Joe GreenGrowing weed comes with lots of challenges, though having to handle pests is one of the most irritating and damaging things about cultivation. One pest that has recently taken the cannabis world by storm, specifically in Europe, is stink bugs, a new kind of cannabis pest that loves weed as much as the next guy. Here's a little explanation of what they are, as well as how to keep them out of your garden:
Stink bugs are insects that derive from Eastern Asia, though were accidentally introduced to the US in the 90s, and very recently into Europe. Unfortunately for growers, stink bugs absolutely adore marijuana, and will do everything in their power to get to, and make their home in, your grow.
Getting rid of them
The little pests are about an inch in size and are characterized by their hard, brown shell that is shaped like a shield. Though, there are also green varieties. Stink bugs are named as such because you guessed it, they stink, though only when they are bothered or crushed. They do this to warn off natural predators, such as lizards. Stink bugs are totally harmless to humans, though they can seriously harm your cannabis plants if you don't get an infestation under control because they feed off of the flowers and absolutely love to eat developing seeds.
Getting rid of them is definitely a task, but it can be done. The first thing you should do if you spot them is to clean your whole growing area by getting rid of weeds and old leaves under the plants, this will give them fewer places to hide. Furthermore, keeping in mind the fact about they stink up the place if crushed, you should carefully remove them as opposed to sticking them. You don't want this stink anywhere near your plants for obvious reasons, though the smell can also attract other bugs to your garden, such as ants.
Natural insecticide
A great way to rid your plants of these critters is to take them outside and spray them with a hose, this will get rid of both the bugs and their eggs. Another thing you can do, if you don't have a hose, simply shakes your plants, and the bugs will lose their grip and fall off.
Of course, sometimes insecticides are needed if the problem becomes very serious, however, you should always try neem oil - an all-natural insecticide, before resorting to chemical pesticides. This is because chemical ones are often toxic to humans and can damage your plants more than the bugs would have in the first place.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you and your stink bug problem, and so you should now have minimal trouble with pests in your grow. It is true to say though, that the best method to get rid of bugs and pests is to prevent them from ever coming near your garden in the first place, so keep this in mind for future grows.
Happy growing!
