by Leah Bartizal | Jul 27, 2024 | DIY
Growing can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is dealing with pests that can damage your plants and reduce your yield. In this blog post, let’s explore the top four pests that commonly affect marijuana plants and discuss the top three ways to treat each pest, complete with specific measurements.
1. Spider Mites
Spider mites are tiny, sap-sucking pests that can cause significant damage to marijuana plants. They reproduce quickly and can be difficult to control once they’ve established a presence.
Top Treatments:
- Neem Oil Spray:
- Mix 2 teaspoons of neem oil with 1 quart of water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Spray the mixture thoroughly on the affected plants, ensuring to cover the undersides of the leaves.
- Repeat every 5-7 days until the infestation is under control.
- Insecticidal Soap:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of insecticidal soap with 1 quart of water.
- Spray the solution directly onto the spider mites and affected areas of the plant.
- Apply every 4-7 days, as needed.
- Predatory Mites:
- Introduce predatory mites (e.g., Phytoseiulus persimilis) at a rate of 5-10 mites per plant.
- Ensure the growing environment is favorable for the predatory mites to thrive.
- Monitor the population and reintroduce as necessary.
2. Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap. They can weaken plants and transmit diseases.
Top Treatments:
- Neem Oil Spray:
- Mix 1-2 teaspoons of neem oil with 1 quart of water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Spray the mixture on the affected plants, focusing on the undersides of leaves.
- Apply every 7 days until the infestation is controlled.
- Homemade Garlic Spray:
- Blend 2 bulbs of garlic with 1 quart of water and let it steep overnight.
- Strain the mixture and add 1 tablespoon of liquid soap.
- Spray the solution on the infested plants every 4-5 days.
- Beneficial Insects:
- Release ladybugs or lacewings at a rate of 10-20 insects per plant.
- Ensure they have a suitable environment to stay and feed on the aphids.
- Repeat as necessary to keep the aphid population in check.
3. Whiteflies
Whiteflies are small, white insects that feed on the undersides of leaves, causing yellowing and wilting.
Top Treatments:
- Yellow Sticky Traps:
- Place yellow sticky traps around your plants to catch adult whiteflies.
- Use one trap per plant or every 2-3 feet in your grow space.
- Replace traps as they become full.
- Insecticidal Soap:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of insecticidal soap with 1 quart of water.
- Spray the solution on the affected plants, focusing on the undersides of leaves.
- Apply every 3-4 days until the whiteflies are controlled.
- Neem Oil Spray:
- Mix 2 teaspoons of neem oil with 1 quart of water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Spray the mixture on the infested plants, ensuring to cover the undersides of the leaves.
- Repeat every 5-7 days until the infestation is under control.
4. Thrips
Thrips are tiny, slender insects that feed on plant tissue, causing silvery streaks and spots on leaves.
Top Treatments:
- Spinosad Spray:
- Mix 4 tablespoons of spinosad with 1 gallon of water.
- Spray the solution on the affected plants, covering all surfaces.
- Apply every 7-10 days until the thrips are controlled.
- Blue Sticky Traps:
- Place blue sticky traps around your plants to catch adult thrips.
- Use one trap per plant or every 2-3 feet in your grow space.
- Replace traps as they become full.
- Neem Oil Spray:
- Mix 2 teaspoons of neem oil with 1 quart of water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Spray the mixture on the infested plants, ensuring to cover all surfaces.
- Repeat every 5-7 days until the infestation is under control.
Pest control is a crucial aspect of successful marijuana growing. By understanding the common pests and their treatment options, you can protect your plants and ensure a healthy harvest. Regular monitoring and early intervention are key to keeping pest populations under control. Happy growing!
by Leah Bartizal | Jul 10, 2024 | DIY
As I dive deeper into the world of cannabis cultivation, I’m fascinated by the different approaches growers take to achieve their goals. Two of the most discussed methods are organically grown cannabis and using conventional hydroponic fertilizer solutions. I’ve seen my friends succeed with both techniques, and I’m eager to explore the benefits and challenges of each. Let’s explore each of these a little closer…
Organically Grown Cannabis: Back to Nature
Benefits:
Natural Nutrient Profile: One of my friends swears by organic growing, using natural soil, compost, and organic fertilizers. They always talk about the richer, more complex terpene profile that enhances the plant’s aroma and flavor.
Environmental Impact: Organic growing practices focus on sustainability and caring for the environment. By using fewer synthetic inputs, we can reduce chemical runoff and help preserve soil health. This appeals to my eco-conscious friends who want to make a positive impact.
Health Benefits: For those who prioritize clean consumption, organic cannabis is free from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, potentially resulting in a purer product. A friend who is very health-conscious prefers this method for that reason.
Challenges:
Consistency and Control: However, I’ve heard that organic growing can be unpredictable. The nutrient availability in the soil can vary, making it more challenging to control and optimize plant growth. One friend mentioned the difficulties of maintaining consistency.
Pest Management: Without synthetic pesticides, organic growers need to be extra vigilant about pests, often relying on manual labor and natural pest control methods. This seems like a lot of work, but my friends who love being hands-on don’t mind.
Yield: Organic methods can sometimes produce lower yields compared to hydroponics, as they rely on natural processes that may not be as optimized for rapid growth. Despite this, some of my friends find the quality worth the trade-off.
Conventional Hydroponic Fertilizer Solutions: Precision and Performance
Benefits:
Controlled Environment: On the other hand, I have friends who are all about hydroponics. They love the precise control over nutrient delivery, leading to consistent growth and potentially higher yields.
Faster Growth: With nutrients delivered directly to the roots, hydroponically grown cannabis can mature faster than soil-grown plants. This appeals to my friends who are eager to see quick results.
Pest and Disease Control: Hydroponic systems often reduce the risk of soil-borne pests and diseases, leading to healthier plants. My friends who are meticulous about plant health find this aspect particularly appealing.
Challenges:
Initial Setup Cost: However, setting up a hydroponic system can be pricey and requires a learning curve to manage effectively. Some of my friends have invested a lot of time and money into getting it right.
Dependency on Technology: Hydroponics relies heavily on technology and consistent monitoring. Any system failure (e.g., pump failure, power outage) can quickly stress or damage plants. A friend shared a story about a power outage that nearly ruined their crop.
Taste and Terpene Profile: Some purists believe hydroponically grown cannabis can lack the depth of flavor and complexity found in organically grown cannabis. This is subjective, but a friend who loves rich flavors always brings this up.
The Final Verdict: Which is Right for You?
So, which method resonates with you? Imagine the lush, earthy aroma of organically grown cannabis, its rich and complex terpene profile tantalizing your senses. Now, picture the precision and performance of hydroponics, delivering consistent, high-yield harvests with remarkable efficiency. Both methods offer unique advantages and can produce exceptional cannabis.
As I learn from my friends’ successes and challenges, I realize that the choice comes down to what aligns with your values and goals. Do you lean towards the natural, sustainable approach of organic growing, or does the controlled, high-tech world of hydroponics appeal to your desire for precision and productivity?
In the end, both paths lead to a rewarding cultivation experience. Whether you choose the traditional route of organic growing or the innovative realm of hydroponics, the key is to find the balance that works best for you, your plants, and your growing philosophy.
Happy growing!
by Leah Bartizal | Jul 3, 2024 | Compassionate Care, Minnesota Cannabis News
Minnesota has made a significant shift in its approach to medical cannabis, empowering physicians to have the final say in recommending cannabis, thus rendering the state’s previously stringent list of qualifying medical conditions essentially obsolete.
As of July 1, 2024, this change allows for a more flexible approach, aligning with the growing acceptance of marijuana’s medical benefits.
“It just doesn’t fit anymore to have one of the nation’s most restrictive lists of qualifying conditions,” said state Sen. Lindsey Port (D), a key advocate of the legislation. “We want to ensure that if someone has a condition that cannabis can help with, their doctor can guide them to the right kind of cannabis. With the legal market open, there’s no reason to limit what doctors can prescribe because people will be able to access a variety of cannabis products.”
This new policy marks a pivotal moment in Minnesota’s cannabis legislation and could set a precedent for other states grappling with the medical versus recreational cannabis debate, as noted by the Star Tribune, which first reported the story.
Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana and home cultivation in May 2023.
Under the new law, Minnesotans will no longer need to undergo the cumbersome annual process to petition for the inclusion of new medical conditions. Any condition is now acceptable if a doctor recommends cannabis. However, petitions for new methods of consumption, such as gummies and smokeable forms, will still be considered.
The legislation also allows the cultivation of up to eight cannabis plants by individuals authorized by a doctor or those caring for medical marijuana patients.
Despite the approval for home cultivation, experience from other states suggests that few people might choose this route as recreational cannabis use and availability increase. However, Port emphasized the importance of maintaining a medical cannabis framework, particularly for minors who benefit from its therapeutic properties but cannot access recreational cannabis.
“If we’re not thoughtful about how we do it, the recreational market could overshadow the medical market,” Port said.
Minnesota’s medical cannabis program, which began in 2015, initially included only eight conditions. Over the years, this list expanded to 19, driven by mounting evidence of cannabis’s efficacy in treating diverse ailments such as intractable pain and PTSD. The program’s enrollment grew from 18,000 in 2019 to 48,000 participants, further boosted by the introduction of a recreational marketplace.
