Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Pest control
During the entire lifetime of your cannabis plants there is always a risk of pests and sickness.
Pests and viruses are able to destroy your plants so detecting them in time is crucial. Use a
magnifying glass with at least 8x magnification to scan your plants for irregularities.
Aphids, spider mites, ants, white flies, white powdery mildew, and stem rot are all dangerous
for your plants and need to be combated directly when noticed.
Aphids are soft bodied insects that vary in terms of color; aphids can be green, yellow, black,
brown or red. Aphids use their mouth to feed on sap of plants, usually on the underside
of stems and leaves. To combat aphids, try to spray them with cold water which is usually
enough to dislodge them. If it does not work, use commercially available biological controls
or spray with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
Spider mites are perhaps the most dangerous invader to your plants. Spider mites are arach-
nids with eight legs and without an antennae; they are usually hard to see without a magni-
fying glass. Look for silky web on the underside of the leaves. If you notice the webbing,
chances are you have spider mites. Remove them by spraying them hard with water three
mornings in a row. The water pressure will remove their protective webbing and make them
starve on the ground. If this option fail you, there are products to remove them.
White flies hide underneath your cannabis leaves and can be just as detrimental to your
plants as spider mites. You can check for white flies by shaking your cannabis plant. If you
notice a swarm of what looks like white dust with wings, your plants are infected. Combat
the flies by spraying them with a mixture of two tablespoons of vegetable oil and a gallon of
water. Spray the plants thoroughly twice per week until they are gone.
Powdery mildew can be detected by the white-coating on leaves and shoot tips. Keep an eye
out for powdery mildew, so that you can fix the problem as soon as it is created. To success-
fully remove the mildew, spray the plants with a fungicide called “meltatox”.
Stem rot can be found by looking at the general health of the plant; usually when the roots
are rotting, the plants leaves turn yellow, droopy and dry. The root system turns brown in-
stead of white which is the most obvious sign of root rot. Try to prevent your roots from
rotting by monitoring your plants frequently and letting the plants nearly dry out before wa-
tering them again. If you experience root rot, remove diseased roots and dip each plant and
container in a strong H2O2 solution.
