EPISODE · Nov 30, 2025 · 13 MIN
HACK! Grow Your Own Predatory Mites: Slash Your Pest Control Costs
from Hydroponics Daily · host Eutrema Ltd
Dr. Russell Sharp shares a practical hack to dramatically reduce pesticide and biocontrol costs by culturing predatory mites on bran or pollen. This method lets growers seed a small container with purchased predatory mites, grow their prey mites on a feedstock, and maintain a self-sustaining predatory population to protect crops. Key steps and precautions: buy untreated bran from an animal feed store, seed a small sealed container with purchased mites, keep warm with slight moisture, rotate harvests (use ~80% for release, keep ~20% to restart), and avoid storing bran near human food or large open volumes to prevent infestations. Works for leaf and soil predators and can be scaled from houseplants to large farms. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/pesticides-organic/lime-sulphur/ Roland De Jonghe – Biobest Group Silvia Todorova – Anatis Bioprotection Claude Robert – Anatis Bioprotection Don Elliott – Applied Bio-nomics Brian Spencer – Applied Bio-nomics José Vanzeler de Melo – Agronologica Patrick Charlot – Bioline AgroSciences David Ben-Zvi – BioBee Sde Eliyahu Moshe Sagiv – BioBee Sde Eliyahu Arnold Yasin – BioBee Sde Eliyahu Octávio Peres Neto – Biotrop Fábio Passos – Biotrop Fernando Reis – Biotrop Keith Jones – Certis Biologicals Robert G. Bouseman – Certis Biologicals Nicolas Gombault – M2i Life Sciences Philippe Guerret – M2i Life Sciences Marc Guillon – M2i Life Sciences Ted C. Jones – BioWorks Lorin R. Buhle Jr. – BioWorks Peter Quiring – A&L Biologicals Adrian Van Wyk – Real IPM Kenya Louise Labuschagne – Real IPM Kenya Paulo J. Freitas – Bug Agentes Biológicos Ruy F. Sampaio – Bug Agentes Biológicos Eric Johnson – Beneficial Insectary Doug Morrison – Beneficial Insectary Bill Grant – Rincon-Vitova Insectaries Patricia H. Hunt – Rincon-Vitova Insectaries Andreas Zimmermann – Andermatt Biocontrol Martin Andermatt – Andermatt Biovet Klaus Wyss – Biotop Axel Decourtye – Biotop Hans Peter Naef – Biohelp Jürgen Schmutterer – Biohelp Marcelo Poletti – Promip Ricardo Machione – Promip Ricardo Madureira – Koppert Biological Systems Brazil Fernando de Oliveira – Koppert Biological Systems Brazil Ken Ricker – Natural Insect Control Jim Bruce – Natural Insect Control Gavin F. Copping – Biological Services John Fien – Biological Services Mark Brownbridge – BioFungitek Phil Garrity – BioFungitek Christian Koch – E-nema Ralf-Udo Ehlers – E-nema Ravi K. Starzl – AEF Global Robert Masella – AEF Global Shachar Zehavi – Groundwork BioAg
What this episode covers
Dr. Russell Sharp shares a practical hack to dramatically reduce pesticide and biocontrol costs by culturing predatory mites on bran or pollen. This method lets growers seed a small container with purchased predatory mites, grow their prey mites on a feedstock, and maintain a self-sustaining predatory population to protect crops. Key steps and precautions: buy untreated bran from an animal feed store, seed a small sealed container with purchased mites, keep warm with slight moisture, rotate harvests (use ~80% for release, keep ~20% to restart), and avoid storing bran near human food or large open volumes to prevent infestations. Works for leaf and soil predators and can be scaled from houseplants to large farms. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/pesticides-organic/lime-sulphur/ Roland De Jonghe – Biobest Group Silvia Todorova – Anatis Bioprotection Claude Robert – Anatis Bioprotection Don Elliott – Applied Bio-nomics Brian Spencer – Applied Bio-nomics José Vanzeler de Melo – Agronologica Patrick Charlot – Bioline AgroSciences David Ben-Zvi – BioBee Sde Eliyahu Moshe Sagiv – BioBee Sde Eliyahu Arnold Yasin – BioBee Sde Eliyahu Octávio Peres Neto – Biotrop Fábio Passos – Biotrop Fernando Reis – Biotrop Keith Jones – Certis Biologicals Robert G. Bouseman – Certis Biologicals Nicolas Gombault – M2i Life Sciences Philippe Guerret – M2i Life Sciences Marc Guillon – M2i Life Sciences Ted C. Jones – BioWorks Lorin R. Buhle Jr. – BioWorks Peter Quiring – A&L Biologicals Adrian Van Wyk – Real IPM Kenya Louise Labuschagne – Real IPM Kenya Paulo J. Freitas – Bug Agentes Biológicos Ruy F. Sampaio – Bug Agentes Biológicos Eric Johnson – Beneficial Insectary Doug Morrison – Beneficial Insectary Bill Grant – Rincon-Vitova Insectaries Patricia H. Hunt – Rincon-Vitova Insectaries Andreas Zimmermann – Andermatt Biocontrol Martin Andermatt – Andermatt Biovet Klaus Wyss – Biotop Axel Decourtye – Biotop Hans Peter Naef – Biohelp Jürgen Schmutterer – Biohelp Marcelo Poletti – Promip Ricardo Machione – Promip Ricardo Madureira – Koppert Biological Systems Brazil Fernando de Oliveira – Koppert Biological Systems Brazil Ken Ricker – Natural Insect Control Jim Bruce – Natural Insect Control Gavin F. Copping – Biological Services John Fien – Biological Services Mark Brownbridge – BioFungitek Phil Garrity – BioFungitek Christian Koch – E-nema Ralf-Udo Ehlers – E-nema Ravi K. Starzl – AEF Global Robert Masella – AEF Global Shachar Zehavi – Groundwork BioAg
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HACK! Grow Your Own Predatory Mites: Slash Your Pest Control Costs
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