Figuring out how to get rid of indoor plant bugs is extremely frustrating, and it can be very difficult to control houseplant pests. In this post, I’ll show you how to identify the most common pests. Then you’ll learn how to get rid of bugs on houseplants naturally, and get tons of tips for how to keep bugs off indoor plants in a marijuana grow tent, for good.
Common Cannabis Pests
The most common cannabis pests include thrips, whitefly, spider mites, leaf miners, aphids, and cabbage loopers, among others. In the ganja community, the inchworm-like looper caterpillars are also referred to as “bud worms”. If you aren’t familiar with all these insects, consider browsing this article about common garden pest identification too. Finally, powdery mildew and fungal diseases can also be an issue for cannabis.
Our area is prone to all of these things! During our first year growing cannabis, we struggled with cabbage loopers the most. And just as I said, we didn’t realize how bad it was until too late. The caterpillars don’t just eat the buds. They also poop in them, which then creates mold. Some of our first flowers were so full of caterpillar shit, we had no choice but to compost them. Lesson learned. Now we know how to stay on top of it, and nip the problem in the bud… before it damages our bud!
HOW TO DETECT BUGS IN YOUR GROW ROOM EARLY
Pest infestation can be one of the biggest headaches in an indoor grow room. Early detection is key in pest control to prevent from an unfortunate outbreak.
Hanging sticky-traps can be of major benefit in the grow room for two reasons.
The strips catch any flying pests
They act as a good meter of how many (if any) pests are appearing in your grow room
The more insects you see stuck on a trap, the more insects are in the room, so act immediately. Flystrips, or “ribbon” strips, can be hung from the ceiling with a tack. These traps spiral down, creating a landing surface for the flying pests.
Other styles of applicators include trays and square paper. Trays can be set on any horizontal surface, such as a table or desk. Square paper can be mounted onto a vertical surface such as a wall or hung from the ceiling like the ribbon strips.
Once pests are stuck on the strips you can act immediate to prevent an outbreak. No matter which option you choose, be sure to read the instructions and warnings on the packaging.
[PRO TIP] Different insects are attracted to different colors. Select the color of your traps based on the type of insect you are trying to remove.
HOW TO KEEP BUGS OUT OF YOUR GROW ROOM
Is your grow room sealed? This includes door jams, windows, baseboards, and even air vents.
Pests can and will infiltrate any place they can for food. Be sure to caulk up any cracks or holes, and seal under the doors with a door sweep or other alternative bottom door seal.
Ventilation is important in the grow room for a number of reasons. A good suggestion would be to inspect the ventilation system before bringing any plants into the space. The air duct system(Inline Duct Fan) can be set up in a number of ways, but the important thing is that it is sealed.
Duct “Mastic” is the most secure and recommended way to seal up a leaky or drafty duct, but duct tape can be used as well. The more secure the room is beforehand, the easier it will be to maintain if the need arises.
[PRO TIP] In the indoor garden the “ease of clean” factor is very important. There should not be many surfaces to scrub or intricate fixtures where pests can hide away. Milar is commonly applied to walls, ceilings, and floors for this very purpose. It is nonporous and is very easy to clean/wipe down. Remember the easier the space is to clean the easier it is to maintain.
Early detection is key to managing pests
Finding pests before they become a problem is the best way to keep insects at bay.
Thoroughly examine all plant parts and containers before bringing them home from the store or indoors for the winter.
You may need to use a magnifying lens as some pests are very small.
Inspect tops and undersides of leaves for insects, webbing, holes and eggs.
Examine leaves that are discolored as this may be evidence of a pest problem.
A ten-power hand magnifying lens is helpful when looking for pests. There are also magnifier apps for smartphones.
Small, shiny, sticky spots on greenish-yellow leaves
Watch for honeydew, a shiny, sticky substance made by aphids, mealybugs and scale insects found on the upper surface of leaves as well as on tabletops and other items around and under the plant.
Check plant containers for signs of pests along edges, rims, the bottom of pots, saucers, crevices. Remove if found.
Isolate newly acquired plants for one to two weeks to allow any possible pest problems to become visible.
Check for pests when you water, fertilize or clean plants.
Two yellow sticky cards hung above some green plants. Tiny, black flies can be seen trapped on them.
Yellow sticky card trapping flies
Some insects like springtails and fungus gnats will move due to the water, making it easier to detect them.
Use yellow or blue sticky traps to detect flying insects like whiteflies, fungus gnats, winged aphids and thrips.
Feed your soil to feed (and protect) your plants.
Did you know that soil quality directly influences a plants susceptibility or resistance to disease, stress, drought, and pests? By creating a healthy environment for your plants to live and grow in – full of rich organic matter, worms, and plenty of high quality compost – the stronger the plant’s immune system will be. Just like humans, and our lifestyle and food choices. We explored this concept in our introductory post on garden pest control, which applies to all types of plants – not just cannabis! Stressed plants will get “sick” easier, and more readily attract and succumb to pest damage. The same goes for those that rely on synthetic fertilizer and chemicals for food. Most important, light is essential for plant growth, if you want to choose a light which is similar with natural light, a full spectrum LED grow light can take for a consider.
Growers may add certain amendments that naturally deter pests to their cannabis soil, either as part of the initial soil mixture, or later as top-dressings. For example, neem seed meal is dual-purpose. It is an amendment that provides modest amounts of micro and macronutrients to the plant, increases soil microbial activity, and also deters pests. In general, most pests don’t like the smell of neem. It can help control unwanted nematode populations, fungi, and soil pathogens.
Crustacean or crab meal fits the same profile and has similar benefits, particularly protecting against root knot nematodes.
The use of aloe vera and silica in routine waterings or foliar sprays help to enhance a plants immune system and overall resilience, as we explored in the posts linked below.
Final thoughts
Some growers leave a change of clothes close to the entrance of the grow room that they can change before entering. Others perfer to use full hazmat suits. Equipment can be cleaned relatively easily before and after every session using soap and water. A spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol can also be used. A little cleanliness goes a long way in preventing pests in your cannabis plants. What's more, a best advice for beginners, you need to buy lots of tools, may be a marijuana grow tent kit can help you.