You enter your growing space and see that your weed plants look sad, as if they don’t get enough water or nutrients. You’ve ticked every box of quick fixes. They are sufficiently watered, but not too watery. Check! Your nutrition plan ensures that all nutritional values are optimal. Check! The pH is also in the optimum range. Check! No visible signs of spider mites and other pests. Check! Finally, you check the roots of the plants… and there you have it… root aphids. And it’s your worst fear.
You Have Root Aphids in your Grow Space- Now What?
Root Aphids destroy weed crops because they cause nutrients to leak from the roots of your plants and leave lesions that cannot heal because of an enzyme that the little bastards have left behind on the plants.
These annoying little creatures are a huge problem for cannabis growers all over the world. However, to prevent, identify, and treat Root Aphids, it is useful to learn a little about them first.
If you face the terrible reality of a full-fledged root aphid infestation in your grow space, it can be difficult to control it.
Destroy all Your Plants After Harvest
The best way get rid of a root aphid infestation is to destroy all your plants directly after harvest. Beginning all over again from scratch is not ideal, but to get attacked by these little creatures every new growing season again isn’t either. If you recognize the bugs early, there are few methods you can use to reduce or even get rid of the populations of the bugs, without damaging your roots.
Ways to Get Rid of Root Aphids
All these methods listed below require root drench treatments, because foliar applications are only intended for prevention and not for treatment.
- Citric acid-based pesticides: a non-toxic, organic, effective, and safe solution for getting rid of root aphids.
- Hydrogen peroxide: Can be used in small quantities in the soil to beat root aphids. But be careful not to overdose. Too much hydrogen peroxide can be harmful to your plants and it can also kill useful microbes.
- Beauveria Bassiana: a fungus that acts as a parasite on various arthropods, including the root aphids. It occurs naturally in the soil and can be found in pesticides.
Root Aphids are really annoying. Fortunately, we have given you numerous preventive measures to treat a newly discovered root aphid infestation. Be sure not to take it lightly and ignore the problem. These little bastards won’t wander off out of free will. If you take action quickly you can save your precious cannabis crop.
