When growing plants outdoors, finding worms is very common. This problem applies to all kinds of gardens – flower beds, herb gardens, and even cannabis crops. Weed worms usually appear during the vegetative phase of your plants and will produce huge damages on their bloom phase. These soft-segmented pests not only reduce the aesthetics of your crops but they will also greatly affect the quality and quantity of your final harvest. They are aggressive and voracious and need to be controlled immediately; otherwise, they will cause irreversible damage to the crops. In this article, we will learn how to prevent weed worms as well as deal with them, in cases when prevention does not work.
How to avoid weed words?
Oftentimes, weed worms are not detected until large damage has been done. Like any other problem, the best way to deal with them is through prevention and early detection.
As we all know, caterpillars are the larvae of butterflies and moths. The lifecycle of these insects is pretty simple – from eggs to caterpillars to pupa and finally to a butterfly. While the adult butterflies are favored in many gardens due to their ability to help in the pollination of new fruits, vegetables, and flowers, caterpillars are not. These worms feed without stopping on the leaves and flowers of the plants, causing a huge disaster on crops.
Watch out for butterflies, moths, and their eggs.
Once you see butterflies and moths hovering on your crop or crawling around your plants, it is important to be vigilant. Keep an eye on your plants daily at least two to three times a day to watch out for butterfly eggs. Some butterflies lay their eggs on top of the leaves, while others lay on the underside of the leaves. Some lay clusters of eggs, while others lay single eggs. Some eggs can be easily removed with a flush of water, while others require stronger agents or treatments like insecticides or neem oils. While the eggs are not harmful, they become very hungry chewing creatures once hatched.
Apply companion planting.
Another way to prevent weed worms is to apply the age-old tradition of companion planting. This is a gardening technique that involves planting two or more plants near each other to repel pest insects and at the same time attract beneficial insects. Cultivating thyme, sweet basil, peppermint, lavender, coriander, and dill among many others near your marijuana crops is a good way to protect your plants from potential pest invasions. Dill, for instance, is a great herb that is not only a great addition to your soups and salads, it is also effective prevention for your cannabis crops against certain caterpillar species. Simply plant this herb between or beside your plants for them to do their job.
Spray Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt).
Nowadays, there are several organic ways to help prevent pests effectively. Bacillus Thuringiensis is one of these. It is a natural pesticide that can be sprayed either preventatively or when you see the earliest signs of weed worms on your crops. This pesticide has grown in popularity within the last century due to the increased awareness of the risks associated with chemical insecticides.
How to deal with weed worms?
If in cases where prevention and early detection was not able to prevent these annoying pests from plaguing your crops, all is not lost. There are still several ways to effectively deal with weed worms.
The damage of these chewing creatures can be visible from the moment they hatch from their eggs. One of the easiest ways to know that you have been infested with weed worms is through holes throughout your fan leaves and soft, young stems. Most caterpillars start at the leaf’s edge and work their way inwards. However, there are also other species, such as the Hemp Borer, that go directly to the cannabis stems, compromising the plant’s structural component and weakening the plant. Any plant that is heavily infested by these types of worms can collapse and may never recover. It is for this exact reason that growers should be on the lookout for these pesky caterpillars.
Physical removal
The easiest way to get rid of weed worms is to extract each one manually. Since most of the caterpillar species are nocturnal, prepare yourself with a flashlight and gloves for some night-time hunting. Simply pick them up, transfer them to a jar, and relocate them to another natural setting.
Introduce natural predators
Instead of pouring chemical-laden pesticides all over your crops, many cannabis growers prefer introducing natural predators to their crops. Praying mantis, for instance, is a great way to deal with weed worms organically. These quintessential predatory stick-like insects love to eat caterpillars and do a great job of effectively reducing caterpillar populations. Many grow shops will carry many other beneficial insects that can help boost the biodiversity of your garden and protect your crops naturally.
Spray organic pesticides
While chemical pesticides are indeed effective at managing and eliminating insect invasions from damaging your crops, many growers are not too keen on using them. These sprays are known to wreak havoc on the environment and cause chronic diseases in humans. The good news is that there are still many options available to organic gardeners when it comes to pest defense. These include organic pesticides like neem oil, citrus oil, garlic oil, and Bacillus Thuringiensis, among many others. As opposed to chemical insecticides, they are safe for the environment, humans, and plants. Many experienced cannabis gardeners alternate between different pesticides to ensure maximum effect.
Conclusion
Growing cannabis outdoors has several advantages, including natural light, fresh air, and natural soil. Many weed enthusiasts even swear on the distinct flavor that outdoor strains possess over their indoor counterparts. And with all these benefits, however, outdoor growers face a concern – weed worms. These nasty insects can easily spoil any harvest when uncontrolled. The above-mentioned steps will help you stop these pesky soft-bodied pests in their tracks and help maintain your plant to be bountiful.
