checks a day.

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FAQ

How do I tell spider mite damage from a nutrient deficiency? Flip the leaf. Spider mite damage shows as scattered pinprick dots on top with mites, eggs, or webbing underneath. Nutrient deficiencies cause broader color changes with clean leaf undersides. A 10x loupe on the underside is the definitive test.

Can I see spider mites without a magnifying glass? Adults are barely visible to the naked eye (0.3-0.5mm) as tiny moving specks on leaf undersides. Eggs and juveniles are too small to see without magnification. By the time mites are easily visible, the colony is large. Use a loupe or phone camera zoom for early detection.

How fast do spider mites spread between plants? In optimal conditions (above 27°C / 80°F, below 40% RH), mites can move from one plant to adjacent plants within 24-48 hours. They also “balloon” on silk threads carried by air currents, reaching plants across a room. A single infested plant can become a room-wide problem in 5-10 days.

Will neem oil get rid of spider mites? Neem works as part of a rotation, not as a standalone. It disrupts feeding and reproduction but doesn't kill on contact, and mites build resistance to it quickly. Rotate with insecticidal soap and other modes of action. And never use it during flower – it doesn't come off.

What kills spider mites instantly? Insecticidal soap and pyrethrin kill on contact, but only what they touch. You'll miss eggs. Plan for 3 rounds over 2 weeks to catch hatching cycles.

The Summer Tree est un roman publié en anglais en 1984. Il s’agit du premier volet de The Fionavar Tapestry, une trilogie de fantasy par l'auteur canadien Guy Gavriel Kay.

It all began with a lecture that introduced five university students to a man who would change their lives, a wizard who could take them from Earth to the heart of the first of all worlds, Fionavar. And take them Loren Silvercloak did, for his need—the need of Fionavar and all the worlds—was great indeed.

And in a marvelous land of men and dwarves, of wizards and god, and of the Unraveller and his minions of Darkness, Kimberly, Dave, Jennifer, Kevin, and Paul discovered who they were truly meant to be. For the five were a long-awaited part of the pattern known as the Fionavar Tapestry, and only if they accepted their destiny would the armies of the Light stand any chance of surviving when the Unraveller unleashed his wrath upon the world.

Ce roman date des années 1980, c'est de la fantasy classique, clairement inspirée de Tolkien, ce qui n’est pas étonnant quand on sait que Guy Gavriel Kay avait auparavant été l’assistant de Christopher Tolkien pour l’édition du Silmarillion. On retrouve donc certains éléments qui semblent tout droit sortis de la Terre du Milieu.

On peut également penser à Narnia, avec ce récit qui débute dans notre monde et qui se poursuit avec un voyage vers un monde imaginaire, sauf qu’au lieu d’enfants britanniques nous avons ici des étudiants de l’université de Toronto.

Quand on lit le résumé du roman, et même pendant les premières pages, on peut craindre les clichés, le récit typique avec des protagonistes élus dont une prophétie prédit qu’ils sont destinés à qui sauver le monde. Par ailleurs, s’agissant du premier tome d’une trilogie, le texte comporte beaucoup d’exposition, pas toujours de façon subtile.

Pourtant, cela a étonnamment très bien fonctionné pour moi. J’ai été emporté par le récit et le monde proposés par Guy Gavriel Kay. C’est peut-être grâce au style de l'auteur, peut-être grâce au monde classique mais envoutant, peut-être enfin grâce à certains personnages qui sortent du lot ou qui se révèlent plus profonds qu’ils n’en ont l’air au premier abord.

Ce premier tome est très prometteur, et si les deux suivants sont aussi réussis que celui-ci, cette trilogie pourrait bien être l’une des rares œuvres inspirées du Seigneur des Anneaux et qui n’a pas à rougir de la comparaison.

I think Tony Carroll could have a decent day today, but for blog, just one selection for me …

5.20 Bath Jack Morland’s Hunky Dory has an obvious big chance and should be close, but I’m going to have a go at MR LIGHTSIDE here who looks the classiest horse in the field. Spent the summer of 2024 contesting black type races, finishing 3rd in the Molecomb and then decent efforts at York and Donny. Struggled in class 2 handicaps as a 3yo off 3 figure marks and has then had a winter AW campaign that wasn’t sure to suit (8/0/1p on artificial surfaces). Back to turf today from a mark of 77, 22lbs lower than when running in class 2 handicap at Ascot 10 months ago. Mick Appleby has had a decent start to the season and this one should have a lively each way chance.

MR LIGHTSIDE // 0.5pt E/W @ 9/1 4 places (Paddy) BOG

自分の家のテレビ台にある、 小さいクリスマスツリーをまだ片付けていないんだよね。

ふーん。 忙しいとそういうの後回しになるよね。

忙しいとかではないかなあ。

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自分の家のテレビ台にある、 小さいクリスマスツリーをまだ片付けていないんだよね。

ふーん。 まあ、気が向いたときに片付ければいいよ。

片付けたい、片付けたくない、 という話ではないかなあ。

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自分の家のテレビ台にある、 小さいクリスマスツリーをまだ片付けていないんだよね。

ふーん。 何か理由があるの？ それとも、ただ置いてある感じが気に入ってるのかなあ。

いや、 理由があったら先に言ってるね。 それだと、俺がこの発言をした意味がない感じがする。

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自分の家のテレビ台にある、 小さいクリスマスツリーをまだ片付けていないんだよね。

そういうの、ふと気になる瞬間あるよね。 今のあなたの感じがちょっと伝わったよ。

分かってほしいわけではなくて話が進んでほしいんだよね。

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自分の家のテレビ台にある、 小さいクリスマスツリーをまだ片付けていないんだよね。

まだ出てるんだ。 じゃあ、そのツリーどうするつもり？

どうもしない。 だから、こっちの意図が決まってたら聞いてないんだって。

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自分の家のテレビ台にある、 小さいクリスマスツリーをまだ片付けていないんだよね。

まだ出てるんだ。 じゃあ、そのツリー、今の部屋の景色の中でどんな存在になってる？

うるせえな。 こういう話をしただけの事自体が異常だから、 そうではない何かだろうが。

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自分の家のテレビ台にある、 小さいクリスマスツリーをまだ片付けていないんだよね。

ああ、まだ出てるんだ。 なんか、その状態ってちょっと面白いね。

全然ダメ。 俺以上の感性で考えてはくれないか。 自分でこれ以上進まないから人に話したんでしょ？

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自分の家のテレビ台にある、 小さいクリスマスツリーをまだ片付けていないんだよね。

まだ出てるんだ。 そのまま置いてあると、部屋の空気ってどう変わる？

・・・あー。 空気は悪くないよ。 なんか冬の名残で良い感じかも。

涼しくなる？

いや、涼しくはならない。 冬の、あの時の、人々が年末休みに入る感じ、 人がどんどん休みに入っていく感じの記憶が、 クリスマスツリーに内包されてる感じ。 それが好きかもしれない。

それが言いたかった？

いやー。 うーん。 でも悪くないよ。

I enjoy talking about myself, but I rarely get to. Definitely not as much as I make others open up about themselves. Not many have the depth or the ability to converse with me in a way that makes me want to trust and open up. Nor do many know how to flow with the rhythm of conversation. This is because they lack listening skills, but, at a deeper level, it actually stems from a lack of self-awareness and authenticity. That’s why I’d rather just listen to them talk, even if it bores me. Or just leave. I’ll open up only when it’s natural and when I’m asked questions in the right context, with curiosity and sincerity. I used to think I was closed off for this reason, but back then, I didn’t know why I was the way I was. Now I feel unapologetic about it because I am more in touch with myself.