Cannabis pests and diseases

There are many types of diseases and pests that plague plants. These organisms may attack the flowers, the foliage, stems or roots, which can negatively affect plant growth and development, causing a yield drop. Pathogens that attack the roots are located in the soil, awaiting optimal environmental conditions to spread.

On the contrary, pests that attack plant organs are found over the soil or substrate and can be transported by wind or rain, by other insects and even by ourselves. This is why you should always take a series of precautions before entering the garden or the installation where you are growing your plants. Keep in mind that we can carry anything in the sole of the shoes, clothes and even in our hair! Remember that saying: PREVENTION is better than cure!

Next you will find a description of pests and diseases that can infect our plants so you can learn how to identify them.

Bacteria / Infectious diseases

Bacteria usually affect foliar organs of plants. If we compare them with fungi or viruses we could state that bacteria cause fewer diseases. They reproduce rapidly blocking xylem and phloem tissues, which are the main organs that transport water and nutrients from the roots to different parts of the plant. We can easily identify them because when the bacteria get to colonize the plant tissue, they form angular spots on the edges of the leaf, forming a yellow ring that surrounds the dead tissue.

It is hard to find control products in the market for this type of diseases so we can prevent this from happening by providing a healthy soil and always using natural products as precaution, such as propolis for agricultural use, for example.

Fungi

Fungi, as we have seen in previous articles, are important organisms but they can also harm our crop.

When these microorganisms parasitize the leaf you can observe necrotic spots. They can be identified under microscope by the spore shape and traits that differ among fungi. Spores are highly volatile but they can be also transferred through water and mechanically.

Nematode

These microscopic worms can be found in the soil, directly attacking at the roots and blocking the transport of nutrients and water. The plant may look yellowed, wilted or stunted if nematodes are feeding on the roots.

Nematodes prefer high temperatures, they spread mainly through water but they can also be carried in an infested soil. This is why it’s so important to select the best quality when choosing the substrate you are going to use!

Viruses

These organisms are the smallest and when they attack the plant, it can suffer from growth retardation. Some cause blisters on the leaves and a “mosaic”- like mottling and discoloration, known as mosaic burn. The dreaded hemp streak virus (HSV), or mosaic virus, causes severe damage by delaying and reducing flower production. Other insects and bugs can transmit it but the virus can also be carried by us from one area to another. Symptoms are often confused with those of nutritional deficiencies, so before using any product make sure you correctly identify the issue your plant may be experiencing.

PESTS

Here is a brief list of the most common pests that usually affect cannabis plants:

I hope you find this article useful to protect and maximize your crop yields.