Environmental Control
Sprays
s
E
Atmospheric control will help keep the air wellcirculated, which will also help control pests. Keep
the humidity around 50% with daytime temperatures
around 75°F and 60-65°F at night. You can also
spray the plants with water, making sure you get the
undersides of leaves, and vacuum the plant with a
shop vac, which can be done during both vegetative
and flowering stages. If even after these precautions
are met, you end up with pests, there are options
available for control.
Beneficial Bugs
B
When it comes to beneficial insects, or bugs that eat
other bugs, there are specific predators for specific
pests or general predators that will pretty much
eat anything. Which route you take will depend on
how much money you can afford to shell out. As a
rule, specific predators are more costly than general
predators, but the specific predators usually do a
better job, especially if there is an infestation. I find
ladybugs are the best all-around general predator
and very cost effective at a price of about $20 per
1,000. You can also get ladybug food, which is mixed
with water and sprayed onto the plants when there
is no food supply. Beneficial food helps to keep the
predators on the plants. It also encourages breeding,
which leads to larvae and the larvae are voracious
eaters. Beneficial insects are a great option for any
garden and can be added to the growroom as soon
as you introduce your plants.
Chemical and organic sprays are another choice for
controlling pests. These sprays are toxic to beneficials so
they cannot be used together. There are also insecticidal
sprays designed for use on edible plants. Insecticidal
soaps, neem oil, habanero pepper spray and pyrethrum
are some examples of non-toxic sprays that can be
purchased or made at home. Many of these sprays work
only if they come in contact with the pest. Sprayers
help by creating a fine mist to help get under the leaves
and into cracks and crevices. For safety’s sake, I suggest
paying a visit to your local hydroponics retailer for
application rates and methods.
Beneficial Insects for Specific Pest Problems
Pest
Predator
Aphid
Ladybugs are orange/red beetles with
black spots
Spider Mites
Phytoseiulus persimilis are bright,
reddish-orange mites
Thrips & Fungus Gnats
Hypoaspis miles are tiny beige mites
that eat fungus gnats as well as root
mealy bugs, sciarid flies, springtails and
thrip larvae
Whiteflies
Encarsia formosa are small black and
yellow parasitic wasps
In closing, stay diligent and remember the three keys
to a pest-free growroom: prevention, monitoring and
control. And although I agree with Andrea Arnold, who
said, “I love insects. They are amazing,” the growroom is
no place for some of them!
Susan Eitel has a degree in landscape horticulture from Humber College
in Toronto. She has worked in the hydroponics industry for more than
25 years, which has proved invaluable over the years. Susan has always
been interested in beneficial insects and integrated pest management. She
currently lives in the Niagara area with her beloved husband and dog.
Maximum Yield USA | January 2015
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