Verbatim (almost) information from the "Peaceful Valley Organic Farm Supply" website.
"GETTING STARTED
Our interest is to help you avoid using synthetic poisons which are harmful to the planet and to the people using them.
The transition to ecologically-balanced growing requires an integrated or holistic approach to pest control.
Each situation is unique, and the following information is intended only to point the way toward Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.)
PREVENTION
The primary goal is building pest resistance in your plants and growing area. By doing this you can often significantly reduce or eliminate the need for any other pest controls.
1) To be strong, plants need good nutrition, which you can supply through a long-term soil building program, supplemented with regular foliar feeding (see Fertilizers for more information). You can also use fertility management to specifically discourage certain pests. For example, aphids, scale and mealybugs are attracted to high-nitrogen levels in plant tissue. To deter them, use slow-release organic nitrogen fertilizers and reduce foliar nitrogen applications at vulnerable times. You can also discourage certain pest insects by building up plant Brix or sugar content (see Refractometers for more information on Brix).
2) You can enlist a resident army of pest control allies by releasing beneficial insects before pest populations increase (general predators & pest-specific beneficials) and by providing habitat for them with "Good Bug Blend" or cover crops.
3) You can use cultural practices which have a high impact on pest control including: good field and orchard hygiene (cleaning up fallen fruit and prunings and using soil inoculants to help break down crop residues, etc.); planting pest and disease resistant varieties, in season; timing planting to outrun or otherwise avoid heavy infestations; interplanting with appropriate companion plants or trap crops; watering properly to avoid stressing plants, etc.
MONITORING
Regular monitoring with visual observation and tools such as pheromone traps, sweep nets, insect vacuums, etc. will alert you to the onset or level of a pest infestation. Usually, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier the cure...
CONTROLS
If you do get a pest or disease, the first step is to know your "enemy". The more you understand about its life cycles, the better you will be able to exploit its vulnerabilities and this will help you to use a pest management strategy appropriate to your actual situation.
Initial applications using a strong insecticide (natural or not) could hurt your beneficials, upset your ecological balance and trigger secondary pest outbreaks.
Generally speaking, the progression of natural pest controls, from most benign to most intensive, include: physical controls (rowcovers, fences, sticky traps and barriers, handpicking, etc.), beneficial and biological organisms, mineral-based insecticides, oils, botanical insecticides and fungicides.
In the next column, we offer four examples of an I.P.M. approach.
To identify products to meet your situation, refer to the Pest Control Solutions Chart.
We have indicated many of the pests for which each product is labeled to use.
CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR PESTS
Pest Nematodes
• Increase your soil's humus and organic matter with compost and cover crops; nematodes do not increase their populations in well-balanced soils with adequate humus, phophorus, potassium, calcium and low sodium levels. Also reduce water stress, and feed the naturally-occurring microbes that control nematode populations.
• Use Nemagard, Di Tera or Nemastop.
• Plant cover crops with nematocidal properties. See Cowpeas, Sudangrass, and Rape Seed in the Cover Crop section.
• Use fertilizers which stimulate chitin-feeding microbes in your soil (chitin is the major component of nematode skeletons & eggs). See Crab Shell Meal, Shrimp Shell Meal, or Eco-Poly 21.
• Interplant California Poppies which secrete nematocidal compounds after a year's undisturbed growth. Plant 6-15 lb/acre on non-tilled sites.
• Field tests at the ARS in Florence, SC indicated that red plastic mulch suppresses root-knot nematode damage in tomatoes.
Aphids
Prevention Options Include:
• Covering plants with floating row covers
• Releasing ladybugs or lacewings outdoors, aphid midges indoors
• Discouraging high levels of nitrogen in plant tissue during aphid-susceptible periods
• Keeping ants off the plants (ants "farm" aphids)
• Spraying plants with Good Bug Food to attract beneficials.
Some Options for Light To Moderate Outbreaks:
• Releasing beneficials as described above
• Farmers: increase plant sap Brix (with Brix Mix or Corn Calcium, Omega 1-5-5 and kelp)
• Applying Safer Insecticidal Soap
• Hosing off plants with high pressure water.
Some Options for Severe Outbreaks:
• Applying Safer Insecticidal Soap mixed with oil
• Farmers: apply Neemix, Neem Oil, Garlic Barrier, Mycotrol, Sunspray Oil, Diatect V, or
Pyganic EC
• Gardeners: apply Neem Oil, or Sharp Shooter.
Caterpillars
Prevention Options Include:
• Farmers: increasing Brix (see Aphids above)
• Using pheromone traps for monitoring and/or trapping out adult moths
• Using confusion lures, if available for that species
• Applying parasitic nematodes for those caterpillar species that overwinter in the soil
• Interplanting Tansy, Mint, Marigolds or Nasturiums • Releasing trichogramma wasps and/or
lacewings
• Setting out row covers before moth flights.
Some Options for Light To Moderate Outbreaks:
• Releasing Trichogramma wasps and Lacewings weekly
• Increasing pheromone trap density and/or adding confusion lures if available for that species
• Handpicking or removing with an insect vacuum • Applying Bt (Bt Caterpillar Killer, Dipel DF).
Some Options for Severe Outbreaks
• Applying Bt (above) 1-2 times/week at night. • Applying oils, Sharp Shooter, Pyganic, Agroneem, Aza-Direct or Neemix.
Mites
Prevention Options Include:
• Farmers: increasing Brix (see Aphids above)
• In greenhouses, raising the humidity
• Planting Good Bug Blend to attract beneficial insects
• Reducing dust
• Releasing parasitic mites.
Some Options for Light To Moderate Outbreaks:
• Releasing parasitic mites regularly
• Applying Insecticidal Soap
• Hosing off plants with high-pressure water
• Applying Garlic Barrier, GC-Mite or Crop Guard.
Some Options for Severe Outbreaks:
• Applying oils, including Neem Oil
• Applying sulfur products
• Applying Hot Pepper Wax or Mycotrol.
[ A reminder,
these are broad general purpose gardening recommendations and is not neccessarily cannabis specific information. IMB]
The GrowOrganic.com Reference Library
http://www.groworganic.com/library_51.html
"GETTING STARTED
Our interest is to help you avoid using synthetic poisons which are harmful to the planet and to the people using them.
The transition to ecologically-balanced growing requires an integrated or holistic approach to pest control.
Each situation is unique, and the following information is intended only to point the way toward Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.)
PREVENTION
The primary goal is building pest resistance in your plants and growing area. By doing this you can often significantly reduce or eliminate the need for any other pest controls.
1) To be strong, plants need good nutrition, which you can supply through a long-term soil building program, supplemented with regular foliar feeding (see Fertilizers for more information). You can also use fertility management to specifically discourage certain pests. For example, aphids, scale and mealybugs are attracted to high-nitrogen levels in plant tissue. To deter them, use slow-release organic nitrogen fertilizers and reduce foliar nitrogen applications at vulnerable times. You can also discourage certain pest insects by building up plant Brix or sugar content (see Refractometers for more information on Brix).
2) You can enlist a resident army of pest control allies by releasing beneficial insects before pest populations increase (general predators & pest-specific beneficials) and by providing habitat for them with "Good Bug Blend" or cover crops.
3) You can use cultural practices which have a high impact on pest control including: good field and orchard hygiene (cleaning up fallen fruit and prunings and using soil inoculants to help break down crop residues, etc.); planting pest and disease resistant varieties, in season; timing planting to outrun or otherwise avoid heavy infestations; interplanting with appropriate companion plants or trap crops; watering properly to avoid stressing plants, etc.
MONITORING
Regular monitoring with visual observation and tools such as pheromone traps, sweep nets, insect vacuums, etc. will alert you to the onset or level of a pest infestation. Usually, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier the cure...
CONTROLS
If you do get a pest or disease, the first step is to know your "enemy". The more you understand about its life cycles, the better you will be able to exploit its vulnerabilities and this will help you to use a pest management strategy appropriate to your actual situation.
Initial applications using a strong insecticide (natural or not) could hurt your beneficials, upset your ecological balance and trigger secondary pest outbreaks.
Generally speaking, the progression of natural pest controls, from most benign to most intensive, include: physical controls (rowcovers, fences, sticky traps and barriers, handpicking, etc.), beneficial and biological organisms, mineral-based insecticides, oils, botanical insecticides and fungicides.
In the next column, we offer four examples of an I.P.M. approach.
To identify products to meet your situation, refer to the Pest Control Solutions Chart.
We have indicated many of the pests for which each product is labeled to use.
CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR PESTS
Pest Nematodes
• Increase your soil's humus and organic matter with compost and cover crops; nematodes do not increase their populations in well-balanced soils with adequate humus, phophorus, potassium, calcium and low sodium levels. Also reduce water stress, and feed the naturally-occurring microbes that control nematode populations.
• Use Nemagard, Di Tera or Nemastop.
• Plant cover crops with nematocidal properties. See Cowpeas, Sudangrass, and Rape Seed in the Cover Crop section.
• Use fertilizers which stimulate chitin-feeding microbes in your soil (chitin is the major component of nematode skeletons & eggs). See Crab Shell Meal, Shrimp Shell Meal, or Eco-Poly 21.
• Interplant California Poppies which secrete nematocidal compounds after a year's undisturbed growth. Plant 6-15 lb/acre on non-tilled sites.
• Field tests at the ARS in Florence, SC indicated that red plastic mulch suppresses root-knot nematode damage in tomatoes.
Aphids
Prevention Options Include:
• Covering plants with floating row covers
• Releasing ladybugs or lacewings outdoors, aphid midges indoors
• Discouraging high levels of nitrogen in plant tissue during aphid-susceptible periods
• Keeping ants off the plants (ants "farm" aphids)
• Spraying plants with Good Bug Food to attract beneficials.
Some Options for Light To Moderate Outbreaks:
• Releasing beneficials as described above
• Farmers: increase plant sap Brix (with Brix Mix or Corn Calcium, Omega 1-5-5 and kelp)
• Applying Safer Insecticidal Soap
• Hosing off plants with high pressure water.
Some Options for Severe Outbreaks:
• Applying Safer Insecticidal Soap mixed with oil
• Farmers: apply Neemix, Neem Oil, Garlic Barrier, Mycotrol, Sunspray Oil, Diatect V, or
Pyganic EC
• Gardeners: apply Neem Oil, or Sharp Shooter.
Caterpillars
Prevention Options Include:
• Farmers: increasing Brix (see Aphids above)
• Using pheromone traps for monitoring and/or trapping out adult moths
• Using confusion lures, if available for that species
• Applying parasitic nematodes for those caterpillar species that overwinter in the soil
• Interplanting Tansy, Mint, Marigolds or Nasturiums • Releasing trichogramma wasps and/or
lacewings
• Setting out row covers before moth flights.
Some Options for Light To Moderate Outbreaks:
• Releasing Trichogramma wasps and Lacewings weekly
• Increasing pheromone trap density and/or adding confusion lures if available for that species
• Handpicking or removing with an insect vacuum • Applying Bt (Bt Caterpillar Killer, Dipel DF).
Some Options for Severe Outbreaks
• Applying Bt (above) 1-2 times/week at night. • Applying oils, Sharp Shooter, Pyganic, Agroneem, Aza-Direct or Neemix.
Mites
Prevention Options Include:
• Farmers: increasing Brix (see Aphids above)
• In greenhouses, raising the humidity
• Planting Good Bug Blend to attract beneficial insects
• Reducing dust
• Releasing parasitic mites.
Some Options for Light To Moderate Outbreaks:
• Releasing parasitic mites regularly
• Applying Insecticidal Soap
• Hosing off plants with high-pressure water
• Applying Garlic Barrier, GC-Mite or Crop Guard.
Some Options for Severe Outbreaks:
• Applying oils, including Neem Oil
• Applying sulfur products
• Applying Hot Pepper Wax or Mycotrol.
[ A reminder,
these are broad general purpose gardening recommendations and is not neccessarily cannabis specific information. IMB]
The GrowOrganic.com Reference Library
http://www.groworganic.com/library_51.html
Last edited:
