Recently, a friend gave me a clone that was infected with hemp russet mites. What a surprise. 
I rarely take in clones from anyone because I know the stories. But this was special so I took a chance. Even thought the the clone was supposedly clean, I quarantined, and sprayed it with Avid every three days for three weeks. I took some clones and when the clones were rooted, I threw the mom and the clones into the veg tent with 12 wedding cake f4s. It only took a week before I noticed curling on the clones I knew right away it was due to russets. All plants were tossed, In the utility room was bleached as best as I could. The last time I had russets about three years ago from a clone a friend gave me, I bleached my tent and waited six weeks before starting a new round. I had absolutely no problems with mites after the off period. This time around, since the Utility room is so large, I have been blasting the room with my UVC lamp a few hours a day. Does anyone had documented experiences using UVC to kill mites? Knowing how dangerous it is to humans, I thought it would have similar effects on all organisms.
For killing remaining mites and its eggs in an empty tent it may be useful, but not with infested plants as mites tend to hide in the lower surface of the leaves so they are protecred and won’t die. Good luck with it and be careful … 
I would think that’s true. Including plants.
UV-C would probably be most effective for small biological masses such as fungi, bacteria, and virii. Larger biological masses would probably be damaged but maybe not eliminated.
Not an infestation. And I am not in the room when I turn the light on, so no worries about exposure. I only noticed the curling on the clones, which were very small…maybe 4 inches tall. And like I said, I threw out all the plants, the tent, and filters. Nothing is set up. It’s an empty utility room with washer and dryer and some storage. Without hemp plants, hemp Russet Mites have no food source. They are specific to hemp/marijuana plants only. You may find other mites have many host plants, but hemp Russet Mites are very specific. And like tomato russet mites, the eggs that are laid hatch regardless of temperature or food source. They do not build protein shells. The eggs do not go into hibernation until a food source is available. They hatch and must find a food source or die.
But all that is beside my point. My room has been void of all plants since March 21st. Last time this happened, I waited 6 weeks, 42days, and had mite free grows thereafter not using UVC. I want to know with certainty and from personal experience, after having russet mites, has anyone sterilized an empty room with UVC in order to start growing soon after the russets growth cycle of 30 days.
I’ve seen video of dust mites getting fried and dying after 20 minutes exposure. But there isnt any hard conclusive evidence I can find and most people are scare of UVC lights and don’t mess with them.
Oh, empty room. Makes more sense to me.
Having “certainty” on killing russet mites/eggs, a bit of a tall order. Problem with light is that it won’t penetrate areas in the shadows and places that they may hide or where the intensity is not great.
I’d go chemical bomb on those bastards personally. Then another wipe down.
I’m unable go grow for a bit for this very reason. The mites I had like strong aromatic plants best. The ones normally good at repelling pests. My sacred basil, Rosie basil, strawberry kiwi mojito mint, and lavender all had a turn with the mites before they infested Booberry. When I harvested her I’d say she smelled pretty close to the sacred basil they infested last before Booberry. A combination of eucalyptus, lavender, black liquorice, pine, vanilla, black pepper, and citrus is what she smelled like last. it sounds to me like her final smell was determined by the mites I couldn’t get rid of until now.
Now on a somewhat related note about mites. Marauder from the preservation run seems to be mite resistant. Through the whole grow and having direct contact she still never once got webbed or eaten by them. Even now when my lights are off for the last 3 days. I’ve been checking up on her to be safe and no mites.
I made sure to mention that as those mites resisted everything I threw at them. She’s also a very frosty strain too with a very strong smell. If my extraction fan was too low I could smell her through the exhaust.
Well my social skills have dropped 
I was saying that I’m interested in anything that will kill the mites and eggs. The part about Marauder is important in my opinion though as she was a perfect opportunity to infest and they didn’t. She’s so strong smelling that my nose burns and my sinuses tell me that it’s way too intense. I get that with anything that manages a cloying level of smell intensity. She has a strong skunk and musk smell. Nearly spot on for a skunk strain for profile last I smelled her.
Hopefully there’s a reason and it’s not just my imagination
If someone thinks UV-C is too scary to use I get rid of spider mites after emptying the tent first with bleech soap and then boiling them (eggs included) with a vapour cleaning machine. Vapour reaches evrywhere and so far they are gone … 
So I read a paper from Colorado State University. Apparently UVC or bleach, or anything for that matter, isn’t needed if the facility is void of hemp plants. Russets only lay eggs on the host plant, and can only survive for 3 or 4 weeks, according to the paper. Makes sense why my 6 week pause in growing worked, last time I had the problem.Looks like I’ll wait another week or two and be back at it. Thanks for the feedback, brothas! I’ll be at my log starting up soon. Growin’ and Chuckin’.
Good to know. Very interesting. Thanks for feeding back your research on this.
Looking forward to your grow, @MG_Canna.