Got a problem with bugs eating your plants? If caterpillars are attacking your cannabis or you’ve spotted millipedes in your marijuana, you really should think about employing some suitable tactics to keep these critters away.

Despite insects certainly having their uses, they have a tendency to help themselves to your hard work. Consequently, if an infestation is left unchecked, it has the potential to completely destroy your crop – which, let’s face it, absolutely sucks.

According to news outlet CNBC, pests and plant-eating insects cause around $120 billion worth of damage every year in the United States. In fact, these creatures are such a menace that they have been described as a “serious threat” to the country’s economy.

Therefore, without further delay, here are some tips which should prevent your crop from being devoured by lots of little mouths.

Regular inspections

Similar to most challenges in our world, many could have been avoided if proper precautions were taken in the first place. When growing plants, you should regularly inspect them for signs of discolouration and damage. Furthermore, maintaining good growing practices, such as removing weeds from your garden or removing any dead material from the floor of your grow space, should help ensure healthy crops while leaving no places for pests to hide.

Employ natural deterrents

Pesticides have developed a bit of a bad reputation in recent years, so it’s understandable that many growers seek alternative means to keep bugs away. Fortunately, the internet is full of little tips and tricks which are definitely worth testing. For example, Life Hacker lists a number of interesting solutions which could prove beneficial. These include:

  • Creating an organic slug trap using orange rinds
  • Using coffee grounds to not only add nitrogen to the soil but to also deter pests
  • Introducing strong scents to overpower the olfactory senses of larger animals.

While definitely worth testing, bear in mind that results with natural deterrents will almost certainly vary. Of course, if you're struggling to find out which results are best for getting rid of pests, then there is a range of information available on relevant forums which should be beneficial.

Introduce predators

how to avoid insects in your plants

Your garden is one big ecosystem. Although your plants are often victim to insects and other pests, these animals are – in turn – eaten by other creatures. For example, if your crop is being devoured by a nasty batch of slugs, it might be worth introducing frogs or lizards to the immediate area. Alternatively, a Venus flytrap could make short work of certain bugs and other flying insects.

Research is absolutely necessary to find out which animals are on another’s menu but… this could be a good excuse to get that pet you’ve always wanted.

Abandoning the infected plants

As painful as it is to abandon your hard work, sometimes it is necessary to remove an infested plant in order to preserve the others. When an infestation starts, it is unfortunately very tricky to restore it to its original state. By removing the affected plant, you should prevent the others from suffering a similar fate.