Pests and pathogens
pests and pathogens
The one thing every grower will have to deal with is pests and pathogens. No matter where you are, inside or outside, every grower will at some time have a pest or pathogen problem.
Pests are insects that feed on your plants and pathogens are mold, fungus and other diseases that can affect your plants.
The two keys to dealing with both of these are prevention and preparedness. Regularly inspect your plants closely for discoloring, white or brown spots, or signs of damage to leaves. A magnifying glass and a jeweler's loupe are helpful to spot and identify the specific pest or pathogen. Always check the underside of the leaves as this is where most bugs will hide.
Most pests and pathogens can be treated successfully as long as you start treatment immediately. Never wait to see if the problem will clear up on its own. A quick response can be the difference between a nuisance and a full blown infestation.
In order to be able to respond quickly, always make sure you have the necessary treatment on hand in case of a problem. It is far better to have a treatment that you never need to use than to lose precious time while you locate and get the product.
The three treatments you should have on hand at all times are Neem oil, Azadirachtin, and Hydrogen peroxide.
Neem oil is an all natural oil derived from the Neem tree. and can be sprayed directly on vegetative plants to help prevent and kill many pests and pathogens.
Azadirachtin is a derivative of the neem oil that is specifically used to control spider mites.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a common household ingredient that can kill mold and bacteria.
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PREVENTION
The old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." is especially true when growing cannabis. Stopping pests and pathogens from infesting your grow room is the first step. These can be introduced into your grow room a variety of ways but the three most common ways are from the soil you use, from clones or plants brought from outside, and on your own clothes and shoes.
Soil
If using soil, always use high quality mix bought from a grow store or soil you have amended yourself.
Never use soil from your your backyard without sterilizing it first. Then add your own beneficial bacteria once brought inside.
If you are using an organic living soil for your medium, is is very hard to prevent pests along with the soil. Inspect daily for pests.
Clones and Seedlings
Always treat any plant that is not grown from seed in your own room should be treated as infected and quarantined away from your other plants for two weeks.
During the two weeks inspect the plants with a magnifying glass or jewelers loupe to make sure there are no signs of infestation.
Spray down new clones or plants with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution or neem oil to ensure any pest will not have a chance.
Clothes and Shoes
Pest can hitch a ride on your clothes and shoes and then get transferred into your grow room.
Never go directly from your yard or garden into your grow room.
If possible, tend to your cannabis plants first thing in the day before you have been outside.
Always change clothes if you have been in someone else's grow room.
Use a sticky mat or wear booties, or have a dedicated pair of shoes for your grow room.
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PESTS
There are a number or pests that can infect cannabis but the most common pests you will find are
Fungus Gnats - Small black flies similar to fruit flies that reproduce rapidly and lay their eggs in soil. Fungus gnats can be controlled with Neem oil and Diatomaceous earth.
Spider Mites - Tiny mites that wreak havoc on your plants. These are too small to see without a magnifying glass but can look like white specks on the leaves and if left long enough will produce webbing like a spider on your plants. Spider mites can be killed with Azadirachtin or Spinosad products. Multiple treatment are necessary to ensure you eradicate them.
Thrips - Tiny white or black bugs that feed on the leaves and often leave a sticky residue on them. Can be treated with Neem oil, Spinosad and Pyrethrins
White flies - Tiny white moths that spend most of their time on the underside of your leaves. Can be treated with Neem Oil and Spinosad
Caterpillars, inchworms - Mostly for outdoor growers, caterpillars and inchworms can damage buds and lead to Bud Rot. They work their way into the bud causing damage and leaving behind their waste allowing for Rot to set in. Can be treated with BT spray, a natural bacteria (bacillus thuringiensis) that kills caterpillars after they eat it.
Leafhoppers, Loopers - Any number of small winged insects that that suck the sap out of your plants leaves. Can be treated with Spinosad
PATHOGENS
The most common pathogens cannabis growers will have to deal with or Bud Rot (or Mold) and Powdery Mildew
Bud Rot is caused by mold spores in the air. Mold spores are just about everywhere and usually only germinate if given the right conditions. These spores can get into your buds and rot them from the inside out.
Powdery Mildew is white powdery looking substance that will show on the leaves of your plants. These small white patches can spread easily to other leaves and plants.
The key to preventing both of these are maintaining a proper environment. Lack of air circulation and high humidity will allow either of these to take hold and infect your plant. Maintaining the proper humidity during the flowering, drying and curing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent theses.
The only treatment for Bud rot is to remove the affected area and spot spray with a diluted hydrogen peroxide mixture directly at the affected area to help prevent spread. Often it is too late once bud rot has taken hold so prevention is the best medicine here.
Powdery Mildew can be treated with Neem oil and hydrogen peroxide. Remove all affected leaves and spray the rest to prevent spreading.
As with all spray treatments, Never spray directly on your buds or it will affect the taste of your buds. Best for use during vegetative phase or spot treatment only when in flowering. Always spray plants just before lights out so the moisture on the leaves does not cause burning of the leaves.