Just like any other plant, growing cannabis has its distinct problems. Pests, bugs, and viruses can attack your crops. If left untreated, these annoyances can kill your plants. A grower should always make an informed decision to apply the best method in dealing with these nuisances.
The good news is that many of the same pest species are also the bane of many flowers and plants. You might think, “How is that good news?” Hence, the solutions to getting rid of these sources of displeasure are readily available on the market.
Common Cannabis Bugs and Pests
There are two main categories of insect pests that attack plants: (1) chewing insects with mouthparts that eat sections or entire leaves and (2) sucking insects that pull the nutrients out of a plant. Let’s first look at the common sucking pests that cannabis growers need to check in their crops.
Spider Mites
Spider mites aren’t real insects as they’re classified as arachnids. Using traditional insecticides won’t work on these pests as their biology is different than insects. These bothersome critters feed on the chlorophyll of leaves. Growers will find evidence of the existence of spider mites in their plants if you see a mottled or speckled appearance on leaves.
The mites are difficult to see without an item used for magnification. Still, spider mites are just like ordinary spiders. You’ll find webs and other similar damage to the leaves.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies will quickly make their presence known once you start planting your cannabis plants. Marijuana growers who brush against their plants should see a cluster of these pests flying about. These insects look like a puff of smoke. Despite their diminutive looks, whiteflies will feed off of the nutrients of your plants.
Like spider mites, whiteflies will leave mottled spots on leaves. The difference with the appearances of their damages is that the harms are more visible when done by whiteflies.
Fungus Gnats
There are some pests that are difficult to spot but fungus gnats aren’t in that category. While growers grow cautious (no pun intended) of adult insects, it’s the larvae of fungus gnats that can cause more harm. The adult gnats will spread disease in the grow room. However, these older pests don’t feed on the plants. Instead, the larvae will feed off of the roots of the plants.
To know if you have a fungus gnat problem, the plants may appear to have stunted growth. Even if your cannabis plants will continue to grow, the stress on the plant brought by these pests makes them more susceptible to other illnesses.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars turn to beautiful butterflies but before that happens these insects can become pests for plants. The sizes of these crawlers range from almost invisible to several inches in length. Also, they can sometimes blend well with their surroundings making them tough to spot.
Evidence of caterpillar infestation is viewed as holes in leaves. Sometimes leaf margins have chew marks on them evident of caterpillar presence.
Snails and Slugs
A more problematic concern than caterpillars is snails and slugs. These slimy beings can become a real threat to marijuana plants. Aside from leaving a slimy, mucous-like trail, they feed on the leaves like there’s no tomorrow.
Root Maggots
Just as their name implies, root maggots feed on your plants’ roots. Just like the larvae of fungus gnats, you’ll see evidence of damage if your crops weaken. Furthermore, there may seem like there’s too much water in your grow area or other nutrient deficiencies are present.
Leaf Miner
Leaf miners are perhaps the pickiest of pests. It doesn’t attack all strains of marijuana. Instead of directly attacking or chewing on leaves, leaf miners take about two weeks before dealing damage to your plants. It deposits eggs first inside the leaves. Then, the larvae begin to dig tunnels which are easily seen because of the evidence of holes.
Once you see those holes, it’s important to take immediate action. Aside from the holes, you’ll see brown lines found on the leaves of your plants. These are the tunnels which the larvae use to eat your plants in their paths.
Thrips
One of the real headaches regarding cannabis cultivation is thrips. These pests are tiny insects that move very fast. Growers should immediately take action upon seeing any damage caused by these crawlers. Preventing these insects from eating your crops is possible by spraying either Neem essential oil or potassium soap on your plants. Still, if the damage is already too severe, then you may need to be on your knees to exert effort on healing.
Evidence of thrips infestation is a yellow sticky strip around the crop. This residue is akin to a double-edged sword to the insects as some of the pests can stick to it. You’ll also know if there are thrips in the area if there are silver markings found on the leaves. These silver blotches can come with dots. The dots are excretions which may also come with signs of brittleness on leaves.
Cochineal
Cochineal is a plague to most gardeners. Even if you don’t cultivate cannabis plants, you’ve probably heard of cochineals. These can attack your crops even if they’re indoors. It also acts with stealth, precision, and haste. Also, they’re small in size. These pests are even tinier than many of the small insects that feed on plants. Even worse, cochineals are resistant to insecticides.
Growers can recognize cochineals by their white or brown color. These insects have a white fluffy texture on their tiny bodies. They start to appear on the stems of your crops before spreading across other areas. Ants are also an indication of the presence of cochineals.
Common Cannabis Viruses
The origins of plant viruses remain a mystery. There are, however, three theories explaining their origins: the Cellular origin hypothesis, the Regressive hypothesis, and the Coevolution hypothesis.
The Cellular origin hypothesis explains that viruses came from bits of DNA and RNA found in larger organisms. As for the Regressive hypothesis, viruses were once small cells combined together with a parasite to recover their lost genetic material over time. Last, the Coevolution hypothesis explains that the viruses came from nucleic acid and protein molecules.
Despite different thoughts of their origins, cannabis viruses, or plant viruses in general, are intracellular parasites. These molecular beings cannot replicate without a host.
Tobacco Mosaic Virus
As its name implies, the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) mainly infects the tobacco plant. It also contaminates other members of the nine plant families. This disease can also taint cannabis plants.
Growers can see evidence of a TMV infestation or plague when discoloration takes place on the veins of the leaves. This staining shouldn’t be confused with nutrient deficiency. If left untreated, the discoloration proceeds to motting that looks something like a mosaic. There will be a light and dark pattern appearing on the leaves.
Furthermore, a wrinkly texture may develop on the leaves which can lead to it becoming contorted or curved. The lower leaves may also present evidence of mosaic burn, especially if the plants are in hot and dry climate conditions.
Despite looking like a deadly disease, TMV is one of the most stable viruses found among plants. Growers can stabilize the infection by making sure the grow area doesn’t drop below 40 degrees Celsius. Marijuana plants inside greenhouses are at an ideal environment for halting TMV in its tracks before it spreads.
Other Cannabis Viruses
Aside from TMV, there are also other common marijuana viruses that may infect cannabis strains. These include Hemp mosaic virus (HMV), Hemp streak virus (HSV), Tobacco Ringspot virus (TRV), Tobacco streak virus (TSV), Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and the Tomato ringspot virus (TomRSV).
Pest and Bug Prevention and Treatment for Cannabis Plants
Different bugs and pests call for varying solutions to properly deal with them. Growers may choose to go with either synthetic or biological pest control techniques. Synthetic chemicals include pesticides and fungicides. Remember, these chemically-infused solutions may also damage your plants despite their effectiveness in removing common plant pests. If the chemicals are too strong, then these might end up killing your crops.
There are also biological or organic methods that are highly effective in dealing with common cannabis pests. These techniques may help in keeping small bugs and insects at bay. Some of these organic techniques may even contribute to the healthy growth of your plants.
Growers may also apply barriers and repellents to keep pests away from the row area. The walls help in preventing crawling insects from accessing your cannabis plants. You can also opt for simmering cedar twigs in water. This organic solution will help deter corn earworms, cutworms, and other similar pests. Snails and slugs also won’t dare cross areas with water or lime. It’s a similar scenario when deterring ants with the help of iron phosphate or cayenne pepper.
Using Beneficial Insects
The use of sprays and organic pellets aren’t the only solutions to prevent and eliminate bugs and pests that may otherwise feast on your cannabis plants. There are even some insects that work to eliminate other bugs. These insects are akin to living, breathing pesticides that can even contribute to the overall health of your crops.
One example of beneficial insects is the ladybug. Many ladybug species are easily found in the wild. There are even some specialized stores that sell these helpful critters. Ladybugs will have a strong appetite for eating small caterpillars, mites, and cochineals. Other insects that can satisfy the palate of ladybugs include aphids.
Another insect that can bring advantages to your cannabis plants is the mite. Now, mites are often connected with negative connotations. However, not all mites are seen as detrimental. For example, the Phytoseiulus persimilis is a species of mite with a small size and red color. These insects feed on spider mites. Also, Phytoseiulus persimilis likes to feed on the larvae and eggs of spider mites. If you see evidence of spider mites in your cannabis plants, you may want to seek help from the Phytoseiulus persimilis bug.
Last, but definitely not the least, is the anthocoridae. This beneficial bug also feeds on spider mites much like its Phytoseiulus persimilis cousin. Aside from eating spider mites, it also likes to eat small caterpillars. The way anthocoridae feast on their prey starts by tackling their victims. When casualty begins to weaken, these small insects start to pierce their “food” by using their three-segmented beak. It injects their kill with digestive enzymes afterward.
Other Advantageous Insects for Keeping Harmful Bugs at Bay
Growers can also make use of parasitic wasps and spiders. For the former, the parasitic wasp will attack spiders, flies, beetles, and bugs that may deliver harm to your marijuana strains. Spiders, on the other hand, are helpful critters for cannabis gardens. Spinning webs around the different areas of the marijuana plant will trap a broad range of pests. Also, most spiders aren’t picky eaters. Hence, if another insect gets caught in its web, then the spider won’t hesitate to feast on their flesh.
Preventing and Treating Cannabis Viruses
Cannabis virus prevention and treatment have similar practices to averting cannabis plant pests and diseases. Removal of dead plant material, proper maintenance, and the cleanliness of grow areas still play vital roles in the overall health of your plants. Also, remember that some strains are more resistant to viruses than other cannabis plants. There are no strong treatment methods to help in ridding viruses from marijuana plants. Growers should create preventive measures as much as possible to properly deal with plant viruses.
It’s just not pesky critters that want to take a bite on your cannabis plants. There are also other contaminants and viruses that may ruin your plants’ overall well-being. To avoid wasting your seeds and crops, always keep a close eye for any signs of infestations and plagues. The sooner you act, the faster you can deal with these problems. Failure to act in a timely manner may result in dire consequences which may even lead to destroyed crops.
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