Cultivating Cannabis: How To Prevent Pests In A Grow Room

Cultivating cannabis can be a rewarding activity, but it is not without its own set of difficulties. One of these challenges that affects cannabis cultivators is the invasion of pests. This makes pest control an essential part of successfully growing cannabis. You will need to learn how to make your grow room the most uninviting space for those pesky pests, and we know just the way to do it.

Which Insects Can I Expect In My Cannabis Grow Room?

There are a number of pests that are attracted to cannabis plants. Aside from some fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses, there are a few insects that are deemed problematic for your cannabis plants. These include:

• Whiteflies
• Fungus gnats
• Aphids
• Spider Mites

Whiteflies

Whiteflies have soft bodies and small wings, and they breed quickly. They tend to live on the underside of cannabis leaves, causing harm to those leaves, spreading diseases, and weakening the overall health of your plants.

If you are growing on a small scale, you can prune and comb through each of your plants and make sure that there are no more insects or eggs left. If you are planting on a larger scale, you could benefit from companion planting. This means that plants are grown close to each other to benefit each other’s growing processes. You can grow marigolds and zinnias close to your cannabis plants since whiteflies do not like them, deterring them from your cannabis plants.

If you are looking to prevent whiteflies from infesting your grow room, you can enhance your ventilation systems, avoid excessively high temperatures, and decrease the humidity.

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats are little flies that are attracted to moist environments. They are typically black and they are bigger than whiteflies. Adult fungus gnats only live for a week, but females can still lay up to 200 eggs in their lifetime. These insects dig in the soil and thrive around the base of your cannabis plant. They do not eat or attack the plant itself, but they do damage plant roots and diminish the quality of your soil.

However, they only enjoy moist soil, so keeping the top layer of your plant’s soil as dry as possible tends to keep them away. You can also put a cloth on top of your plant’s ground soil as the insects will not be able to lay their eggs, or spray it with Neem oil. If you want to prevent fungus gnats, you can enhance your ventilation systems, increase your light levels, decrease your humidity, and increase your cleaning consistency.

Aphids

Aphids are related to whiteflies and come in different colours and sizes. Adult females can lay hundreds of eggs during her lifespan. These insects are quite tough, and they enjoy staying underneath plant leaves. Certain species are more harmful, being able to inject toxins into the plants and making them curl up.

The best way to remove aphids from your grow room is by pruning and combing through each plant to make sure they are all clean. Ladybugs are also a natural predator of aphids, making them another effective way to keep your cannabis plants aphid-free.

To prevent aphids in your grow room, you can enhance your ventilation systems, increase temperatures, increase the humidity, and clean your grow room more consistently.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are smaller than 1 mm, and they spin small webs on the underside of plant leaves. These pests can go undetected for a while, spreading steadily until you finally notice the accumulation of small silk webs on the leaves. These insects damage the cells in plant leaves, causing them to turn yellow. They can slow down your plants’ growth and affect the development of your cannabis flowers.

Spider mites adapt to chemical solutions and pesticides at a fast pace, making it difficult to get rid of them effectively. Some use a mixture of water and insecticidal soap, while others use Neem oil to stop these pests from spreading. You can prevent spider mites by enhancing ventilation, decreasing temperatures, increasing the humidity, and cleaning your grow room more frequently.

Are There Other Pests To Worry About?

There are some other pests that may attempt to ruin your cannabis garden, including fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses.

Fungi

Fungi is one of the most frequent pests found in cannabis grow rooms. Botrytis and powdery mildew are two fungi that cause harm to your cannabis plants. You will be able to see a white and powdery substance on the leaves and buds of your cannabis plant. It spreads quickly, lowering crop output. If you do not act quickly, grey fungus botrytis can start to spread, causing your buds to rot one by one.

Bacteria

Pseudomonas, pythium, and fusarium are typical bacterial pests that may infiltrate your cannabis garden. These bacteria set in and cause root rot, discoloration, and withering. Plants perish quickly if they are not treated immediately. It is important to use gloves and be clean when handling your plants to prevent bacterial growth and spreading infections.

Nematodes

Microscopic worm-like pests known as nematodes can cause damage to cannabis plants by feeding on the roots. This can significantly harm the development and growth of plants.

Viruses

The cucumber mosaic virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, tobacco mosaic virus, and impatiens necrotic spot virus can all cause harm to cannabis plants.

Inspect Your Cannabis Plants For Signs

The most important step in preventing any pest infestation is through inspecting your plants regularly. Examine the stems and leaves, making note of any new developments. Act fast if you see any signs like wilting leaves or white spots. Be sure to look underneath your plants’ leaves and around the base of their stems, as most pests like to live there.

How To Prevent And Control Pests

Pests can become a big problem for many cannabis cultivators. Luckily, there are a few ways to prevent and control pests in your cannabis garden or grow room. 

• Use sticky traps: Sticky traps will catch flying insects like whiteflies and fungus gnats if you hang them in your growing area. Check them often to see what they have caught and take immediate action if you notice a pest.

• Use grow lights: Full-spectrum LED growth lights provide the best spectrum of light for every growth stage of the cannabis plant. They are also bright enough to discourage insects from feeding on your plants. 

• Use organic pest control methods: Companion planting can be used for keeping away whiteflies, ladybugs can be used to eat aphids, and Neem oil works for fungus gnats and spider mites. Natural methods should always be your first option due to environmental concerns as well as concerns regarding the quality and purity of your cannabis.

• Use a fan for air circulation: Air circulation is critical for pest control. When you have proper airflow, you can lower the humidity level, stopping mites and bugs from spreading. If you are in a small, enclosed area, you should at least have a fan to keep the air circulating.

• Use a dehumidifier: Lower humidity levels are less inviting to pests. Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity below 50% to avoid mould and pest infestations. LED lights can also help you to lower the humidity in your grow room.

Pest control is part of the cannabis cultivation process. Incorporating proper pest prevention techniques, checking your cannabis plants, and keeping your growing environment clean are key components to keeping your growing environment pest free.