Indoor cannabis plants, on the other hand, are safe from the dangers of nature. When checking the cannabis crop, keep your eyes on any little things that could cause trouble in the future. You can look out for a number of different things:
Aphids
Aphids are a difficult infestation to eradicate. Most of us think that using insecticides is a no-brainer, and this is true. It is very difficult to eliminate aphids. You can use chemicals if your plant is in its green growth phase. Use chemical insecticides only if the harvest date is within 2 to 3 weeks. The chemicals are still present in the final product. Nobody wants to take a chance on the harmful side effects that come with smoking chemical insecticides.
A few simple steps are required to eliminate an aphid problem on your cannabis plant. Buy a couple of geraniums. The geraniums emit hormones which pests do not like. Create a few cloth bags the size of a palm and fill them with geranium leaves. Then hang these on each plant. Geraniums emit hormones that keep aphids at bay. The aphids’ eggs must be removed.
You can use a soft, thick cloth along with antibacterial/insecticide soap. Aphid eggs can be seen mostly under the leaves of marijuana plants. Just run the cloth, dipped in soap, under each of the leaves, once. If the washcloth is soapy, you don’t need to scrub them. Just one quick pass will suffice. The washcloth will be slightly twitched as you move each aphid.
The top coat may need to be changed depending on the level of infestation if you use a mix of peat perlite. Growing mediums such as peat and Perlite provide aphids with many crevices and crooks to nest in. Remove the top inch to two inches of soil and replace with peat perlite. You will not have any problems if you are careful with the roots.
If you used antibacterial/insecticide soap, mist the leaves of cannabis for a few days to get rid of any chemicals. Try not to spray pH-balanced water directly on buds. The nug that is happy will be dry.
Molds & Fungus
Mold and fungi are always a concern when growing cannabis, as every operation will require some form of standing water. Both like to grow on wet surfaces or in standing water. Molds and fungus are made up of nasty chemicals that are harmful to humans. Wear rubber gloves when inspecting the area if you suspect a mold or fungus infestation.
First, the smell is a sign that mold or fungus has taken hold. Most stoners love the smell of marijuana plants, so it’s impossible not to take a sniff. You’ll know you have a problem if you can smell dampness and decay while you are sniffing. Maybe it’s time to use some chemical cleaners.
Look for mold on the stem portion that protrudes from the root. Look for a slimy substance. The chemicals will be needed if there’s a slimy residue. It is impossible to avoid spraying fungicide on the moldy stalk. The base of stems is where plants support themselves and the part that is first to allow nutrients from the roots to reach the rest of plant.
You may feel tempted to remove the dead mold from the stem. Avoid doing so, since the mold could have punctured your stem right down to its hollow center. The dead mold can also be removed by wiping the stem. It will cause the growth to stop and the entire plant may die. Leaving the stalk and the dead mold intact will keep the stem sealed – exposing the hollow inner core is a death sentence for the plant.
Cannabis is an extremely resilient and robust plant. The plant can survive major damages. The plant may not survive the mold and fungus, but if you adhere to the guidelines, it will. Although it may be smaller than other plants, the plant will grow to maturity if you follow these instructions.
Mammals & Rodents
It’s not known if animals nibble cannabis because of the taste, smell, or whether they are aware that it can make them high. Most of the time, deer are the culprits. The first signs of a visitor nibbling your buds can be seen on top of the plants.
To stop the foraging, you can either hang bags of geraniums on your plants or place a mesh over them. Geraniums are a strong scent, and animals will stay far away from them. The mothball is another solution that uses scent. Mothballs are not a good choice for most animals, because the smell is not comparable to what they would eat.
Growing in nature, it is inevitable that some plants will die. Plant a few more cannabis plants in order to compensate for any future losses, whether it is from male culling, animals or mold.