Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
Disclaimer
Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
The word "pesticides" might scare both gardeners and people who are not into it. However, this instrument might be a useful tool to keep your plants and crops healthy. So what are pesticides and can they be used on cannabis?
General information
A pesticide is a substance that is used to kill insects or organisms that damage plants. Regarding cannabis, most widely used pesticides include:
- Herbicides for weed control
2.Insecticides to control insects
3. Fungicides to avoid mold
4. Various disinfectants
5. Agents for fighting mice and rats
Overall, the concept of pesticides is often demonized due to not sufficient knowledge. Some people think that inhaling pesticides can cause respiratory problems. And the biggest threat is probably cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), which causes bouts of nausea and vomiting. However, no link has been found between CHS and pesticide inhalation.
Myths
The word “pesticide” is mostly associated with dangerous chemical substances - people think they are almost radioactive agents. However, this is not true: during the growth and production of terpenes, marijuana itself also releases pesticides. This is the main defense mechanism of cannabis plants.
Neem oil is another popular myth regarding pesticides. often used in cannabis production, Neem oil is a natural pesticide found in the seeds of the neem tree, and it is often used in cannabis production. Azadirachtin is its main active ingredient. Although this is an organic compound, people tend to consider it a real monster, prone to poison everything around.
In addition to azadirachtin, there are also compounds that people are afraid of. Substances with completely different toxicities are among them. For example, California has its list of banned pests:
- Abamectin
- Bromadiolone
- Difethialone
- Bifenthrin
- Cyfluthrin
- Fipronil
- Brodifacoum
- Difenacoum
- Naled
Can cannabis be grown without pesticides?
The answer is yes. If you use a controlled environment like greenhouses, growing marijuana without any use of pesticides is possible. However, this growth method increases the risk of killing the entire crop if only one plant is infected.
The law does not always provide information on the use of legal pesticides. And even the attractive “pesticide-free” label may not be what it seems at first glance. Therefore, it is worth checking the brand for pesticide reports to validate the product you are purchasing. Only third-party tests can show the truth.
What pests can I use?
If you don’t want to use any bottled chemicals, you can try alternative ways. The most popular option would be to use beneficial insects such as ladybugs, pirate beetles, etc., which do not harm the plants at all. However, they destroy pests. What's more, you can use chrysanthemum oil or rosemary oil. They are the main active ingredient in pyrethrin, which is often used as an organic pesticide for the treatment of cannabis.
Pesticides are a widely discussed topic: while some growers believe that cannabis can be grown without them, others see these substances as a must. If you are still not sure about pesticides or their types, it is recommended to use guide lists for pesticides and cannabis available on the internet.
