How to get rid of Thrips in cannabis plants
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Thrips are one of the most common and problematic pests that can affect cannabis cultivation, especially in indoor crops and greenhouses. These tiny insects feed on plant sap and can cause significant damage if not properly controlled. Some symptoms of a thrips infestation on cannabis plants include silvery or silvery-tan spots on the leaves, foliar damage, bud deformities, and the presence of thrips droppings, which resemble small black spots or dots on the leaves.
Thrips in cannabis cultivation
Thrips are the smallest winged insects that exist and this is largely due to their ease of contagion. Among the different varieties of thrips, the species that attack marijuana plants is the Frankliniella Occidentalis variety, also called "western flower thrips." In their adult stage, these insects have an elongated shape, 1.2 mm in females and 0.9 mm in length in males, with two pairs of feathery wings folded over the back when at rest. The eggs are reniform, hyaline white in color, and about 200 microns in length, being inserted into the tissues of the plants.
The flower thrips is native to California and was introduced to the peninsula, specifically in Almería, in 1986, causing damage to cotton through plant material imported from Holland starting in the mid-1980s. Currently, it is of great importance as far as damage is concerned, given that it has a high number of host crops and adventitious plants.
As far as the world of cannabis is concerned, it has been since the late 90s when we heard of the first infections.
Thrips in indoor cultivation
In indoor cultivation, the thrips pest, although not very aggressive, is very persistent and just like the red spider. The first thing we can observe is the symptoms that in the case of thrips appear as small whitish or silver spots measuring between one and two millimeters on the leaves, which are the holes that the thrips make when sucking and at the same time where lays the eggs.
Although it is not an extremely aggressive pest and it is difficult for the plant to end up dying, with the right conditions (temperatures between 24º and 28º C and average humidity) it can significantly decimate production. These spots accumulate and finally, the leaf becomes discolored and takes on a sickly, silvery appearance, with tiny dark spots that are nothing more than thrips excrement.
Thrips in outdoor cultivation
In outdoor cultivation, there are no major problems in cannabis cultivation at the moment. There are some plants with affected leaves but in rare cases, this becomes a serious problem at harvest time. Be that as it may, it is advisable to follow the same pest prevention and control techniques as in indoor cultivation.
Prevention and treatment of thrips pests
To treat a thrips infestation on cannabis, it is important to implement integrated control measures. This may include the use of organic insecticides or commercial thrips-specific products, applied regularly according to the manufacturer's directions. Additionally, it is useful to employ physical methods such as manual removal of thrips and maintaining an unfavorable environment for their reproduction, such as removing weeds and plant debris, as well as improving air circulation and ventilation in the area. of cultivation. The introduction of beneficial insects that feed on thrips, such as predatory mites, may also be considered.
- Placing blue anti thrips adhesive bands in the growing rooms will trap some thrips and warn us of the appearance of the pest
- In outdoor or greenhouse cultivation, keep the vicinity of the plants free of weeds as these weeds serve as a refuge for thrips that then move into our crop
- Periodic use of insecticides such as potassium soap
- Treatment with natural pyrethrins such as Trabe Tec-Fort Pyrethroid Insecticide
- Release of predatory mites: Ambliselius cucumeris or Ambliselius degenerans, the bed bug Orius laeviatae can also be used
Happy harvest!
