Cannabis pests and bugs identification guide with plant care tips

Reading time: 23 minutes

Marijuana pests or bugs are things every grower will encounter and has to control and identify.

Humans aren’t the only creatures on the planet who enjoy the unique taste of cannabis, and, unfortunately, many of the tiny critters can ruin a whole crop of cannabis extremely quickly.

During the cultivation process, you’ll encounter caterpillars, moths, mealybugs, ants, and the dreaded spider mites.

They’re all bad news. Plus, you want to be especially careful when dealing with them.

Although pesticides might seem like an attractive option, they can ruin your buds just as easily, making them unsafe for consumption.

Download my free marijuana grow guide for more pest control.

Your best bet is to be preventative rather than reactive: try to make the environment as inhospitable to pests as you can.

Otherwise, try to use organic deterrents that will be safe for human consumption if they contaminate the plant matter.

17 Common marijuana pests

Cannabis pest #1: ants

Ants are something of a deceptive pest. They don’t directly threaten your cannabis plants, but they are a strong indicator of other issues which aren’t as easily noticeable.

Ants don’t eat your cannabis, instead they will be attracted to the area because of other pests like whiteflies or aphids.

ants on marijuana plants

If you see ants in your growing environment, make a thorough sweep of the area to see if there are any other pests damaging your cannabis.

Additionally, the way ants dig tunnels and mound up soil can damage root systems and make it difficult to get good nutrient and water circulation among the roots.

Surprisingly enough, one of the most innocuous ways for you to deal with ants is the application of cornmeal.

Just spread it into the substrate. Read more and And learn how to get rid of ants on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #2: aphids

Aphids: tiny, pale, and one of the most irritating pests you will encounter. A big part of the problem is their small size. Aphids are very easy to miss.

They’ll cling to the undersides of the cannabis leaves, draining out nutrients and reproducing very quickly.

aphids on marijuana plants

Indoors, in a controlled environment, aphids can ruin an entire growing operation with alarming speed. Outdoors, there are a number of natural predators which can help protect your plants.

As mentioned above, the presence of ants in your cannabis garden is one of the best ways to predict a possible aphid problem.

To get rid of aphids, there are a number of different options available. The best choice is usually an organically based spray that you can apply to the undersides of the foliage.

Read more about Aphids on marijuana plants

Save cannabis from pest #3: birds

Birds are a double-edged sword for most cannabis gardens.

First of all, they’ll only be an issue with outdoor growing. Outside, they actually do a great job of helping you to get rid of irritating and damaging pests.

signs of birds on marijuana plants
signs of birds on marijuana plants

Birds subsist on caterpillars, worms, and a variety of other creepy-crawly critters. The time you need to worry about birds is before your cannabis plants germinate.

Birds love seeds, and they can gobble up all of your cannabis before it even sprouts if you give them the opportunity.

There are a number of tried-and-true methods for helping to prevent birds from eating all of your seeds after you plant them. You can use scarecrows or netting.

Another method is to litter the area around your plants with shiny reflective objects.

Ideally, you should choose a reversible method, you can get the birds back after your plants have sprouted. That way you can benefit from the positive aspects of the birds.

Scarecrows are usually the easiest option, and often the most fun, besides.

Read more about Birds on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #4: caterpillars

Caterpillars can be extremely hazardous to your cannabis crop. They have a voracious appetite, and they often go unnoticed until they’ve already done significant damage to your foliage.

Caterpillar on weed plants

In particular, beware of the ‘borer’ varieties of caterpillars, which will burrow into the plants delicate interior and eat it from the inside out.

If you don’t pay close attention, your whole plant will be dead and hollow without you ever even knowing you have pest issues. Wiki on caterpillars here

Unfortunately, even caterpillars that stay on the exterior of your plant can still ruin your crop.

Caterpillars are strongly attracted to cannabis, and they will actively seek it out as a food source.

Outdoors, you can get help from wasps and praying mantises, but there are number of organic deterrents you can use as well. Read more about Caterpillars on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #5: cats and dogs

We love our pets, but anyone who owns cats or dogs knows very well that they can cause trouble.

For the most part, you probably don’t need to worry about pets eating your cannabis (although you never know what they’ll want to chew on).

The real issue is urine and defecation. Especially if you are using soil, there is a risk that your cat or dog will choose that spot to answer nature’s call.

While you might think ‘Hey, free fertilizer!’, you really don’t want pet urine or feces to mix with your crops.

Cats dogs cannabis plants

Cat urine is extremely high in ammonia and can badly damage your plants (besides the terrible smell).

Plus, fecal matter from pets can attract parasites and pests that you don’t want crawling around.

In general, you’re better off keeping pets far away from your cannabis plants.

They probably won’t help in the cultivation process.

Read more about Cats and dogs on marijuana plants

Save cannabis from pest #6: cutworms

The most dangerous time for cutworms is when your cannabis plants are still seedlings.

Cutworms can absolutely destroy seedlings, and worst of all, they’re sneaky.

They only come out and eat your plants under the cover of darkness, so it’s likely that you’ll never even see them in action.

If it looks like someone has been trimming the tops of your plants and it wasn’t you, look closely for cutworms.

preventing Cutworm on weed plants

Thankfully, it’s not too difficult to get rid of cutworms.

Like some of the other pests listed here, they have a number of natural predators, so sometimes they’ll just go away without any extra intervention.

Often, you can get rid of cutworms just by tilling the soil or planting sunflowers around the edges of your cannabis garden.

Tilling is a good reactive measure, will the sunflowers are preventative, allowing you to keep cutworms out until the plants are big enough that you don’t need to worry about cutworms.

Read more about Cutworms on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #7: crickets and grasshoppers

Grasshoppers and crickets are common outdoor pests all over the world, and they have the potential to wreak havoc on your cannabis crop.

They have voracious appetites, and if you let them, they’ll make your cannabis plants the foundation of their diet.

grasshopper eating a cannabis plant

There are a lot of different species of crickets and grasshoppers.

Most of them will eat your plants at night, under the cover of darkness, so they can also be hard to find until after they’ve already done their damage.

Crickets and grasshoppers are pests that you almost certainly don’t want to leave alone.

They’re difficult to root out, but without intervention, the problem won’t disappear.

Even worse, birds and other predators have to dig up the soil to get at them, which can damage your root systems.

Your best bet for getting rid of them is to spray the area with a mixture of diluted dishwashing liquid.

Read more about Crickets and grasshoppers on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #8: deer

Deer eat plants. They are herbivores. Unfortunately for the cannabis grower, they don’t take exception to young succulent cannabis specimens.

On the plus side, once the cannabis matures, the strong odor won’t be attractive to most deer, and you don’t need to worry about them eating your crop.

Deer on cannabis plants

Until your plants mature, though, deer can be a huge menace. Instead of just damaging the plant beyond repair, they will eat the whole thing, leaving only some ragged root systems behind.

The best option for you is a fence. A sturdy, properly constructed fence of adequate height will keep deer out of your garden, and chances are good that they will take their search for food elsewhere.

If you don’t have the resources or space to construct a fence, you have a few other slightly less effective options.

First, motion-detecting or flashing lights can scare off deer, who usually feed in the twilight of early morning or late evening.

Deer are also very sensitive to scent, and there are a variety of products on the market that can act as deterrents for deer.

Some growers report success with garlic or moth balls.

Read more about Deer on marijuana plants

Save cannabis from pest #9: fungus gnats

Fungus gnats aren’t quite as bad as they sound, but they’re far from harmless.

Like the other pests listed in this index, fungus gnats can cause a lot of damage to the stems and roots of your plants.

Fungus gnats on cannabis plants

In both the microscopic larval and adult phases, fungus gnats love to eat cannabis.

They start out eating fungus at the base of the plant and then eat their way downwards into the root system.

Obviously, this is terrible for the plant: growth will slow, and the plant can become structurally unsound. The drainage of the soil will also be severely impacted.

Thankfully, even though the fungus gnats can be nigh impossible to spot, there is an easy method to check for them.

All you have to do is put out a sticky pad near the base of the cannabis plant to catch the larvae. This won’t totally fix the problem, but it’ll get a lot of them.

To finish up, mix a little bit of peroxide and water and apply that to the area where the fungus gnats are located.

Read more about Fungus gnats on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #10: gophers and moles

These two underground rodents present some clear potential issues. Anytime you have a burrowing critter; you’ll run the risk of root damage.

Fortunately, most of the time, moles steer clear of cannabis root systems. They have no interest in plants.

In fact, moles can offer benefits to your cannabis: they’ll aerate the soil and eat any insects they can get their paws on.

Gophers moles on weed plants

Gophers, on the other hand, are bad news. Gophers will seek out the roots of your cannabis plant and eat them.

Left unmolested, they’ll pull down whole plants into their tunnels.

You can deal with gophers in a lot of different ways. If some gophers take up residence near your plants, you can try to encourage natural predators in the area, like owls or hawks.

You can deal with them humanely by applying garlic or castor oil to the area.

As a last resort, you can always set traps for gophers. Read more about Gophers and moles on marijuana plants

Save cannabis from pest #11: leaf miners

Just like the name sounds, leaf miners will dig through and ‘mine’ the tops of your cannabis leaves, damaging the cells and draining out vital nutrients.

The symptoms are usually very easy to recognize: white or brown streaks running along the tops of the leaves.

The adult leaf miner closely resembles a house-fly, but significantly worse for the health of your plants.

Leaf miners on weed plants

The larvae are planted under leaves, and after they hatch, they burrow into the interior.

Unfortunately, leaf miners are extremely difficult to get rid of.

Pesticides are mostly ineffective against them, and the ones that do work aren’t safe to use on your plants: they’re more harmful than helpful.

The only thing to do is seek them out and squish them yourself.

Read more about Leaf miners on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #12: mealybugs

Mealybugs are soft little bugs from the Pseudococcidae family. They live in the nooks and crannies of your cannabis plant.

If there aren’t a lot of them, they won’t actually have any negative effects, but beware of their population swelling out of control.

Mealy bugs on weed plants

The clearest symptom of a mealybug population is the occurrence of white, gauzy balls that the bugs weave.

Some of the foliage might also begin to develop blotchy patches.

Curiously enough, one of the easiest ways to tell that you might be at risk for a mealybug infestation is the presence of ants.

Ants offer protection for the mealybugs by keeping the environment clear of other insect predators.

To get rid of mealy bugs, you can simply clean them off the plant by hand or use a natural product like lemon juice as a deterrent.

Read more about Mealybugs on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #13: rats and mice

Rats and mice are the universal pests. Although they’re not specifically drawn to eat cannabis plants, they are omnivores and will eat your plants if they don’t have a better option available.

In the case of rats, they might just chew through the cannabis plant as a reflexive action to control their constantly growing incisors.

Both rats and mice are very wary of humans and have excellent senses. You might not see them, or be aware of their presence.

Rats mice on weed plants

As with many of the pests listed in this index, your best bet is to take preventative rather than a reactive measure to keep rats and mice away.

That is; you should do your best create an environment that discourages them from being around.

Ideally, you’ll have some sort of other predators around to help with this, but you can always resort to traps.

Read more about Rats and mice on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #14: snails and slugs

If you grow cannabis outdoors, you’ve probably run into issues with snails and slugs before. They’re a common pest for cannabis growers.

They’ll leave those glistening trails of gloop everywhere, and usually they’re very noticeable because of it.

Snails slugs on cannabis plants

Snails and slugs both subsist on plant matter, and they will cause a lot of damage to the plant if you leave them alone.

The best way to deal with slugs and snails is to create an environment that is hospitable to amphibians: toads and frogs are natural predators.

You can do this by adding in ponds or water features near your plants.

If that’s too much trouble, or just not an option at all, you can also apply salt to the area to make it inhospitable and dangerous for slugs.

Surprisingly enough, beer can also be used to help discourage slugs and snails from tromping around your cannabis garden.

Read more about Snails and slugs on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #15: spider mites

The most common problem for cannabis growers is infestation by spider mites. They can create a huge hassle for your garden.

Spider mites reproduce extremely quickly, and they reach full maturity in less than a week.

This means it’s easy to be swiftly overrun by the tiny creatures in a short amount of time.

Spider mites on cannabis plants

Spider mites feed on your plants, draining out valuable nutrients and chlorophyll until the plant dies.

Left to their own devices, spider mites will quickly ruin your entire cannabis crop.

Our free little Harvest Guide will help you determine the best moment to cut your marijuana plants and save them from pests. Download it here.

Thankfully, there are a wide variety of different ways to treat spider mites, including a number of safe, natural remedies.

Ladybugs are ubiquitous to many parts of the world, and they are a fantastic predator for spider mites.

Consider introducing them to the environment to deal with the problem. Spider mites can also be sprayed with a mix of neem oil and water.

This will knock them off the plant, and they can have difficulties getting back onto it.

Since their metabolism is so fast, they will die quickly without access to their food source.

Read more about spider mites on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #16: thrips

Although the thrip is a very small insect, it can create huge issues in your cannabis garden.

Their primary source of food is the flower itself, which means your plant won’t be able to properly mature, and you won’t get a good yield out of your plants.

Thrips are also known for spreading plant diseases, which can sometimes cause even more damage than the tiny insects themselves. In any case, thrips are bad news.

Thrips on cannabis plants

As with most pests, the best way to deal with thrips is preventative action. Stop them before they even get into your garden.

Using the highest quality compost and maintaining a clean environment for your plants is a good way to help you in this regard.

If you already have thrips infesting your plants, however, you’ll need to get rid of them. There are a number of predatory mites that you can introduce to the area.

This will help curb their population. Alternatively, you can spray them with a mix of neem oil and water. This will knock them off the plant and help protect your flowers.

Read more about Thrips on marijuana plants

Cannabis pest #17: whiteflies

Whiteflies live on the undersides of cannabis leaves and chew on the plant matter.

They are flying insects, and they’re very small. The biggest problem with whiteflies is the one-two punch combination of mobility and their high potential for spreading disease.

White flies on cannabis plants

Like the thrip, whiteflies can spread diseases throughout your entire crop, ruining an otherwise great harvest.

As with the other pests we’ve talked about, your best bet is to prevent these sorts of infestations before they occur at all.

If the whiteflies never show up at all, you never have to worry about them spreading any diseases.

Again, pest management techniques usually start by creating an environment that is inhospitable to the pest itself.

The best way to accomplish this is by introducing and encouraging natural predators.

For example, planting zinnias or other colorful flowers will help attract hummingbirds and insects which can prey on the whiteflies.

You can also create diluted garlic mixes to help discourage the whiteflies.

Read more about Whiteflies on marijuana plants

Little black bugs on my buds

The little black bugs on your cannabis buds could be a couple of things, but the most common suspects are aphids and black flies.

While aphids feed on your cannabis by extracting its plant fluids, black flies use the substrate around your plants as a home for their larvae which eat the secondary roots of your plants.

Black bugs on marijuana
Black bugs on marijuana

On top of that, the build-up of their excrement can cause mold to appear on your plants.

To treat your cannabis against aphids and the mold they attract, you can introduce beneficial insects into your garden, such as ladybugs that eat aphids. Another way you can rid yourself of the pest is with tomato leaf spray, a natural spray that uses tomato leaves steeped in water.

The best way to handle black flies is through prevention, which you can do by not overwatering the substrate around your plants.

Doing so makes the soil around your plants the perfect nursery for their larvae.

Looking for the best soil for growing cannabis? Read our guide for more info.

White bugs on weed plants

Another common pest of cannabis plants are mealybugs and white flies, which are white bugs that you can see on the branches and stalks of your plants or the underside of their leaves.

You can tell the two types apart by the way they cluster.

White Bugs on Weed Plants
White bugs on weed plants

Whiteflies look like rice grains, while mealybugs almost appear like a type of fungus when bunched together.

To prevent whiteflies from appearing on your cannabis, you can grow other flowering plants to attract the flies’ natural predators.

Another way you can prevent whiteflies is using a garlic-based insecticide. You can get rid of mealybugs by using lemon juice as a deterrent.

Natural pest prevention sprays like these and pest predators can help keep these bugs away.

Little brown bugs on weed plants

Brown bugs on your weed plants can either be stink bugs or a type of aphid.

Brown Bugs on cannabis plant
Brown bugs on cannabis plant

Stink bugs use cannabis plants as shelter and food sources during the cold winter months. They also lay their eggs on the underside of leaves, making them tricky to get rid of.

However, there is a way to get rid of both stink bugs and their eggs from your plants.

If you’re growing your plants indoors, simply hose your plants down outside to wash away both the bugs and the plants.

You can also vacuum the eggs and the bugs.

Little orange bugs on weed plants 

Outside of checking the leaves and branches of your plant for insects, it’s also important to check the base of your plants and the substrate around it.

Orange Bugs on weed plants
Orange bugs on weed plants

This is because, just like larvae, some insects like root aphids attack the roots of your plants.

Other than root aphids, there are also other brown insects, such as thrips that attack the flowers of your cannabis.

You can prevent thrips and root aphids with a beneficial compost for your plants.

Another preventive measure is to maintain a clean environment.

If you find thrips on your plants, get rid of them by spraying a neem oil and water mixture. Incidentally, neem oil-based sprays are also effective in removing root aphids.

Bugs that eat weed plants

Although all marijuana pests eat some part of your plant, the following ones are the most voracious.

Barnacles on marijuana
Barnacles on marijuana

Barnacles

Similar to aphids, these pests damage your plant by sucking the juices from under its leaves or on its branches.

The difference, though is that they latch onto your plants tightly, similar to an actual barnacle.

Spider mites

These pests are both voracious and prolific.

Spider mites on marijuana
Spider mites on marijuana

They often nest on the leaves of your cannabis or its buds. 

Caterpillars and leaf miners

These are the most destructive since they feed on the leaves of your plant by either making holes in the leaves or tunneling inside of them.

How do you get rid of them?

For a natural approach, remove barnacles by pressure spraying them off your plants.

Caterpillars on marijuana
Caterpillars on marijuana

The same sort of approach also works with spider mites, but instead of using a spray, you simply need a strong breeze from a fan to blow them off.

Lastly, maintaining a clean and sterile environment will prevent any pests from appearing in your garden.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to spray insecticide?

Very early morning and early evening is the most effective time for insecticide application.

How fast do pesticides work?

It depends on the various conditions. Generally it could be effective for anywhere from 2 weeks to over a year.

Does vinegar kill plant bugs?

Yes, Mix 3 cups water and 1 cup vinegar in a spray bottle and add 1 teaspoon of dish soap and spray it on plants,

What bugs does vinegar keep away?

Use vinegar to get rid of ants, spiders, fruit flies and aphids

Does weed attract bugs?

Despite being a flowering plant, cannabis hasn’t evolved a way to attract pollinators like bees and wasps. However, while not appealing to pollinators, cannabis attracts flies and other pests that see the plant as a food source due to its sugars (glucose).

What kind of bugs eat cannabis leaves?

The most obvious ones are caterpillars and leaf miners, which leave holes and tunnels on the leaves of your cannabis plants. And while not technically devouring the leaves of your plants, thrips, whiteflies, and aphids often settle on leaves and suck their juices.

What is Spinosad?

Spinosad is a type of natural insecticide that’s produced by a soil bacterium (Saccharopolyspora Spinosa). It is an effective natural spray that kills pests like caterpillars and leaf miners. And unlike most insecticides, spinosad breaks down rapidly, but only if your plants are under direct sunlight. Many growers rely on it, however, you can prevent insects in the first place with my Bug Blaster.


Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible.

Happy growing!

Robert

Avatar for Robert Bergman

Robert Bergman

Robert Bergman is an Amsterdam-based marijuana grow expert who has years of experience from small grows to massive operations. His passion for growing led him to develop his own Gold Leaf strain. Now, Robert is dedicated to sharing his knowledge with the world.... [Read full bio]

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66 comments on “Cannabis pests and bugs identification guide with plant care tips”

  1. I am an indoor grower and I think zi have a bug problem. The plant looks good except some yellowing leaves. I didn’t think much of it because my plant is flowering and I expect some yellowing. I have a really strong loop, I looked at the leave and could see little round holes but no bugs HELP

  2. I have little white bugs I have a lot in my soil but have not noticed them on the leaves what could this be?

  3. Its harvest time and noticed i have afvids bugs on my plants thick on stems and leaves and appears dead ones all over the leaves and buds how is this going to affect.my finished product ?? Will they die and evacuate tge plant once harvested ?

  4. I pulled one bud from the very top of one plant as it has turned dark brown overnight. What would cause this? the other buds on the same plants and the ones next to it don’t show anything. No bugs that we could see even with a magnifying glass.

  5. Hey I need help. Theres this bug that I HAVE NOO IDEA WHAT IT IS. I seen it before, but I never bother to look it up. Until now. And I cant ligit find anything about it. Can you guys help me out?

  6. hari, Same for you. We cannot guess what pests are flying around.. We need pictures of your flying friends.

    I Suggest You Go Here: Support.Ilovegrowingmarijuana.Com Our Members And Staff Can Take A Look At Your Pictures And Give You Informed Advice.

  7. brett,

    I Suggest You Go Here: Support.Ilovegrowingmarijuana.Com Our Members And Staff Can Take A Look At Your Pictures And Give You Informed Advice.

  8. I’ve spotted several small brown flying pests but so far, no discernible damage. What are they and how harmful. Thanks

  9. hi ! everyone i used garlic & onion powder on my plants plus dawn soap too keep the bugs off it works, but when i used the soap it turn the leafs brown . the plant is still growing an hanging in their.

  10. I have a brown substance forming at the junction of leaf and stem, looks like really fine sawdust couldn’t find anything on it any help would be appreciated 4 wks into flower

  11. I appreciate the time and dedication you put into creating this book full of information. This excerpt was exactly the info i was looking for.

  12. Your own link to CORNMEAL says you’lol be feeding the ants, not killing them. It’s the insecticide they mix with cornmeal that kills them. Put cornmeal on your ants and you’re feeding them!

  13. Christopher Cullen,

    We would like to see you join our forum at support.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com where we have members from around your way who can better guide you to success in your region. Your questions are a bit extensive for the blog comment section. tag me @latewood when you get set up in the forum. 🙂

  14. I plan to grow in the bush where gusts of wind come from the hills. Autoflowering seeds are the plan, lots of small plants. I’ll be roughly 100 metres from a lake, is that beneficial for frogs?
    I’m going to use insecticide.
    Caterpillars are really the only problem I’ve encountered.

    What stuff should I put near the grow site to deter?
    Are bandicoots something to look out for?

    How can I setup my grow site to make it more ready for the next grow season?
    It’s in the great wide open, but sheltered somewhat.

    I’m going to take water to the site in advance for subtlety when I water them..

    What else can I do to prepare?

    I’m a noob grower btw..

  15. im in kern county and have encounteted a problem with the glassy winged sharpshooter attacking my plants. they suck them dry and give the plant a disease. little bastards!

  16. Annette Fletcher,

    First; I suggest you join us at: support.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com and our expert staff and many knowledgeable members will be glad to help identify your issues and provide options for eradicating the pests as long as you can show us a couple of pictures of your plants, and the white bugs. 🙂

  17. Bruce,

    You could develop root rot due to poorly aerated soil, however, this is just an educated guess.

    It would be best for you to join oursupport forum where we can help you figure out what happened , what you may have done differently, and how to be a successful grower. Check out the forum at ilovegrowingmarijuana.com

  18. I start seed in the house then plant outside as soon as possible. All plants are staked. Around 3-4 weeks after replanting the leaves start to drupe. After another week I reached down and pulled out the above ground stalk and found that every bit of root has disappeared. Maybe eaten?? Or is there a disease that would turn the roots to mush and disappear? Thanks

  19. Recently moved to the midwest and have encountered a pest I’ve never seen before. This pest bores a small pinhole into the stalk and creates a swelling at the site. Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

  20. A great way to protect your outside seedlings is to place a clear pop bottle over them (cut off the bottom, take off the labels, and take off the lid). The hole in the top of your bottle lets air and rain in but keeps the birds out. Also acts as a mini greenhouse to get them started.

  21. Robert,

    There is no real way to answer your question without a picture. I invite you to join our support forum, and you can add a picture to a post so we can identify your pest, or good bug.

    Just tag me @latewood when you join and I will try to help you out. Many other members will too! 🙂

  22. I have found black elliptical type bugs on the stem of the plant (outdoor) what are they and hoe to destroy?

  23. Mary,

    You don’t mention why you feel these bugs a sapping your stems. I at first though you just had ladybug larvae which are odd looking buggers with orange stripes sometimes. Look up images of Ladybugs before you panic/.

    As treatment. Without any pictures or proof that this is the real issue; I usggest you try some insecticidal soap, and join our support forum for a braoder range od support overall. See you there. We need pictures 🙂

  24. I have noticed a flying pest in my garden, slow moving, orange marking. Strangely, there are no bite marks of any kind. The stems have not been as hardy as the first grow, despite still growing large buds. I have deduced that these bugs are Spittlebugs, and they are sapping the stems, literally. How do I eliminate them? I cannot find this pest in anybody’s list for cannabis and need to eliminate them without harm, obviously.

  25. Thanks Roy.

    I am not a bussiness and this not a product. I am just trying to find out if I have done something special. I only have one friend that grows so I have very few opinions on this.
    If there is an interest in this solution I will gladly work with you to advertise with you. But for now I am just getting opinions and letting growers know it can be done. I almost gave up growing because of all the pests, now it is just fun.
    Next I need to find a good way to grow larger buds organically.

    I will look at the link you gave me. I am also new to forums.

    Thaks Roy

  26. Hey Realdream, you’re welcome to elaborate on the support forum as long as you refrain from directly advertising. Please contact us through the contact form if you ever want to discuss more about advertising.

  27. We’ve been into deep water culture for basic veggies, medicinal and cooking herbs. We ran into all the typical indoor growing pests and have worked now for 2 years to resolve those problems organically. Recently we met a new friend who is very involved in medical MJ hydroponic growing. He had all the usual problems with pests through his grow cycle. He found out what we were working on and gave us a great opportunity to test what we’ve worked with on his crop. We have now done two crops with him and he has had no pest problems and we’ve improved his nutrient uptake and he has had no water change outs with two crops in the same solutions. Only water is added as the system runs low.

    We are sharing this with others to get feedback and opinions. We are working with organic manure, organic plant material and organic minerals. Just so everyone is clear, this is not a product on the market, but if it seems it will be we will be glad to do the right thing with the webmaster and pay for advertising or whatever requirements are needed.

    For ourselves, we have gotten rid of spider mites, root aphids, leaf aphids, white fly and powdery mildew. The water solutions in the tanks are always fresh and clean smelling, even during harvest and uprooting. As a test our friend tried placing new clones straight back into the old water to see what would happen. He got a second crop with no health issues.

    After talking with various growers, we get the same comments; that they don’t believe us and after seeing all the discussions on various forums we understand why that opinion is there. Pests can be a chronic problem. All we do is foliar spray twice a week and add it to the nutrient solution in the water supply tank. Our new friend the grower really likes the results of the crop and likes that it is all organic and disease free.

    Sorry for rambling on, but we are very excited. We really would like your comments and responses.

    Thanks

  28. Hi, I have a pro, my plants have been eaten in half at the Base just above the soil level, the bugs are about pin head size and white, anybody know what they could be??

  29. I had the same problem and couldn’t find anything on how to get rid of scales and help the plant recover, ended up throwing out three 5′ plants that just started to bud, weird thing is i had them indoors. Im guessing it was from bad soil that must have been infested. they are bitch and I had no idea to look out for them as they are hardly ever mentioned. I saw just one or two here and there at first thinking they were just little snails or something and then i come in one day and all the stems are covered in these bumpy things that pop off when you scrape at them. the plants were too far gone to help them.

  30. PatC,

    Ladybugs are great if you can keep them around. They eat pests and their eggs; However, they tend to move on if you do not have “bad” insects.

    Happy growing 🙂 lw

  31. […] Be careful with these recipes, however; alcohol can strip your plant of its beneficial resin production. Make sure you follow the home remedy instructions exactly, paying special attention to the quantity you put on the plant, how long it should remain on the plant, what exactly the purpose of it is, and how much you should dilute it. More tips and tricks to control pests in the article Marijuana pest control […]

  32. I see nothing about “what to do about Scales…” please help, in dirt, outside, pet 2′ away, taking down 8′ plants, bad with scales, what to do before planting next time ?

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  35. I have some sort of a bug problem and I can’t figure it out. I looked through all of your “pest” pictures but didn’t see any answers. This is eating a hole into the leaf, like what a slug would do, but also leaving a little pile of “poop” on the leaf. I’ve never seen a slug do this and I can’t see any slim or the iridescent trail that a slug or snail will leave. Any ideas?