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Keep Crickets Away From Your Cannabis Plants
Crickets love marijuana! While these pests may not seem harmful at first glance, when it comes to your precious cannabis plants, they certainly pose a threat. We take a look at how you can deal with these little critters.
When a cricket is hungry, it can be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to eating vegetation. Unfortunately, crickets especially love cannabis! And cannabis seedlings as well. It won't take long for these omnivores to destroy your crop, so from the moment you start hearing those little chirps, that's when you know it's time to take action.
THE WARNING SIGNS THAT CRICKETS ARE NEARBY
If you believe you have a couple of pests on your hands, then there's more than one way to tell for sure. Their chirping, of course, is the first obvious sign. And catching them red-handed in your crop. But if you want to really know for certain if these omnivores have been after your cannabis, then it's best to look at the plants themselves.
One thing to keep an eye out for is the formation of tunnels or mounds on the ground. Some crickets live underground, particularly mole crickets, so in like manner of moles, they tend to create piles of dirt. Sounds like no big deal right? Wrong. By doing so, they are welcoming animals of all sizes, such as birds, raccoons, skunks, and more. When these animals see the mounds, they know that a tasty snack is there, and so they'll keep digging until they find their prize. Before too long, everything you worked so hard to grow will be gone thanks to these uninvited guests, leaving you with nothing but the evidence.
Another sign that crickets have invaded your cannabis is the appearance of brown spots on the plants. Also, if you catch other mammals snooping around in your garden, then that can be a bad sign as well. Again, these animals enjoy eating crickets.
So by showing up, that may or may not mean that it is crickets that they are chasing after. Finally, apparent seedling damage could indicate a pest problem as well. Crickets love marijuana seedlings, and they are greedy and will stop at nothing until they completely wipe out your garden.
HOW TO KEEP CRICKETS AWAY FROM YOUR WEED
Lucky for gardeners, there are just as many ways to keep these annoying pests at bay as there are signs to tell that they're nearby. For starters, the night is the prime time for dealing with them.
Mole crickets feed during the evening, and since they live underground, it's not hard for them to sneak around and attack your plants when you aren't watching. Also, it's best to turn off all lights at night as they tend to attract them.
Having lights on at night does no good for your plants, so there's no use in leaving them on anyway. And before you head to bed, make sure that your yard is free of any littler, and that your garbage is tied up tight. They love to eat trash, too.
Another solution is cricket traps. Not only will this trick lure them in, but it will also hold them captive. While this method is effective for limiting the number of pests that attempt to invade your crop, it will not work if you're dealing with an infestation.
Floating row covers can get the job done, too, although it might not be ideal for all cannabis growers. These covers are cheap, and they can prevent crickets from entering your garden while still allowing light to pass through to your plants. The netting also allows you to water them as needed. If your garden is home to taller plants, then this solution might not be best, as floating row covers are more successful at protecting cannabis in smaller sizes.
SOAPS AND SPRAYS TO TRY
In case the above techniques fail, you can always try out different soaps and sprays. For example, Spinosad. This product is generally considered safe and is also organic - it should not be used directly on bud though. When sprayed directly on the crickets, it can kill them instantly. Just don't forget to spray the plants themselves, too. And not to worry, Spinosad won't harm any beneficial insects. But since it's only useful for up to 24 hours after mixing, you should only spray as much as needed. Otherwise, you'll wind up wasting the rest.
Neem Oil, in particular, will defeat both crickets and mold. But do be warned, like Spinosad, it should not be used directly on bud. Also, Neem Oil will leave an unpleasant odor and taste on your plants. With that said, keep it far away from your buds. Along with the oil, you'll need a mist sprayer, too. And to handle those sneaky underground crickets, you'll need to apply some to the ground as well.
Next, there are insecticidal soaps, such as the brand Safer. By using these products, in particular, they will weaken the outer shell of the cricket. However, they will cause no damage to your cannabis whatsoever. Other beneficial critters are safe, too, as insecticidal soaps often don't leave behind much residue. Since the application isn't longlasting, you may need to apply more on occasion. While it is a safe method, it's still best to avoid getting any near your buds. In like manner of Neem Oil, this solution should be applied on the ground, just in case mole crickets are present.
Finally, you can try Essentria IC3, a combination of different horticultural oils, all of which are organic and safe. If used regularly, crickets stand little to no chance against it. But it's only good for eight hours at the most, so do apply daily or use other methods along with it. Don't forget to grab a mist sprayer to ensure even application. And as with the other solutions above, don't apply it direct to bud.
A LAST RESORT SOLUTION
Pyrethrin-based insecticides are helpful, too. But they are only useful for two days at the most. And they are very much harmful to bees. For this reason, only choose this solution when you've run out of other options. If you do decide to go this route, you'll need a mist sprayer, in which you'll use to spray evenly over your plants. And on the ground as well, to prevent mole crickets. You'll see the best results if used at night, especially if you want to protect those bees. The insecticide should break down before it's time for them to wake up. Once again - dont spray directly onto buds.
