Grow Room Advice

Identifying Common Pests & Insects

To ensure your plants and crops are protected from insects and pests, especially in the warmer summer months, you need to make sure you are using an integrated pest management strategy.  In most cases, plants will show signs of distress from pests and diseases, so looking for the right signs is important. 

A range of different symptoms indicating a pest infestation can be shown during a pest’s life cycle. Regular monitoring is needed to protect the plants from an infestation occurring. Signs that may indicate pests can include; eggs, damage to the stem or leaves, and marks or tracks on the plant. 

Plants should be checked daily for any of these signs of pests to help prevent the issue from escalating.

Some of our pest & disease range

Pest infestations are usually a result of poor sanitary conditions and neglect. Contamination can be prevented by following cleanliness processes and making sure you are wearing protective attire and disinfecting tools. 

When identifying the pests or insects, installing a sticky fly trap is recommended to successfully ID and monitor the pests and population. To ensure correct identification of a pest or disease you may need to use extra equipment such as a magnifier, or microscope. 

Once you identify your pest type, use the correct pesticide or organic treatment for that specific type. We recommend spraying weekly, ensuring that all leaves are fully sprayed, top and bottom. Spray half an hour before the lights go off, or if outside, not in direct sunlight, this will prevent leaf burn.

Always follow the instructions on the bottle.

It is important to note that prevention is ALWAYS better than cure.

Use Fertiluma Dislike to prevent pests wanting to feed on your plants, or to ensure the environment is clean and pest free before starting; Guard N Aid Pest off plus Fumers or Guard N Aid Clean Room.

 

Here are the 5 most common pests and how to identify them:

 

Fungus Gnat (Sciarid Fly)

 

 

Greenhouse Whitefly

  • Similar to a small white moth
  • Usually found underneath leaves, they feed on the sap which can lead to stunting of new shoots. Can produce white speckles on the tops of leaves. 
  • Treat with SB Plant Invigorator.

 

 

Two-Spotted Spider Mite

  • Tiny pink/red mites
  • They suck out the contents of the leave through the plants cells, resulting in leaves turning yellow. Usually found on the underside of the leaves and webs may be found produced by adults and nymphs. 
  • May be treated with SB Plant Invigorator or ARTS Spired.
  • Retreat every 4 days to break the reproductive cycle.

 

 

Thrip

  • Small pear-shaped insect found in a variety of colours
  • They feed on the plant sap, causing the leaves to pucker or distort. They are found in colonies on the undersides of tender terminal growth. 
  • Treat with ARTS Velgro

 

 

Aphids

  • Small pear-shaped insect found in a variety of colours
  • They feed on the plant sap, causing the leaves to pucker or distort. They are found in colonies on the undersides of tender terminal growth. 
  • Treat with ARTS Aphids.

 

 

Products we recommend for dealing with pests…