3 minute read
Beware
hen cultivating cannabis, gardeners need to be on the lookout for pests that can devastate their plants and ruin the harvest. Cannabis pests come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from microscopic pests like mites and mildew to larger bugs like caterpillars and snails. Removing cannabis pests is a very important part of cultivating and caring for a successful cannabis crop. If nothing is done to prevent or eradicate the pests, the time and effort of cultivating cannabis plants will be wasted. The best defense a cultivator can have is a great offense, and being proactive will save you time, effort, money, and the sweet end result of caring for your plants. Pests can wreak havoc on the health and quality of your cannabis plants, so taking action to control them is essential. Fortunately, there are a few strategies and tactics that gardeners can use to protect their crops from pesky intruders.
The first step in the pest prevention process is identifying the types of pests that may threaten the garden. Knowing which insects to look for, what their behavior and lifestyle is like, and what damage they may do is essential. A few common cannabis pests are aphids, caterpillars, mites, snails, and whiteflies. These pests can become a serious concern if left unchecked, pests will attack the fan leaves and cause a halt in new growth from occurring because the plant is attempting to fight off the intruders. Caterpillars can eat their way through stems and buds, destroying the plant from the inside. Gardeners can use books or online resources to help with identification. A few key identifiers include, yellowing of leaves and stems, brown spots and white dots on the fan leaves, random holes throughout the plant, and the curling of leaves can be a giveaway that something is infecting your plants. While some pests can be removed and prevent you from destroying a harvest, there are some things that can’t be remedied. Such as powdery mildew, if your crop becomes infected with powdery mildew the best option, besides starting over, is to isolate the infected plants away from the healthy ones, lower the humidity, and use less water for the remaining of feeding.
Once the pests are identified, gardeners can move forward with a pest management plan. It is important to take into consideration the type of pest, as well as the environment of the garden and the plant’s needs. One of the most popular approaches is using a physical barrier, such as row covers or insect screens. These materials provide a layer of protection and prevent bugs from entering the garden. Other approaches to physical barriers include using cloves of garlic around the base of the stem, using fine-netting over the whole plant, and cardboard barriers inserted one to two inches in the soil around the plant.
Gardeners can also utilize non-toxic sprays to help manage the pests. Neem oil and other botanical sprays can effectively kill bugs without the risk of exposing the plants to harsh chemicals. If the non-toxic sprays seem to not be effective, there are pesticides that have been created for the cannabis industry, but are not always the healthiest options. Soap and water spray is another method of pesticides that can be used to halt the reproduction and kill off aphids and small mites. Organic methods, such as releasing predatory insects, can also be employed to target specific pests. Two of the best predatory insects that can be released onto cannabis plants without hurting the yield or plant itself, are ladybugs and praying mantis. Lady bugs are not only very cute and adorable, but they are also carnivores and eat mostly all cannabis pests that have four legs. Ladybugs can be released indoors and outdoors on crops to prevent and eradicate a wide assortment of issues. Downsides of ladybugs are if they do not have food or water, they will move on from your crops and leave them unattended. Praying mantis are predators that will also eat most, if not all, of the pests infecting your plants. While this predator should only be used on outdoor crops, they will fight and eat all flying and walking pests that may settle down. Cannabis gardeners need to stay vigilant and actively monitor their crops for signs of infestation. Checking plants regularly, cleaning the area of debris, and maintaining a healthy garden environment will reduce the risk of pest outbreaks. When in doubt, it’s best to contact an experienced garden consultant or exterminator to deter mine the best pest management plan. The most important thing for a cultiva tor to remember is being proac tive when it comes to pests will save you time and effort in the long run. It is heartbreak ing and discourag ing when you spend months maintaining a plant’s survival, only to see it attacked and killed in the last 2 months of its life. Prevention methods may seem redundant and pointless when there’s no pests in the garden, but it’s better to never see a pest in the garden in the first place, than to try and fight them off.
With some extra effort, cannabis gardeners can protect their plants and keep the garden thriving. By understanding and addressing the pest problem, gardeners can enjoy a successful and healthy harvest. With the outdoor season creeping up on us slowly, right now is the best time to start thinking of a prevention plan and begin implementing steps and a procedure to follow to ensure the best quality of plants. Times have changed from hiding your stash from others, to hiding your stash from pests. Good