Responsible use of pesticides in cannabis cultivation

At this point in the season, when outdoor plants begin their flowering stage and indoor crops suffer the highest temperatures of the year, it is common for the first pests to appear in the garden, which are particularly difficult to combat precisely because of the high temperatures, which in most cases favor its spread. Our plants are therefore more sensitive than ever to insect pests and, later and once they have developed buds, of the fearsome fungi.

For all these reasons, it is one of the times of the year where most insecticides (early summer) and fungicides (late summer) are used, as no grower wants to see how their efforts and dedication are ruined by a plague. . However ... do we make good use of pesticides? How can we limit its impact on our health and the environment? This article is born from my own experience during the years that I cultivated cannabis outdoors in my home garden, from how I gradually saw the fauna decrease in it and, luckily, from how I have seen it reborn in recent years thanks to a use more responsible for plant protection products. Please Visit juicyfields .

A healthy cannabis plant will produce top-quality flowers
A healthy cannabis plant will produce top-quality flowers
Biological and chemical pesticides
The first distinction that we must make before deciding to use one of these products is whether we want it to be biological (they are usually extracts from other plants, beneficial fungi or bacteria, etc.) or chemical (formulated in the laboratory from toxic substances). Of course, it is advisable to always use biological insecticides or fungicides, since its impact on the environment and for our own health is much less (both for its manufacture and during its use). Thus, chemical products should be relegated to extremely serious cases and for when biological remedies have not worked.

Whatever the case, wearing protective gloves and a mask when applying these products is always recommended, as well as strictly abiding by the minimum safety periods specified by the manufacturer. In fact, it's a good idea to always add 7-10 days to that period to heal us in health and make sure we harvest our plants pesticide-free. In addition, turning off the crop fans during foliar application will prevent an air stream from throwing the product on you.

We must emphasize an important fact: chemical pesticides can remain in the plant for years, so any cuttings taken from chemical-treated mother plants will test positive for pesticides. Although it is something that the home grower may not be too concerned about, it is a vital issue for many legal growers whose product must pass strict quality controls before reaching the market. In the case of using treated plants, there is the possibility of being denied permission to sell them, which obviously is a serious setback for the professional.

Horsetail extract is a popular biological fungicide
Horsetail extract is a popular biological fungicide
Contact and systemic pesticides
Having made the first distinction, it will now be left to decide whether we want a product that acts by contact or systemically. The difference is obvious; The former act - in different ways - by coming into contact with the insect or fungus, staying outside the plant and not allowing spores to germinate and penetrate plant tissue (in the case of fungi) or killing insects ( in the case of insecticides). It is therefore a good option as a preventive product for pests, especially in the case of fungi.

In contrast, systemic products are absorbed through the stomata of the leaves or roots, so the compounds are distributed to all parts of the plant and remain active for days or weeks, depending on the product. They are therefore ideal when the appearance of a pest is detected, although the safety period must also be taken into account that, we will not tire of repeating, you should lengthen a little more than indicated. In the case of insects, systemic insecticides can be used as a preventive.

Use of pesticides in indoor cultivation
Using indoor pesticides is more common than it may seem to the uninitiated. Often the temperature and humidity conditions in indoor crops are ideal for the reproduction of many pests, especially insects and to a lesser extent fungi. In addition, many times the problems start in the external environment of the crop; If it has a pest, it is almost certain that it will make its way to our living room or grow cabinet. The same happens when introducing plants that come from another environment.