How To Protect Your Outdoor Grow From Bugs - Outdoor Cabinets

Growing cannabis outdoors comes with many benefits, such as harnessing natural sunlight and avoiding the costs of indoor lighting and ventilation systems. However, outdoor grows also face threats from insect pests that can damage and destroy cannabis plants. Protecting your outdoor cannabis grow from bugs requires proactive measures and vigilant monitoring to keep unwanted insects away and maintain a healthy garden. With some knowledge and preparation, you can defend your outdoor plants against common cannabis pests and enjoy a successful harvest.

Choose Resistant Strains

The first line of defense against cannabis pests is to select pest-resistant strains optimized for outdoor growing. Some strains have natural defenses and traits that help repel or withstand bugs.

Look for mold-resistant strains like Blue Dream or Northern Lights that can better survive humidity and moisture which attracts pests. Mold often spreads from bug damage.
Pick sativa-dominant strains if possible, as sativas have thicker leaves and stems that better withstand chewing bugs.
Hybrid strains like Blueberry or Girl Scout Cookies that have genetics shared with resilient heirloom strains can also fare better outdoors against pests.
Avoid susceptible varieties like Bruce Banner or MK Ultra that lack natural pest resistance.

Selecting hardy, pest-resistant strains gives your plants the best chance to defend themselves against insect infestations. This helps limit the damage bugs can inflict.

Prep the Growing Area

Preparing your outdoor grow area is crucial for disrupting bugs before you even introduce plants. Pest populations can accumulate rapidly, so advance preparation helps provide some control.

Remove all weeds from the growing area. Weeds can harbor pest eggs and compete with cannabis plants for resources. Eliminate potential pest shelter and food sources by cleaning the grow site of debris.
Till the soil to disrupt pest habitat and expose any bugs to predators and sunlight. Dig down at least 6 inches to help eliminate places pests can hide and nest.
Level and clear the ground of sharp objects like rocks that can damage plant stems and provide entry points for pests. Focus on creating an open space with healthy soil.

Take time to create the best growing environment possible before transplanting any cannabis plants. Stopping pest establishment in advance is much easier than removing pests after they arrive.

Use Preventive Covers

Installing covers and netting around your grow area provides a physical barrier against flying and crawling insects. This can help block pests before they reach your plants.

Use insect netting with holes smaller than 1/10 inch wide to exclude tiny bugs like fungus gnats or root aphids. Anchor covers securely with stakes or greenhouse framing.
For larger pests install 1/4 inch hardware cloth or wire screen fencing from the ground up to enclose plants. Make sure there are no gaps where animals could enter underneath.
Place UV-resistant greenhouse plastic sheeting or horticultural fleece fabric row covers over plants when young and vulnerable to protect against wind damage and insect feeding.
Add floating row covers over plants and tighten down edges with stones, sandbags or landscape staples. The covers deter pests while allow air, light and water to reach plants.

Using physical barriers is an effective first line of defense against many outdoor cannabis pests. Keep covers on until plants mature and bug pressure subsides later in the season.

Use Diatomaceous Earth

Applying diatomaceous earth (DE) early in the season can help prevent establishment and damage from soft-bodied insect pests. DE is a chalky powder composed of marine microalgae skeletons that dries out and damages exoskeletons of insects.

Dust DE powder generously over the soil, lower leaves and stems of plants where crawling pests travel. Reapply after rain or watering.
Mix DE into the top 2-4 inches of soil before planting to shred subterranean insects like root aphids or fungus gnat larvae in the root zone.
Add protective DE rings around the base of plant stems to impede crawling bugs from reaching plant foliage and buds.

DE provides an abrasive physical pest deterrent that can be used safely around cannabis until late flowering. It punctures the waxy outer layer of soft pests like aphids, leading to dehydration. Apply early and often for effective long-term pest prevention.

Monitor For Early Signs of Pests

Vigilance and attentiveness are essential for identifying and addressing pest problems before they can spread. Monitoring your plants frequently makes it possible to spot and control infestations in the early stages before they cause significant damage.

Inspect plants thoroughly including tops and undersides of leaves for any signs of pest activity at least every other day. Scan for insects, webbing, speckling, spotting, wilting, sticky residue and abnormalities.
Check soil for small crawling insects like root aphids, fungus gnat larvae or pot worms. Look under leaves near the main stem where many pests congregate.
Set up yellow sticky insect traps near plants to capture flying pests for monitoring and identification. Traps signal when an infestation is increasing before it exploges.
Identify any pests found immediately and research specific solutions for that particular pest before the problem intensifies. Knowing exactly what insects you have helps select targeted controls.
Address pest invaders quickly early on to prevent escalation. Pests reproduce exponentially so small populations balloon rapidly if left unchecked.

Constant monitoring and immediate intervention at the first signs of pests is key to protecting crops outdoors. Don’t let insects become established.

Remove Infested Material

If pests do gain a foothold, removing and destroying infested material can reduce pest pressure and limit the contamination risk to the rest of your garden. Isolate and eliminate problem areas instead of allowing pests to proliferate.

Prune off heavily infested fan leaves, stems or branches using sterilized shears. Dispose of infested trimmings in sealed bags in trash, not in compost piles.
If pests are concentrated at the top of a plant, cut the main stem and discard the infested top portion to salvage the plant. New pest-free growth will emerge from lower nodes.
For small infestations, manually wipe or squish individual bugs with gloved hands to crush egg clusters and kill active pests. Avoid spreading pests to other plants.
Remove whole plants entirely if pest damage is severe and threatens the rest of the garden. Destroy heavily infested plants off-site.

Cutting off and removing affected plant material limits pest expansion to healthy areas. This buys time to implement further control measures and saves more plants.

Apply Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap sprays provide an organic pest control option for large infestations once pests gain entry. Insecticidal soaps suffocate and kill soft-bodied insects through direct contact.

Use potassium salt based soaps and target spray applications to thoroughly coat infested plants, especially under leaves.
Test soap sprays on a small area first to avoid any phytotoxic risks before treating the entire garden, especially during flowering.
Apply soaps weekly as needed early in the season to kill newly hatched young nymphs before they mature and reproduce.
Switch to neem oil, essential oils or entomopathogenic fungi later in flowering when insecticidal soaps may impact bud quality and taste.
Boost efficacy by adding small amounts of horticultural oil to help adhere soap to insects’ waxy coatings.

Insecticidal soap can control soft pests when applied directly at first signs of infestation. But avoid overusing soaps which may stress plants and affect terpene quality in flowers.

Apply Neem Oil

Neem oil is another organic pesticide option to help control infestations on cannabis plants while minimizing risks. Neem oil coats insects and inhibits feeding, growth and reproduction.

Mix 0.5-2% neem oil concentrate with water and a small amount of mild soap to help the oil stick and spread over plants.
Spray neem oil solution on plants every 1-2 weeks early in the season focusing on the undersides of leaves.
Reapply after rain or watering for ongoing pest prevention, but avoid treating plants during the hottest parts of the day to limit leaf burn risks.
Switch to insecticidal soaps if pests establish a foothold since neem works best before infestations spiral out of control.
Stop using neem after the flowering stage begins to avoid residual taste or toxicity risks affecting bud quality at harvest.

Neem oil can deter and reduce pest pressures when applied preventatively in vegetative growth. It breaks down quickly to limit risks at harvest compared to harsher chemical options.

Apply Essential Oils

Essential oils like clove, peppermint and rosemary provide a strong smelling repellent option that can deter insect pests without direct toxicity. The potent scent overwhelms insect chemical receptors.

Mix 5-10 drops of essential oils into 1 quart of water with mild organic soap to help coat plant surfaces. Shake vigorously before spraying.
Spray plants down every 7-10 days focusing spraying on leaf undersides where pests congregate. Reapply after rain.
Lemongrass, clove and thyme oils work as repellents against many flying and crawling pests like aphids or leafhoppers.
Switch between different oil scents to avoid pests adapting to any single oil’s aroma. Combine oils like peppermint and clove for greater efficacy.
Oils can be sprayed until later flowering since they dissipate quickly compared to soap or neem applications.

Essential oil sprays discourage pest infestations through their strong odors without direct toxicity to the plant or pest. Use them as a protective repellent on a regular basis to turn plants away.

Apply Neonicotinoids Selectively

While controversial, neonicotinoid pesticides remain one of the most potent options for eliminating severe infestations. However, avoid broad spraying of “neonics” to prevent environmental damage.

Apply imidacloprid or acetamiprid solutions only directly onto infested plants by spraying or soil drenching to limit broader impacts. Do not treat entire garden spaces preventatively.
Use the smallest effective dosages of neonics and only as a last resort when major infestations are present. Overuse promotes resistance in pest populations over time.
Never apply neonics where pollinators are present and stop use after early vegetative growth once flowering begins to limit risks to pollinators and avoid bud residues.
Rotate between different neonics and alternate applications with oils or soaps to avoid pests adapting to any single chemical solution.

While highly effective, neonicotinoids carry ecological risks with overuse. Apply judiciously in targeted infested areas when needed, then switch back to organic options.

Introduce Beneficial Insects

Releasing beneficial predators of common cannabis pests boosts natural biological control without using pesticides. Natural enemies prey on pest species without harming plants.

Release ladybugs, green lacewings and predatory mites which feed on aphids, spider mites, thrips, caterpillars and other soft plant pests.
Choose generalist predators that consume a wide variety of pests. For example, lady beetles feed on over 50 pest species.
Time releases early in the season before pest populations peak. Ideally, beneficials establish self-sustaining colonies that provide ongoing control.
Avoid spraying pesticides which can inadvertently kill beneficial insects. Stick to selective applications directly on infested plants only.
Provide flowering plants as alternative nectar sources to help sustain predator populations after releasing them.

Boosting biological control agents like predatory insects and mites augments natural pest control processes for long-term, sustainable protection of your cannabis garden.

Apply Entomopathogenic Fungus

Entomopathogenic fungi provide biological insect control by infecting pest bodies and disrupting digestive systems. Spores penetrate exoskeletons and proliferate, destroying pests from the inside out.

Use Beauveria bassiana fungus spores to control soil-dwelling pests like fungus gnat larvae. It spreads naturally to kill subterranean insects.
Spray formulations containing Metarhizium brunneum fungus over foliage to infect above-ground pests like aphids, thrips and whiteflies.
Apply fungus sprays every 5-7 days in the early morning or evening when humidity is higher to help spores germinate and penetrate pests’ bodies.
Fungus can be sprayed up until the flowering stage for pest protection with minimal cannabis health risks since fungi do not infect plants.

Entomopathogenic fungi provide inundative biological control by directly infecting and killing insects rapidly without any effect on plants or pollinators.

Control Ants

Ants do not directly damage plants but can defend and spread destructive aphids, mealybugs, scale and other sap-feeding insects that excrete sugar honeydew ants eat.

Spread diatomaceous earth powder around the base of plant stems to block ants from protecting other pest groups on your plants’ leaves and buds.
Mix equal parts boric acid powder and sugar to make bait that worker ants take back to the nests to kill the queens which shuts down entire colonies.
Sprinkle chili powder, cayenne, cinnamon and cloves in areas where ants traverse to deter their activity through these strong spices’ odors. Reapply after irrigation.
Apply sticky barrier tapes coated with polybutene around plant stems and pots which trap ants attempting to climb up onto plants from the ground.

Blocking ants from accessing plants indirectly suppresses pest groups like aphids and scales that depend on ants for transportation and protection from predators.

Conclusion

Defending your cannabis garden from insect pests requires constant diligence through the entire outdoor growing season.Implement preventative measures like introducing beneficial insects and applying protective covers early on before pests arrive and spread. Monitor plants closely for the first signs of infestations, and control invaders quickly with targeted organic sprays or introductions of natural predators. Remove and isolate damaged material immediately to limit contamination spread. Integrate multiple organic pest management strategies like soaps, oils, and biopesticides to provide layered protection against different pest groups. Avoid overusing any single pest control tactic to limit pest resistance and negative impacts on your plants or the surrounding environment. With an vigilant integrated pest management approach, you can safeguard your outdoor cannabis crop and cultivate healthy pest-free plants from seed to harvest.

Frequently Asked Questions About Protecting Outdoor Cannabis Grows from Bugs

Q: What are the most common cannabis pests for outdoor grows?

The most prevalent outdoor cannabis pests include aphids, thrips, fusarium fungus gnats, caterpillars, spider mites, whiteflies, leafhoppers, cutworms, leaf miners, corn earworms, beet armyworms, and rodents like gophers.

Q: When should I start controlling pests for outdoor cannabis?

Begin preventative pest management practices like applying diatomaceous earth immediately before planting outdoors. Start inspecting for pests and addressing invaders within the first 2 weeks after transplanting seedlings. Early control is key.

Q: Can I use chemical pesticides on cannabis plants outside?

Avoid chemical pesticides outdoors due to risks of toxicity for consumers, pollinators and the environment. Stick to organic or biological control products permitted for food crops like insecticidal soaps, oils, Bt and entomopathogenic fungi.

Q: What insects can I buy and release for natural pest control outdoors?

Top natural predators to buy and release include ladybugs, lacewing, parasitic wasps, predatory mites, praying mantises, ground beetles, syrphid flies, minute pirate bugs, and entomopathogenic nematodes.

Q: How often should I inspect for pests on outdoor cannabis plants?

Inspect outdoor plants for pests every other day at a minimum, ideally daily. Scan tops and undersides of leaves thoroughly for any signs of insects, webs, spotting damage or abnormalities indicating pest presence. Catch infestations early.