7 tipos de plagas de cannabis y cómo eliminarlas

Cannabis is a plant that generally does not suffer from pests ; thanks to the fact that it is one of the strongest and most resistant, and even more so when grown outdoors (Outdoor cultivation). However, plants grown in pots or in controlled environments, such as indoor cultivation, are more delicate and more prone to pests.
This is because they are not in a natural ecosystem that allows the control of the populations of each species through natural predators. For this reason, a harmful species is more likely to reproduce and become a pest in these types of crops.
To avoid these problems, it is important to take preventive measures :

1. Starting by choosing resistant and healthy seed varieties .

2. Use growing techniques that promote plant health , and ensure that any plants introduced into the garden are free of pests.

3. Quickly remove diseased or infected leaves and branches .

4. Keep the garden clean and free of plant debris and dry leaves.

5. Plant plants with enough space to allow good air circulation . All of these measures can help prevent the appearance of pests in the garden.

The pests that can affect marijuana crops are:

- Red spiders

- White flies

- Aphids

- Thrips

- Snails and Slugs

- Caterpillars

- Mealybugs

If you detect a pest on a marijuana plant, it is essential to act quickly; since the longer the pest has to reproduce, the more difficult it will be to eliminate it.

Let us begin!

1. Red Spider

The red spider is one of the most dangerous pests for marijuana crops. These arachnids are extremely small, just one millimeter long, and are usually reddish, brown or black in color when adults and transparent when young. They feed on plant sap and reproduce very quickly . If environmental conditions are favorable, they can cover the plant completely in a few days. Red spider infestation is manifested by the appearance of cobwebs on the buds and the weakening of the plant. If left uncontrolled, these pests can completely destroy the crop.
In indoor crops, they are particularly difficult to eliminate and can survive from one harvest to the next. Therefore, it is important to be attentive to the appearance of red spiders and take control measures to prevent them from damaging the marijuana crop.

How to recognize red spider?

Spider mites are one of the most dangerous pests for marijuana crops and usually go unnoticed until the infestation is severe. One way to detect their presence is by looking for small yellow dots on the leaves of the plant, since these are the places where the spiders have sucked the sap. Red spiders are usually on the underside of leaves, so they can go unnoticed if you don't look for them carefully. The reproduction speed of these pests is influenced by the temperature and humidity level of the environment. The more heat and less humidity, the more quickly spider mites reproduce. For example, at 30°C, a spider can give rise to 13 million individuals in a month. Therefore, it is important to maintain control over temperature and humidity in marijuana cultivation to prevent spider mites from reproducing uncontrollably.

How to eliminate red spider in 5 steps?

To control an infestation of red spiders in a marijuana crop, it is important to follow the following steps:
1. Separate the most infested plants : it is important to isolate the plants that have a greater number of spiders to prevent the infestation from spreading to the others. .
2. Control temperature and humidity: By reducing temperature and increasing humidity, the reproduction rate of spider mites can be reduced.
3. Spray the plant with pressurized water: this method is effective in eliminating most of the spiders from the plant.
4. Use products like ProNeem : These products can help prevent the appearance of spider mites, but they are not usually very effective once the infestation is established. It is important to note that there is no magic solution to completely eliminate a spider mite infestation and several measures need to be implemented to control it and prevent it from spreading. Additionally, it is important to take preventive measures to prevent spider mites from appearing on your marijuana crop in the first place.

2. Whitefly

Whiteflies are a common pest in marijuana crops and other cultivated plants. These are small flying insects, only a few millimeters in size, and are white in color. They are normally found on the underside of leaves and feed by sucking plant sap. In addition, they lay white eggs on the underside of the leaves and their life cycle is related to temperature, so they reproduce more quickly at higher temperatures. It is important to take control measures to prevent whiteflies from affecting marijuana crops.

The first signs of a whitefly infestation are usually yellowing and falling leaves , which can lead to weakening and stunted growth of the plant. In addition, whiteflies secrete a honeydew that can encourage the appearance of fungi such as Black Sooty mold or Sooty mold , which can further weaken the plant. It is also possible for whiteflies to transmit viruses and bacteria to plants. It is important to take measures to control and eliminate whiteflies to protect marijuana crops.

4 tips to prevent whitefly

To prevent the appearance of whiteflies in a marijuana crop, the following steps can be followed: 1 . Maintain good hygiene: It is important to keep your marijuana grow clean and remove dead leaves and other plant debris to reduce the number of places where whiteflies can breed.

2. Use yellow traps : sticky traps are very effective at trapping whiteflies and detecting their presence early. Traps of this type can be found in grow stores.

3. Control temperature and humidity: By reducing temperature and increasing humidity, the reproduction rate of whiteflies can be reduced.

4. Preventively treat plants with chemicals: chemicals such as Solabiol can be used to prevent the appearance of whiteflies. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using any chemical product. It is important to keep in mind that even if preventive measures are taken, whitefly infestation may still occur. In that case, a product like Cythrin can be usedto eradicate whiteflies from marijuana crops. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using any chemical product.

3. Aphid

Aphids are a common pest of many crops, including marijuana crops. It is a type of parasitic insect known as an aphid, which is part of the hemiptera subfamily. Aphids feed on plant sap and can cause serious damage to different plant species. In addition, they are insect vectors of viruses and diseases, so they can represent a significant threat to crops. It is important to take control measures to protect marijuana crops from aphids and prevent them from causing serious damage.

Aphids are small, oval-shaped insects that can have different colors, such as yellow, black or green. They measure 1 to 3 mm in size and have no clear body structure, with the head, thorax and abdomen indistinguishable. Some aphids may be wingless (apterous), while others have two pairs of transparent, membranous wings.

Aphids are commonly found on the undersides of leaves and stems of plants, forming large colonies that can include dozens or even hundreds of individuals.

4. The Thrips

This little bug, no more than 1.5 mm, is a real nightmare for cannabis growers. Its voracity is inversely proportional to its size and, although it is not one of the most devastating pests that can attack your marijuana plants, it is one of the most resistant and difficult to eliminate.

How to detect thrips?

The thrip is so small and camouflaged so well that it is sometimes difficult to detect, but it is still visible to the human eye. It is usually located in the middle and lower areas of the plant and camouflages itself by placing itself parallel to the leaf nerves, right in the space where two leaves overlap.
You can also place yellow sticky traps around the crop and observe them every day. As soon as the thrips start attacking your crop, some of the bugs will get stuck on these strips.

Look for silvery marks on the surface of the leaves, sometimes accompanied by dark spots. The latter are the bug's feces and the silver marks are the trail left by the thrips when it scrapes the leaf tissue to suck the vital cannabis sage.

Brittle leaves. Thrips feed on the chlorophyll of cannabis and, in very advanced stages, the leaves can dry out completely.

How to eradicate thrips?

Spraying: If the thrips pest attacks before the plant has entered the flowering phase, you can spray potassium soap or Neem Cake on it , repeating the application every two or three days.

Natural predators : If the pest arrives in full bloom, it is not advisable to spray any product on the flowers. It is better that you opt for biological remedies such as parasitic wasps or orious.

Blue strips: You can prevent the infestation of your Thrips crop with the blue preventive strips .

Keep in mind that: Thrips larvae are usually found in the substrate. This information is important since it is foolish for you to only strive to eliminate the bugs from the stems and leaves and leave the larvae in the soil alone, which will come later to finish what their parents started. To avoid this, complement the work on the plant itself with a biological insecticide in irrigation that eliminates the larvae from the soil.

5. Caterpillars

Caterpillars are voracious little bugs that can become an enemy of the cannabis grower. Although it is more common to find them outdoors, don't trust yourself, since these small pests can also appear indoors. Butterflies usually lay their eggs on plants and when they hatch, caterpillars appear. These little bugs do not have any type of restraint when eating and feed non-stop until they reach the ideal size and conditions to become a chrysalis. There are caterpillars of many colors, but those that attack cannabis are usually green. So don't forget to keep your plants safe from these little eaters!

How to eradicate a caterpillar infestation?

Manually: with a lot of patience and armed with gloves, you can remove the ones you find on your plants one by one.

Sprays: A spray with an insecticide such as Spruzit can help you combat them.

Biological insecticide: you can use Bacillus Thuringiensis in sprays combining it with manual removal. It is not recommended to use it during the last 15 days before harvesting.

6. Mealybug

Mealybugs are a silent pest that is difficult to detect on your cannabis plants. These insects feed on plant sap and often leave a sticky trail as they crawl across it, which is clear evidence of their presence. Additionally, their droppings contain a fungus known as sooty mold, which can destroy plant matter.

How to combat a mealybug infestation?

1. Spray with Miscibiol Oil or Mealybug Insecticide .

2. Introduce predatory insects such as ladybugs.

3. Remove them manually with gloves and a mixture of water and alcohol.

7. Nematodes

Although they are one of the least known pests of cannabis , nematodes , also known as roundworms, have a great relationship with this plant. There are many species of nematodes, more than 25,000 registered!, and 50% of them act as parasites, attacking the roots of plants , slowing down their growth and even killing them , while others can even be beneficial for plants. floors.

How to end a nematode infestation?

1. Change the substrate with a new, sterilized one.

2. Use products like Decis protect to prevent all types of pests.

3. Mix Neem Cake with the substrate.

We hope we have helped make your crop a SUCCESS!