Maybe you’re a a Professional Grower, or maybe you’re brand new to the world of home-growing marijuana; either way, there is a lot to pay attention to. Even if you’ve figured out the perfect combination of light, temperature, water, and the like, you can’t forget that there’s a third party that may be seeking to get involved in the grow: Pests. In a world that’s becoming increasingly human engineered and genetically designed, pesticides have become more prominent than ever, and Cannabis plants are no exception to that rule.
It’s important to know what sort of pests to look out for and what you can do to stop them, but it’s also important to note the potentially negative effects of using pesticides on plants that will be consumed by humans. It might be time to look into some natural pesticides for cannabis.
I do not Wait for a problem. Organic Pesticides are not expensive and I apply the at the Beginning of each grow and Throughout! Make your Grow as Inhospitable to insects as possible from the start. They will likely never move in at all!
Do Home and Home Pro or Lazada are each an excellent place to look. Nash Products are quality. I purchased a sprayer for under 1000 baht. It is on wheels so it is not heavy and easy to transport around, and it has been working Great!.
Insects do not “smell” per say. The detect Chemicals. I begin spraying and creating a “barrier” at the beginning of each grow and regularly re-apply these products. Our Farms are a very undesirable place for bugs to visit. I do not need natural pollinators as I do this when I need to myself to make Feminized Seeds usually.
When growing for Hemp Flower I do not want any Pollination to occur. Also I apply these products to the soils surrounding the plants as this is where most Insects Breed and Lay their eggs. I use a lot of Diatomaceous Earth around the Farms. Allowing People to walk around your Farm they will bring in Eggs and Possibly other things on Their Clothing and more so in the Cracks of their Shoes. I do not allow this sort of activity on my Farms.
What Pests Can I Expect to See?
Before you can investigate natural pesticides for Cannabis and solutions to keeping your Cannabis plants healthy, it’s imperative to know what exactly the problem is. There are a few pest species that are more common than others. Some are known as sucking insects, which pull nutrients out of the plant and can hinder its health, while others are known as chewing insects, which – just as it sounds – are capable of eating sections or whole portions of cannabis plants. Here are a few you might come across:
- Spider mites are common, feeding on the chlorophyll of leaves. They are very small but are known to make webs and can be seen with magnification.
- Fungus gnats can appear, and because they fly, they are pretty easy to spot. Look out for their larvae, which can spread disease and, in some cases, inhibit growth.
- Aphids are another type of sucking insect that feed on the leaves of cannabis plants. While they can be seen by the naked eye, they often stick to the underside of leaves and stems.
The chewing insects are a bit more recognizable, including caterpillars, snails, and slugs, to name a few. Caterpillars will leave obvious holes in leaves, but they may camouflage. Snails and slugs will do the same while also leaving behind a mucus trail.
What Pesticides Will Fix the Problem?
There are a variety of natural pesticides for cannabis that have been proven effective in managing bugs on Cannabis plants.
A common term you may hear in pest management in “integrated pest management” (IPM). The phrase encompasses any system designed to control pests, and there are both organic and non-organic IPM solutions to pest infestations. Non-organic methods may include synthetic insecticides and genetically modified products; these can be effective, but they are not always the safest or most environmentally friendly, and will be detected by your Flower buyers. It’s best to go with organic products, here are some natural pesticides for Cannabis:
Pyrethrins
Pyrethrins are plants from the chrysanthemum family and work as natural pesticide to many of the common creatures mentioned above. They are best when used on an early stage plant. I surround my Farms with these flowers along with Ya Fat for erosion control.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is a repellant that comes from tree oil. It’s not fool proof and may be dangerous to household pets, but it does have its uses. Neem is the Best!
Essential Oils
Essential oils, like the mint, rosemary, clove, or cinnamon ones many of us may use in an oil diffuser, can actually work effectively against insects and fungus spores. Some can “burn” your plants> Always do a Test Section 1st!!
Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap is a safe and common organic pesticide. It should be used sparingly to avoid a burning effect, but it can sufficiently kill things like aphids and mites. When I was a Real Estate Developer I would use Dishwashing Soap diluted in water to take down Huge Wasp and Bee Hives as land was Cleared. It is very effective!
Potassium Bicarbonate
Potassium bicarbonate is actually a food additive, but it works well to combat fungus on marijuana plants. Some suggest mixing with milk and water for a more effective treatment.
If these natural pesticides for Cannabis are not working well for you, consider introducing a predatory mite to control your problem pests. Contact us here for where to get these Critters. This is best for outdoor growers rather than indoor growers, but it is a viable solution to pick a predatory species to restore equilibrium. The key is choosing the right insect to bring in and to do so safely and securely.
Ensure Proper Pesticide Use
The most important thing is to correctly identify the pest, because you cannot solve a problem if you do not know exactly what it is. Do your research and get a second opinion. Again be “Preemptive” and likely you will never have any problems at all! If you do need help send a Picture of the issue to [email protected] for free I will help you. Once the problem has been identified, use the right pesticides, and use them as a remedy for specific problems.
Don’t try to be a mixologist and overwhelm your Cannabis plants with more chemicals than they need, and remember that most pesticides are preventative. Creating a “zone” of “no go” for Bugs is the best approach! Use the right amount, and start small by doing a patch test before drenching your plants. In Thailand most I have seen all have Thai writing in them, knowing the instructions of use, dilution ratios and etc. is a prob.
So be sure 1st. Use less as the Insects can detect the smallest amounts/
Overall, do your research before using a cannabis pesticide on your plants. There are a lot of variables to consider, and you just want to make the best decisions for the health of your plants.
Effects of Using Pesticides
Pesticides in general are creating a great deal of problems in the environment, and growers using them on cannabis plants can certainly contribute to this. In Hawaii I watched as entire Reefs were destroyed by Pesticide Runoffs. Due to the overuse of pesticides, some plants or commercial crops have become immune. As those in the food industry continue to genetically modify plants for higher yields, pesticide efficacy can change.
In some cases, crops are requiring higher doses or more intense chemicals. Some pesticide chemicals may appear in food products and contribute to problems in the environment in all sorts of capacities. If they enter the food chain, even at the smallest and lowest level, they can affect humans and different species at various levels.
Problems have arisen within the world of Cannabis regarding pesticides. Some question question if it’s even harmful to ingest marijuana products with such properties, (well yes it is) the contaminations are something to note. There may be unintended consequences if products like edibles begin to carry pesticide chemicals.
Some states have started to set regulations about which pesticides are and are not acceptable to use for Cannabis. These are important to follow in order to ensure the health of your cannabis plants and the environment around you. Marijuana growers are in an especially interesting position right now, as they are at the center of a new and booming industry. If they begin by setting high standards for environmental health and awareness, they can avoid contributing to the current state of climate change and create a positive impact, even setting the bar for other industries.
Growing marijuana requires the same attention to pests and pest control as other plants. It’s imperative to know how to keep an eye out for bugs, how to treat effected plants, and how pesticide use can affect the wider environment. There are a wide variety of options for pesticides, organic and non-organic, that have different uses on plants, bugs, and the environment. Do some research to find the best option for your grow.
Kevin
