Choosing a full spectrum LED grow light for your plant is important. AND Marijuana pest control is something gardeners have had to deal with for centuries. Whether they are birds, insects, mammals, or even other humans, cultivated plants seem to have a target on their backs.
While humans don’t really eat raw cannabis, some pests certainly seem to like the taste. If left unchecked, an infestation can end up ruining your crop.
At the same time, using harsh chemical products to repel the pests can be harmful to you later on. To avoid all that, we have compiled a list of some safe and effective repellents (and other safety precautions) to guide you on how to keep bugs off your weed plants.
When it comes to pest control in a indoor grow tent, most people tend to think of bottles of conventional chemicals pesticides. You know the ugly, harmful stuff that ruins your lungs and respiratory system. The stuff you use when you find a cockroach in your home, or some other disgusting animal.
Well, you don’t have to use those harmful solutions. There are alternatives that are much more environmentally friendly and are guaranteed not to have such an adverse effect on your health.
1) Tobacco Based Pesticide
Nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco plants is the most effective insecticide for plants. Growers use it throughout the whole world. It is also quite an affordable solution. To make aerosol tobacco pesticide soak 2 tablespoons of tobacco in 2 liters of water. After 24 hours, pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You will have to dilute the mixture by adding additional water (The exact combination should be 60% tobacco water with 40% of regular water). After that, simply spray the mixture on your plants and get rid of those unwanted pests.
2) Use Herb Plants
One of the best green solutions to deal with those unwanted pests is to plant next to your cannabis other plants that will shoo those pests away. Most of these natural pesticide plants are ones that give off different smells and odors. They act as natural repellents. Most of these helpful plants are herb plants. They include mint, chives, sage, rosemary, mint and basil. Another creative solution is to boil the leaves of these wonderful herbs in water, creating a herb mixture. Once it cools down, simply pour it into an empty spray bottle and spray the mixture onto your plant.
3) Garlic
Garlic has an adamant smell and is often classed as a natural antibiotic. Similar to as you’d see in vampire movies, the idea is to place garlic cloves around your plants. The smell will repel those unwanted guests and keep your cannabis plants pesticide free.
4) Ever Heard of Neem Oil
Well, Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of the neem (Azadirachta indica), an evergreen tree which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced to many other areas in the tropics. It is an effective treatment against certain pests, but there are two things that you must take into consideration. The first; it is a very short term solution, as it loses its effect when coming into contact with the sun. The second; It also has a negative effect on positive germs that live in the soil, slowing reducing the amount of nitrogen in the soil.
5) Pheromone traps
One of the main things that keep these pests going and motivated is the constant search for a mate. Similar to all animals, they thrive on breeding. Pheromone traps send out a unique hormone that attracts pests in. The horny pests come in thinking they are going to get some and that’s the end. Once they come in and land, there is no getting out.
6) Cinnamon Powder
Ok, this might be an old wives tale, but it is supposed to work. Similar to the garlic that you placed around your plants, the idea is to scatter cinnamon powder around your plants. This is supposed to kill any unwanted pests and keep the other insects away.
7) Kitchen’s Guard
There isn’t much to say about this one as most homes are probably familiar with this. The idea is to combine dishwashing liquid with a cup of cooking oil. For every 4 tablespoons of Kitchen guard, mix it with half a liter of water and then spray it around your base of your plants.
8) Chalk and Talcum Powder
These two powders are quite effective in repelling pests, but not in killing them. It is an effective method against ants and other flying insects.
Using predators for cannabis pest control
Creatures that are predators are more than just lions and tigers and bears. Lady bugs, praying mantises, and lacewings are all examples of predators you can use to your advantage when dealing with outdoor plant pests. Because they are so widely used in the gardening world, you can purchase them commercially. They are often bred specifically for this purpose, so they should not be too difficult to find (you can buy live ladybugs or lacewings at this link)
When discussing it with a breeder, you should be able to get some information such as how to use the insects as efficiently and effectively as possible, as well as which pests they can be expected to eat. If you know what type of insects are usually the most problematic in your growing site location, then this information is particularly helpful. If you have a small cannabis garden, however, don’t count on this being an effective method of controlling pests, as the predators won’t have enough food to maintain them.
Insects aren’t the only type of predator you can use for this purpose. If your grow site is located close to a river or stream, you might find success from using frogs, turtles, and lizards to ward off other insects. You can do this simply by leaving food for them near your grow site every once in a while. Birds can be used in a similar way, encouraging them to visit with birdseed and bird feeders.
Beneficial insects
These are insects which feed on agricultural pests without themselves disturbing the plants: beneficial insects do not feed on the plants, nor do they leave behind harmful residue. Depending on the species, they may focus on one or two specific pests or on several. However, they typically cannot be deployed to address issues stemming from moulds or fungi; and are not effective in deterring rodents or other mammals.
Ladybirds are possibly the most popular beneficial insects used in the production of cannabis: aside from thriving in a variety of climates, these carnivorous insects can eat thousands of aphids, mites, thrips and other pest insects over their lifetime. Predatory nematodes, which live primarily in soil, are particularly effective in consuming the eggs or larvae of a variety of pest insects. Predatory mites, which feed on spider mites, are considered exceptionally effective in eliminating spider mite infestations, particularly in the early stages of an outbreak.
Sanitizing Your Garden
If your grow room is successfully sealed from the outside environment, the only thing that can contaminate the space is what you bring into the room. Pests are experts when it comes to attaching to clothing and traveling with their host. For this reason, keeping yourself and your equipment sanitized is crucial to pest control.
Many growers will change their clothes before entering their garden. Keep a pair of pants, shoes, and shirt in a closet next to your room to reduce the risk of any pests hitching a ride into the garden with you.
Sterilize your garden tools with a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. A few minutes spent preparing your equipment can go a long way in preventing contamination.
Clones vs. Seeds
Growing cannabis from seed provides the best chance of keeping pests out of your garden because you are raising the plants from birth.
With clones, you may not know the environment they came from. With large scale production, pests can make their way into clones and turn up in your grown room later on. If working with clones, make sure you can trust that their source is clean and pest-free.
Grow Medium
Many grow mediums are relatively safe when it comes to pests, especially hydroponic mediums. Clay pellets, rockwool, and other sterile mediums will likely cause no issues when it comes to transporting pests.
Soils are generally where you need to be careful as they can host an array of pests. To best avoid this, buy soil from a reliable source with a good reputation. The soil shouldn’t have any non-composted plant material that could contain pests or diseases.
Fly Strips
Fly strips can be used to detect pest infestations early on before they get out of hand. By hanging fly strips around your garden, you can check in on them on a daily basis and look for unwanted pests. Once you see bugs appear on the fly strips, you can act quickly before an outbreak occurs.
A little bit of effort goes a long way when it comes to protecting your indoor garden space. Without the natural predators that are native to the outdoors, it is imperative to keep your garden free of devastating pests. Keep your garden clean and happy, and your plants will follow suit.
Final thoughts
Deal with the pest control problem of growing marijuana is important and you don't need to worry about this, if you learn more, you can solve it! Wish this post can help you more.What's more, if you are a beginner, marijuana grow tent kit is recommended.