Everyone wants a part of the growing cannabis industry, including pests. Pests are not limited to bugs, but can range from the tiniest insects to microscopic fungi and bacteria. Rest assured, your indoor grow room doesn’t have to suffer because of its popularity.
Let Kush show you how to prevent pests. We’ll walk you through how to identify and treat against some of the most common issues facing your indoor plants.
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.
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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 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.
Have You Checked Your Clones for Pests?
The most common way pests infiltrate a secure indoor garden is via clones. New clones that have been purchased from an outside source are always a concern.
Inspecting cannabis clones thoroughly before purchasing them is extremely important. Check under all the leaves, the soil, and the stalk for any stowaways. The clones should also be quarantined for at least 3-7 days before introducing them to the grow room. This allows for any delayed pests to appear.
After a week or so moving the clones into the room is okay. Continue to monitor your newly added clones for the rest of the month. If the grow room was sealed, and pests do appear after moving in new clones, then the clones (or their soil) is most likely to blame.
[PRO TIP] In addition to clean clones and soil, the clothes and equipment used in the indoor garden are also very important. Pests can latch on to anything. Shirts, gloves, boots/shoes, hats, and any other equipment being used in the grow room should be cleanedand pest free.
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.
Join the exclusive network of cannabis and hemp business on Kush.com now >>
How to Prevent Pests in Your Pots & Soil
Soil should be purchased from a reputable source and should be inspected before use. A source where you can ask questions about the soil (prior to buying) is best.
The soil should be sealed, pest free, and not made from any plants or organic matter than contained pests beforehand. This includes fungus, bacteria, and fly/mite eggs.
If the soil is allowed to sit out in the sun all day, uncovered. Then flies can lay their eggs in it, so it should be avoided. Hydroponic applications are not affected by this.
All pots that are going into the grow room should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water prior to use. This can be as simple as taking a few pots at a time outside or into the shower, scrubbing them down, rinsing them thoroughly, and drying with a clean towel. Then pot the plant as soon as this process is completed. This will substantially minimize the risk of pests.
How to Treat for Pests in Your Cannabis Grow
If pests appear then they must be treated. Pests eat organic matter. In this case it is the cannabis plants in the room that are being grown to harvest.
The added stress of pests can delay, and in some cases completely prevent, the plant from flowering. This can also turn female plants into hermaphrodite plants. This then runs the risk of pollinating the entire grow room, leaving only seed and biomass harvest as the end result.
So how to do you treat pests organically? Let’s look at a few specific situations.
Fungus Gnat
This is the most common pest in indoor grows. They do not affect the health of the plant, but can be quite annoying to the grower and the cleanliness of the grow room.
As the name suggest the fungus gnat feeds on fungus. This fungus is found in soil and composts where the gnat lay their eggs. A simple application of bt-i (or Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis), a bacteria, on the soil, can stop fungus gnats in their tracks. This an old and natural way to treat pests, and is non harmful to fish, wildlife and humans.
[PRO TIP] Using Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis will also stop black flies & mosquitoes in their tracks.
Aphids
Aphids are a very common pest that can be treated relatively easily.
Take the plants outdoors or into the shower. Spray your cannabis plants with short burst of water to knock off any aphids or eggs. Smash any remaining with your fingers. Then dry the plants and move them back to the grow room. Continue this for a few days until all signs of the aphids and their eggs are gone.
Spider Mites
Spider mites, and mites of all kinds, detest humidity. If the humidity in the grow room is at optimum levels for cannabis, all should be well.
On the off chance that mites do appear, simply thoroughly wash the infected plant(s) with water in the shower or outside. You can then dry the containers and place them in a location with appropriate humidity (this will be determined by which phase of growth they are in).
Spider mites can also be treated with neem oil, a rosemary based soap (most insecticidal soaps), bt-i, or ladybugs.
Caterpillars
An effective way to treat a caterpillar infestation is by bt-i. This will naturally and effectively remove the caterpillars from the plant.
Caterpillars are known for eating big sections of plant leaves. If you notice bites where the caterpillars have eaten the leaves, those sections should be removed with a sterile pair or snips to prevent possible mold growth and further infection.
Thrips
Thrips are attracted to the color blue, so blue sticky traps should be put into place to tarp as many as possible. Then if thrips remain the use of thrips predators should be implemented. These include Minute Pirate Bugs (Orius insidiosus) and Thrips Predators (Amblyseius cucumeris).
Brown Scale
Though rare, the brown scale can infect indoor gardens and grow operations. If signs of brown scale appear, fill a spray bottle with 2% rosemary based soap solution, neem oil, and water. This solution can be used to spray on the plant in the infected zones. Repeat daily until all signs are gone.
Whitefly
If you notice whiteflies in your grow, don’t be alarmed. Take the plant out to the water hose or shower and use quick burst to remove all flies and eggs from the leaves/stalks. Dry the plant and container, then place it back in the grow room. Hang yellow flystrips to catch any remaining flies.
A 2% solution of rosemary based soap, neem oil, and water can also be used, by spraying on and around the infection site. If all else fails, try predatory insects. These insects feed on whiteflies, and include: green lacewings, lady bugs, or the small wasps Encarsia Formosa.
[Note: Most treatment methods involve moving the plant for a rinse. Be sure that during the move the plant’s lighting schedule is not interrupted. This is very important for stages of growth. If the plant is receiving light, be sure to move and maintain that UV light, or move and clean in a dark space and illuminate by using a green light during inspection. The green light wavelength does not disrupt the dark cycle of the plant.]
[PRO TIP] When moving, cover plants with a black plastic trash bag to shield them from light contamination.
from the tiniest insects to microscopic fungi and bacteria. Rest assured, your indoor grow room doesn’t have to suffer because of its popularity.
Let Kush show you how to prevent pests. We’ll walk you through how to identify and treat against some of the most common issues facing your indoor plants.
Join the exclusive network of cannabis and hemp business on Kush.com now >>
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 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.
Have You Checked Your Clones for Pests?
The most common way pests infiltrate a secure indoor garden is via clones. New clones that have been purchased from an outside source are always a concern.
Inspecting cannabis clones thoroughly before purchasing them is extremely important. Check under all the leaves, the soil, and the stalk for any stowaways. The clones should also be quarantined for at least 3-7 days before introducing them to the grow room. This allows for any delayed pests to appear.
After a week or so moving the clones into the room is okay. Continue to monitor your newly added clones for the rest of the month. If the grow room was sealed, and pests do appear after moving in new clones, then the clones (or their soil) is most likely to blame.
[PRO TIP] In addition to clean clones and soil, the clothes and equipment used in the indoor garden are also very important. Pests can latch on to anything. Shirts, gloves, boots/shoes, hats, and any other equipment being used in the grow room should be cleanedand pest free.
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.
Join the exclusive network of cannabis and hemp business on Kush.com now >>
Tyana Daley
